Ink Bird 308

[Piperbrew]

Received my Ink Bird today, well minus the 12 inch probe that was supposed to be with it, but anyway what is the best way to use this device as I believe it can be used to control water temps etc. So if I am thinking correctly I can say set it to heat my water via the element to say 66 degrees , if that's what temp the strike water was for example.. I can also set a high temp alarm, say 68 degrees and also a low temp. So this would take care of heating the water.

Now once the water is in the mash tun, would I set the alarm for 65 degrees and that way know the mash was at the correct temperature?

I was also thinking if the unit can control a heater, would a wee fish tank heater be any use connected to it so that when the temp started to drop it would kick in in the mash tun. Yes I know they don't got up high temps but it could surely keep the mash nice n warm.....though I would hope of course the tun would keep warm of its own accord.

Am I thinking on the right lines?

Edit

Well I just tried to control a kettle element but it zoomed past the temperature I set so I am guessing it cant deal with sudden surges in power? Am I correct it is designed to deal with slow rise in temperature such as controlling a heating mat?

 

[Clint]

I use mine to control my brew fridge..it's plugged to the fridge and a heater inside the fridge. It just cycles on and off give and take a couple of degrees.
As for the mash tun if it's not holding temp insulate it....

 

[Fil]

Congrats

It should be fine controlling a kettle, you can expect a little overshoot due to the elements latent heat once shut off and the small volume of liquid contained, but not a huge amount. i have no direct experience with the specific model you have but have use a few stc1000 type controllers which operate a similar on/off control.

there should be a led or something to indicate which output if any (Heating or Cooling) is currently on, if the heat on led fails to turn off indicating the power is still on when the temp of the kettle rises above your target, then perhaps its not set up correctly?



re final use, definately use it to heat up you strike and sparge liquors to temp, (i would suggest starting with a 71-72c strike temp and sparge temps upto 80c) Imho tho you would be far better off spending a pound or two on some insulation for your tun and rely on maintaining a consistent mash temp that way rather than worry about applying any form of active heat to the mash as its thick consistency which aids in the retention of heat will also work against you distributing any heat you apply evenly throughout the mash.

 

[Piperbrew]

Congrats

It should be fine controlling a kettle, you can expect a little overshoot due to the elements latent heat once shut off and the small volume of liquid contained, but not a huge amount. i have no direct experience with the specific model you have but have use a few stc1000 type controllers which operate a similar on/off control.

there should be a led or something to indicate which output if any (Heating or Cooling) is currently on, if the heat on led fails to turn off indicating the power is still on when the temp of the kettle rises above your target, then perhaps its not set up correctly?



re final use, definately use it to heat up you strike and sparge liquors to temp, (i would suggest starting with a 71-72c strike temp and sparge temps upto 80c) Imho tho you would be far better off spending a pound or two on some insulation for your tun and rely on maintaining a consistent mash temp that way rather than worry about applying any form of active heat to the mash as its thick consistency which aids in the retention of heat will also work against you distributing any heat you apply evenly throughout the mash.

Hi thanks for the replies gents. I guess I just need to mess about with the controls and get used to it then. Mash should actually be fine as just added more insulation, it was only losing 3 degree over an hr before without really doing a preheat on it, just me re-inventing the wheel with the heater then

 

[Piperbrew]

Well I finally finished the water heater this eve and just gave it a run with the Ink Bird. Well chuffed, I tested it by setting the temp. to 65c and the alarm to 67. Water heated up and then it got to 65c and a few mins later to 67c, that is pretty darn good considering the fluctuations in the water with convection current. So I reckon whatever target temperature I want, once I get used to it, that setting it 2 deg. below my target temperature it should be spot on.

 

[Fil]

Result ! :)

 

[Piperbrew]

Result ! :)

Even better Fil, once the water had stabilised it became more accurate. I reckon it will also be cracking for when I hang deer in my larder fridge to keep them cool as the fridge thermostat is no where near as accurate.

 

[Fil]

one feature often glossed over of controller governed hlt heat up is that the liquor can when left at temp 'stratify' into layers of different temperature within the hlt. Colder liquor below your probe point and warmer above while spot on at the probe level.

Its easily sorted with a simple stir of the HLT prior to pouring out the strike or sparge liquor. and is the reason behind some folk fitting recirc pumps to hlts.

 

[Piperbrew]

one feature often glossed over of controller governed hlt heat up is that the liquor can when left at temp 'stratify' into layers of different temperature within the hlt. Colder liquor below your probe point and warmer above while spot on at the probe level.

Its easily sorted with a simple stir of the HLT prior to pouring out the strike or sparge liquor. and is the reason behind some folk fitting recirc pumps to hlts.

That's a good point Fil. I will do that next time.