Help with a reliable digital Temp controller

Well I have lost plenty of eggs (75 to be exact), by using one of those MH1210 Temperature controllers. I actually bought 3 because the first two always stuck on, (never off), and ran the temp as high as 156 degrees either at night or while I was at work.

I bought a 3rd, It worked fine through the hatching process. The incubator I built is large enough for a brooder so I have 2 week old bobwhite quail chicks in there.

Now, all of a sudden the controller is sticking again and if it wasn't for a temperature monitor that from preset rules, calls me when the temp gets too high, I would have lost these 2 week old chicks.
I bought the Connect Sense Monitor that has already called me at night while asleep and called me while at work when temp went high.

Anyone else have this problem? Every place else I have questioned this controller, the people have had good luck with these.

Can anyone suggest a reliable temp controller for my future and maybe current use?

Thanks for reading and any suggestions

While the controller is digital the switching is still mechanical. Mechanical switches have a limited number of cycles before the contacts begin to stick. I imagine the the switches are not high quality to begin with. Switching high amperage or fast cycle rates will shorten the switch life. Using the controller to switch a separate solid state relay is an option . This way the controller is switching only a few milliamps . This will greatly extend the mechanical switch life. The solid state relay has no moving part and near infinite life. When looking for a new type of controller find one without the mechanical style switch for longer life.

Thanks Hatchcraft. Do you know if they make a solid state temp controller as one unit?
Ill have to research that.

larbian said:

Thanks Hatchcraft. Do you know if they make a solid state temp controller as one unit?
Ill have to research that.

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perhaps it's time for the stc 1000 controller

The STC1000 is the same that I am using. All those gray and orange controllers are the same. Each manufacturer puts a different number on them.

larbian said:

The STC1000 is the same that I am using. All those gray and orange controllers are the same. Each manufacturer puts a different number on them.

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So every brand is same? Inkbird versus a generic?

Thanks Rod-T for the suggestions.
I did buy an Inkbird from Amazon. It was the same housing and wiring was close to the same as the MH1250's.
I paid twice the money hoping for a better quality unit but it also stuck on after 4 days of use so I returned it.

Originally I was using two 150 watt incandescents. I thought maybe too much wattage. Changed bulbs to two 100 watt. Stuck on.
The last change was to a 100 watt and a 60 watt which got me thru to the hatch. I thought all was ok until this past week the controller started sticking again.

That's why I make the claim of that style of controller, STC1000 or MH1250 function the same with same design.

Like the previous answer, I am to assume they both have mechanical switches in them.

Inkbird could not help me identify the problem and told me to return the STC1000F.

larbian said:

Thanks Rod-T for the suggestions.
I did buy an Inkbird from Amazon. It was the same housing and wiring was close to the same as the MH1250's.
I paid twice the money hoping for a better quality unit but it also stuck on after 4 days of use so I returned it.

Originally I was using two 150 watt incandescents. I thought maybe too much wattage. Changed bulbs to two 100 watt. Stuck on.
The last change was to a 100 watt and a 60 watt which got me thru to the hatch. I thought all was ok until this past week the controller started sticking again.

That's why I make the claim of that style of controller, STC1000 or MH1250 function the same with same design.

Like the previous answer, I am to assume they both have mechanical switches in them.

Inkbird could not help me identify the problem and told me to return the STC1000F.

Click to expand...

thanks for sharing your experience. . Sounds like connect sense might be a good product for me to get... I have 3 incubators running ..I'll be watching them like a hawk now

I don't know of a combined unit. I use commercial type PID controllers. They require a separate sensor and ssr.

HatchCraft said:

I don't know of a combined unit. I use commercial type PID controllers. They require a separate sensor and ssr.

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What model and brand is that