Help with INKBIRD setup

[mook1178]

I am looking at purchasing an INKBIRD ITC 306A temperature controller. I have an orlushy heater. How do I set the temp on the heater? Do I use the highest setting so that the heater comes on and stays on until the set temp is reached?

 

[Dragen Fiend]

As long as their is not a big variation in the temp probes. Just set in for target temp and shut off.

Set your target temp on the inkbird to whatever the probe reports. If probe say 78F and that is your target temp. Set it that.

Then for max set it to whatever you want to turn off before it gets too hot (failsafe). Mine was 82F as the internal temp control on ehiem would turn it off way before the inkbird did. But if the internal failed, that's when inkbird comes in.

 

[Idech]

Do not use the highest setting as you don’t want to fry your tank if the Inkbird fails. Set your heater maybe 3-4 degrees above your Inkbird desired setting. For the first few days, check that your heater is on when it needs to be.

The best scenario is to have 2 smaller heaters hooked to your Inkbird, for redundancy. If one heater fails, the other one will still work. You can buy a 2 outlet plug if needed.

 

[Uncle99]

My actual heaters are set 2 degrees above the high setting on the InkBird.

So heaters are 80
And the InkBird 78

 

[backbayreef]

Do not use the highest setting as you don’t want to fry your tank if the Inkbird fails. Set your heater maybe 3-4 degrees above your Inkbird desired setting. For the first few days, check that your heater is on when it needs to be.

The best scenario is to have 2 smaller heaters hooked to your Inkbird, for redundancy. If one heater fails, the other one will still work. You can buy a 2 outlet plug if needed.

I run 2 heaters and have one on each Inkbird.

OP: it's pretty easy. You can go thru the manual or YT the instructions

https://inkbird.com/cdn/shop/files/ITC-306A_user_manual_english.pdf?v=6253815312862815076

What I do:
1. Change from C to F (CF)
2. Set my Temperature Setting (TS) - 78F for me
3. Set Alarm High (AH) - 82F for me
4. Set Alarm Low (AL) - 75F for me
5. Temperature Calibration (CA) - adjust based on the other Inkbird or another temp source

 

[SomeHappyFish]

Exactly! Two heaters set to 3-4 degrees higher then the wanted temp and the inkbird will control it:)

 

[backbayreef]

Exactly! Two heaters set to 3-4 degrees higher then the wanted temp and the inkbird will control it:)

I bought 4 of them in bulk. I should have gone the wifi version

 

[mook1178]

I am still cycling the tank, so temps are not a huge issue. I have been struggling to get a consistent temp setting. I would like to get about 75 right now as it is winter and my house stays around 65F. I know come summer time my house temp will be around 75 and I don't want to go above 80F in the summer.

So If I set the Orlushy heater to keep 77 in my tank, which is about 80 on the heater top, the Inkbird will keep it at 75 if that is what I set the INKBIRD?

 

[Idech]

What I do:
1. Change from C to F (CF)

The Inkbird is ore precise in Celcius than Fahrenheit. It’s easy to convert.

So If I set the Orlushy heater to keep 77 in my tank, which is about 80 on the heater top, the Inkbird will keep it at 75 if that is what I set the INKBIRD?

Yes, the Inkbird will be turning the heater on to keep the water at 77F and off according to your maximum limit.

 

[mook1178]

I think you may have misunderstood my question. If I set my heater to 80 F, the tank will reach somewhere around 77F since it is winter and the ambient room temp is around 65 F. If I want the tank to be 75F,I will set 75 on the Inkbird. Correct?

 

[Idech]

I think you may have misunderstood my question. If I set my heater to 80 F, the tank will reach somewhere around 77F since it is winter and the ambient room temp is around 65 F. If I want the tank to be 75F,I will set 75 on the Inkbird. Correct?

The temperature in the tank will be what you set on the Inkbird. Forget about the heater, it doesn’t matter what you set it at. You just want it set higher than the Inkbird, so it turns on when the Inkbird wants it too.

Does that make sense ?

 

[mook1178]

That does. Thank you

 

[backbayreef]

The Inkbird is ore precise in Celcius than Fahrenheit. It’s easy to convert.

Well, first of all - I'm in the States and everything around me is in Farenheit. Second, I think it's "less than accurate" for me (not the device) to multiply by 2 + 30 (approximately) to go from C -> F. Finally, me and my old age - my little brain hurts when I attempt to think! lol