Long story but I wound up getting my hands on a brand new Inkbird Plug N Play Temperature Controller. Just wondering what people’s confidence levels are in these devices and their reliability. I purchased the green Inkbird device so if anyone has any experience with that one specifically please feel free to share. Thanks!!
Inkbird Confidence/Reliability
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Slow and steady wins the race!
The green ones will fail over time.. I have went through 3 of them, they last about a year. They have a new version that’s blue I believe and the prob is better sealed to help prevent failures.. I don’t know how well that one works.
ca1ore
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Hard to offer much in way of useful advice. There are so many different models, and running changes all the time. I had a couple that drifted so much that I dumped them. Probably the new sealed probe solves some of that. Still a pretty cheaply made piece of kit.
I have one of the BRS branded units, works well but, had it programmed wrong at first. Still the calibration is a bit off.
I needed two more for additional tanks and one spare in case of failure, I was going to order a couple of the BRS units, but thought I would see what InkBird had to offer.
IncBird has them on sale and there unit has more features with two plastic coated temp probes and a WiFi app.
So I will see, as I just ordered three of the ITC 306A today direct from Incbird. Should have them in a week.
I needed two more for additional tanks and one spare in case of failure, I was going to order a couple of the BRS units, but thought I would see what InkBird had to offer.
IncBird has them on sale and there unit has more features with two plastic coated temp probes and a WiFi app.
So I will see, as I just ordered three of the ITC 306A today direct from Incbird. Should have them in a week.
Retro Reefer
Slow and steady wins the race!
they are the same thing with different label ;)
piranhaman00
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The new WiFi model 306A I believe, did not work for me, I tried two different ones, the temp read a constant temp and didn’t move until the temp dropped by over 1F. That’s not gonna work for reef.
I use the green model and three of a different blue model, they work great for me, coming up on a year so I’m watching them close. I put them in Celsius and then you have 0.1 control instead of 1.0 degree.
I use the green model and three of a different blue model, they work great for me, coming up on a year so I’m watching them close. I put them in Celsius and then you have 0.1 control instead of 1.0 degree.
Reef AquaCult
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I use it as a fail safe plugged into Apex which is the primary temp controller. If apex fails, the the built in heater controller is next, then inkbird is set to about 82F for final fail safe. I don’t use it for primary temp controller but I’m sure you could if you wanted. I want to be 100% sure my heaters don’t fry my tank and this is a good way. I also use one as a backup on QT tank for protect against over heating.
ca1ore
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Would be interesting to know. Not sure who the OEM is for these things, but as with the LED ‘black boxes’ now so common in the hobby, presumably there’s some ability to specify them with different levels of performance and/or features.
Yes they are both obviously made by Inkbird.
However they have different features.
I own the BRS version already, was 49.95, been using it for about three months now.
The Inkbird version has two temp probes and will connect to the app on my phone via WiFi.
So not the same when it comes to features.
Also the three I ordered from Inkbird were still on sale at $45.00 and shipped free. So I feel I scored on these.
Plus if they work as advertised, I will have the ability to be able to check the temprature while I am away. So the added back up will be great.
That last paragraph did mot have all the information I intended to include.
The Inkbird is a redundant temp reading to my Apex. Not the sole reading.
So the Inkbird IMO is the better of the two options.
But thats if they work as advertised, I am thinking they will be as solid as my BRS unit, so I am not fretting over that.
Potatohead
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Same. I have two greens and one blue with a combined age of about seven years. I have replaced one temp probe and that's it, otherwise they're great.
piranhaman00
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Just a little update, I was emailing with InkBird about the new wifi model, it only keeps temp at 0.5F increments, just as I suspected.
Hello,
Sorry for the late reply.
The ITC-306A can maintain a temperature range with heaters (minimum 0.3C/ 0.5F difference), it cannot maintain a temperature point.
Normally it will take 3-5 seconds to update a new temperature reading.
I will share this as feedback with the technical department, maybe they can improve the product in the future.
Sorry for the inconvenience caused.
Sincerely,
Tania
FWIW I like there customer service.
Hello,
Sorry for the late reply.
The ITC-306A can maintain a temperature range with heaters (minimum 0.3C/ 0.5F difference), it cannot maintain a temperature point.
Normally it will take 3-5 seconds to update a new temperature reading.
I will share this as feedback with the technical department, maybe they can improve the product in the future.
Sorry for the inconvenience caused.
Sincerely,
Tania
FWIW I like there customer service.
There are a few models with different features. It was only cheaper option for dual temp heating relays so trying it out. 7 months so far, no drift.
That said I have it backed up with onboard Jager controller and an AutoAqua temp as a failsafe.
The only controller I would ever consider without a back up or real time monitoring is a Ranco.
That said I have it backed up with onboard Jager controller and an AutoAqua temp as a failsafe.
The only controller I would ever consider without a back up or real time monitoring is a Ranco.
Not sure which model# I have. It is green with heating and cooling but no wi-fi. I use this to control a pair of Cobalt NeoTherm heaters (and a fan in the summer). The Cobalt heaters internal controls (very precise) are the primary control and the Inkbird (which almost never has to cycle on/off) is a backup should one of the heaters fail. Been using this for a couple years... so far so good.
I would go for the ITC-306A unit.
My reasoning behind this, you will have the ability to double check the temps on the tank away from home. Redundancy can be helpful.
This is how I have it set up and it gives me some peace of mind.
Now that I have had the InkBird ITC-306A in service for almost two months, I have to say it has been working as expected if not better.
Yes it will not hold a pinpoint temp as others have mentioned but I did not buy it for that. For me it is a redundant device to back up the Apex that holds the temp more accurately.
In the end though it all depends on what you are looking to accomplish. What are your needs and budget?
My reasoning behind this, you will have the ability to double check the temps on the tank away from home. Redundancy can be helpful.
This is how I have it set up and it gives me some peace of mind.
Now that I have had the InkBird ITC-306A in service for almost two months, I have to say it has been working as expected if not better.
Yes it will not hold a pinpoint temp as others have mentioned but I did not buy it for that. For me it is a redundant device to back up the Apex that holds the temp more accurately.
In the end though it all depends on what you are looking to accomplish. What are your needs and budget?
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