skibikejunkie wrote:This problem has been one of the reasons I have held off on buying a temp controller. If the temp controller is only cycling at +/- 4 degrees, it seems as if it would not be particularly useful since the whole point is to measure the fermentation temp rather than the ambient temp.
A good temp controller is a truly wonderful thing. -I considered mine the equivalent to having an "assistant brewer" around on brew day.
I just relocated from Dublin, Ireland to Seattle; in the UK and Ireland the "ATC 800+" is a very popular model dual stage temp controller that can switch on and off around 3kw of power and hold temp within +/- 1 degree C. -It's useful for holding strike water at temp (set an outlet timer to turn on 20 minutes before you wake up on Saturday morning and have the controller hold it there - when you wake up your water is up to dough-in temps and you've saved 20 minutes to your brew day). -The huge lit-up LED display means that while your chiller is running you can start cleaning up and you can monitor the chilling progress from across the room.
It also works great for controlling fermentation temps, too.
I was hoping to find a similar model here but have had no such luck... I'm actually thinking about buying another ATC 800+ and just wiring it up to a 220V circuit here -my HLT and Kettle will each have a 3KW immersion element in them and it should be able to control them directly -I don't think 50hz vs. 60hz is really a big deal as long as it's 220v.... (Now I wish I didn't sell mine.)
Adam