Sudden Inkbird temperature reading failure.

[pattepa]

Has anybody else had a problem with their Inkbird suddenly reading the incorrect temperature? This morning the Inkbird on my 120 gallon tank started alarming for over temperature at 89 degrees. A quick check of the water temp with another thermometer showed the temperature was ok. It’s a little concerning but everything is fine. Here’s a graph of the temperature recorded by the Inkbird.

What does everybody do for temperature monitoring and control? I’ve always used an Inkbird without a back up. I’m thinking it might be time to add some redundancy.

 

[Fish Fan]

Could it be that the probe on the Inkbird failed?

 

[pattepa]

Probably. I’m wondering if it’s a common failure.

 

[Fish Fan]

Probably. I’m wondering if it’s a common failure.

I'm guessing yes

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[SlowAndStupid]

I have had several inkbird controllers over the years and have had 2 fail (in the off position thankfully) while the oldest still works after about 7 years. Now that i have a saltwater tank i have it plugged in to a hydros system as a redundancy. I think setting up something similar in some way is advisable.

 

[Dr. D]

I just had an Inkbird controller fail after 6 months— it was reading 170 degrees! Bought a replacement on Amazon because I couldn’t wait for a warranty replacement (it may be coming, who knows). Set it up today… and within minutes it fell in the sump— my fault for poor mounting. It immediately stopped working, thankfully not electrocuting anybody. Now I’ve ordered #3 from Amazon again…. Sheesh.

 

[MikeReefs]

Mine is going strong 2 years in now. Inkbrid is mostly very reliable, but as with anything nothing last forever. They sell replacement probes for cheap. It appears your probes need to be replaced

 

[Dr. D]

Mine is going strong 2 years in now. Inkbrid is mostly very reliable, but as with anything nothing last forever. They sell replacement probes for cheap. It appears your probes need to be replaced

I didn’t realize that. It looks like the probe is hard wired in— how would you replace it?

 

[Fish Fan]

I just had an Inkbird controller fail after 6 months— it was reading 170 degrees! Bought a replacement on Amazon because I couldn’t wait for a warranty replacement (it may be coming, who knows). Set it up today… and within minutes it fell in the sump— my fault for poor mounting. It immediately stopped working, thankfully not electrocuting anybody. Now I’ve ordered #3 from Amazon again…. Sheesh.

Sorry to hear about your InkBirds, Doc! For the one that took a swim in your sump, try literally soaking in in RODI or distilled water to get the salt out, and then allowing it to dry thoroughly. It might surprise you and come back to life

 

[Dr. D]

Sorry to hear about your InkBirds, Doc! For the one that took a swim in your sump, try literally soaking in in RODI or distilled water to get the salt out, and then allowing it to dry thoroughly. It might surprise you and come back to life

Cool- will do. I may end up with four working models in the end: the original if I can attach a new probe, the replacement if your suggestion works, the third I just ordered from Amazon, and a fourth if Inkbird sends a replacement as they’ve suggested!

 

[MikeReefs]

getting a replacement would be your best best. The replacement probs need to disassemble the unit and wire it to the board by splicing. Seems pretty complicated and I’m not seeing ITC-306A double prob replacements

 

[Fish Fan]

Cool- will do. I may end up with four working models in the end: the original if I can attach a new probe, the replacement if your suggestion works, the third I just ordered from Amazon, and a fourth if Inkbird sends a replacement as they’ve suggested!

Good problem to have!

 

[craverl47]

Has anybody else had a problem with their Inkbird suddenly reading the incorrect temperature? This morning the Inkbird on my 120 gallon tank started alarming for over temperature at 89 degrees. A quick check of the water temp with another thermometer showed the temperature was ok. It’s a little concerning but everything is fine. Here’s a graph of the temperature recorded by the Inkbird.

What does everybody do for temperature monitoring and control? I’ve always used an Inkbird without a back up. I’m thinking it might be time to add some redundancy.

Interesting, I too am interested in what others have to say about this as I just purchased an inkbird controller for my 75g build I’m working on.
What are you thinking as far as redundancy?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have 7 inkbirds and all are working fine, though I’ve had them Less than six months.

There is a model with two temp sensors, allowing it to know if there is a malfunction in one.

I use them in a redundant fashion so that two different controllers need to agree that heat or cooling is needed to permit heat or cooling. That doesn’t prevent the systems from doing nothing (which concerns me much less), but it prevents runaway heating or cooling.

Being able to monitor temp and their actions remotely is a big plus for me.

 

[CBonito]

I have 7 inkbirds and all are working fine, though I’ve had them Less than six months.

There is a model with two temp sensors, allowing it to know if there is a malfunction in one.

I use them in a redundant fashion so that two different controllers need to agree that heat or cooling is needed to permit heat or cooling. That doesn’t prevent the systems from doing nothing (which concerns me much less), but it prevents runaway heating or cooling.

Being able to monitor temp and their actions remotely is a big plus for me.

That's the one I had and it failed too. It started constantly erroring out and beeping at me.
Then it stopped working. Now I use my apex to control it.