WH1436A 10A Temperature Controller 110V Digital Thermostat Switch Sous Vide Controller NTC 10K Sensor Improved Version

I purchased this unit to assist me in operating a home built smoker. I operate two 400 watt heating elements with it. I've found the directions to be concise although somewhat confusing but once the high and low temperatures are set and the temperature probe is in place the unit operates perfectly.

I purchased this controller back in 2018 to keep some new chicks warm. I have used it several times since then for that purpose. I am setting it up again for the same job and realized I never gave a review.Positive Features:* It allows you to set a low and high threshold allowing one to keep the temperature in the desired range.* It has both a high and low alarm feature, which alerts you if the temperature goes below or exceeds the desired temperature range.* It allows the temperature probe to be calibrated with an offset. I found my probe was accurate enough over the desired range, not requiring an offset be entered.* It can be used with both heat devices, a heat lamp in my case, and cool things. The maximum controlled power is limited (1100 w), so it would not work with a high power refrigeration unit without an additional relay. Not a problem in my case.* For cooling, it allows you to set a compressor on time to prevent rapid cycling which could be bad.* The manual, if one ignores a few typos, is detailed enough to make setting up fairly easy. Just don’t lose the manual.* It does not require wifi, does not phone home, so it does not clog up your internet connection. A very positive feature.Negative Issues: The case is yellowing slightly, which happens with this type plastic. Not a deal stopper.Would I buy it again, yes.

Almost gave 4 Stars only because Program directions could be more clear. But once I read them slowly, and followed step by step(several times, don’t give up), it was programmed and working. Don’t be impatient. It will program and Work. The Instructions are more geared to operating an actual Heat/Cooling Source. Window A/C, Space Htr, Crock pot, etc. So instructions didn’t make sense for my Application. My Home Furnace/ A/C operates on the House Thermostat. NOT This Controller. I want this Controller to turn ON/OFF a separate Booster Fan I bought to improve Airflow to a Specific room, and ONLY when the Whole House Fan is Running. In fact I fine tuned the settings so I continue to get “Conditioned” Air even after Whole House Fan has Shut Off.Air Temperature Sensor is Very Sensitive, down to tenths of a degree. And appears to be accurate. Controller displays continually what temperature is being picked up in HVAC Duct.

I am using this item to control the temperature in a confined space for brewing, spore growth and seed starting and it works very well indeed. It comes with good instructions and there is access to a video on u-tube if they are inadequate. I have been able to maintain a good solid temperature range and am very pleased with this product.

I bought this to control the temperature of a water bath for making kefir, which ferments at 75 degrees. I use it to cycle an old slow cooker and use an old aquarium air pump for water circulation (see photo) to approximate a sous vide immersion circulator. The probe is sealed and waterproof, which allows me to submerge it in the bath to monitor temperature. I also plan to use it to cycle a space heater in an oven to proof dough, though I haven't tried this yet.Using the controller to cycle a slow cooker works for this application but isn't ideal. Because slow cookers work by heating a ceramic insert which then heats the water, the insert tends to be heated to a higher temperature then the water and continues to heat the water when power to the cooker is shut off. This causes the controller to overshoot the target temperature. If the water is already at about the target temperature it only overshoots by a small amount (for my application about a degree), but if the water is being brought up to temperature it can overshoot the target temperature by at least 5-10 degrees. So if you are using this as a sous vide cooker for food which demands accurate temperature control, I would recommend letting the temperature stabilize before adding your food to the water bath. Or use this controller to power a small immersion water heater of the sort used for heating water in a coffee cup (make sure to select one which uses less power than the controller's maximum power output rating). Since an immersion heater heats the water instead of the insert and does not "store" as much heat as a slow cooker ceramic insert, it will not continue to heat the water when it's turned off. This is what commercial sous vide circulators use to heat water, and they circulate the water to prevent a "hot spot" immediately around the heating element.Beyond that, the temperature measured by the controller is accurate to within a degree of what's measured by my kitchen thermometers, the controller is easy to set up, and the instruction sheet is adequate. The on/off temperatures can be adjusted in increments of a tenth of a degree, so even though it's not a PID controller it can still accurately control temperature under the right circumstances.This is a nice tool, but to get good results from it you have to have an understanding of the environment in which it's being used.