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

We purchased this controller along with a 110 VAC, 3/4" Brass Electric Solenoid Valve to control water flow to our outdoor water misting systems. It was super easy to hook up and program to do what we wanted it to do. The instruction sheet we received with the product was fairly comprehensive and adequate for us to get the controller to work like we wanted. But in addition, the manufacturer took the time to send us an email giving additional instructions and explanations on how to set up the controller. We didn't ask for this, they just did it on their own to try to provide the best customer service (I suppose some people weren't as comfortable with the instruction sheet that comes with the unit). The controller works perfectly and we are very happy with our purchase. We highly recommend it for those needing to have a thermostatically controlled AC outlet.A couple of things we learned in the process of using this controller in an outdoor environment: First, if you are using the product outdoors, you don't want the temperature sensor to be near the ground or in direct sunlight. Ideally, you want the sensor (that's the 10-foot white cable that plugs into the side of the controller) to be a minimum of 6 feet above the ground, or even higher if over pavement or concrete that radiates heat. The reason for this is that the sensor will register anywhere from 5-10 degrees too high on a sunny day and stay high even after the sun goes down because of the heat radiation from the ground. This is not a problem with the controller sensor, it is only responding to the environment you place it in and we checked its accuracy and it is very accurate. You also want the sensor to be shaded from direct sunlight. If in direct sunlight, the sensor will read about 2-3 degrees too high because of the sun's radiation. We placed the controller in a waterproof bag and both the controller and electric valve in a waterproof container with a sealed lid to protect it from rain and the elements. The sensor extends outside the container and is about 7-8 feet above the ground suspended on a pole. It's now been operating satisfactorily for 2 weeks and has survived a couple of aggressive rainstorms out here in the Midwest. The unit also has internal memory and remembers its settings in case of a power failure so that when you restore the power, the unit resumes normal operation. Also, our water valve is a "normally closed" valve so if there is a power failure, the solenoid valve automatically shuts the water off. The valve does not come with this product, you have to purchase it separately and is available here on Amazon. This controller is a great product and we're glad we bought it!

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.

I use this to control temperature in a food dehydrator that didn't have a thermostat installed. It's very flexible in how you can configure it, but that means it might not be as straight forward as some people may expect. However, it's pretty easy to set once you get the hang of it, and the temperature probe is accurate (I double-checked it using two other digital temperature probes). It also seems well built, and it's been working as expected for a few years now.