Thermo Cubes

[RocketDad]

I bought a ThermoCube to control heat thingies in my coop. I've been having trouble with it. When I looked at reviews for them on Amazon, I found a number of "they're great" and a number of "It worked for a while then quit" or "never worked" reviews.

I powered mine at first with an ungrounded extension cord, and it worked for a few days then quit. I plugged it into the GFI outlet in my shop where the temp was below freezing, and verified with a nightlight that it was still working. Then I warmed it up inside and tried it in a non-GFI outlet on the back porch, and again verified that it works. So I returned it to service in the coop, this time with a grounded cord but not plugged into a GFI. It worked for a while before nightfall, but the next morning it was not doing it's thing.


Do these things require a GFI outlet to switch properly? Has anyone else had trouble with them? I love the idea of the thermocube, but I'm not willing to trust the thing right now.

 

[oberhaslikid]

Do these things require a GFI outlet to switch properly?
I think someone said it did have to be on one of the GFI Outlets earlier in the first post about them.I was looking at the same responses.I was a bit cofused until I read that and figured out that was probably why theirs may not have worked.

 

[TipsyDog]

Forget those Thermocubes - they are just a cheap fix. Get one of these:

http://www.morelectricheating.com/default.aspx?page=item detail&itemcode=FOST05341002

The temperature range is awesome and I can attest that mine works perfectly. I can go much lower or higher depending on weather conditions but I usually have it set so it kicks on at 36* and cuts off at 41*

 

[naked_heels]

that's cool item, thanks tipsydog. I might get one for myself, I have thermocubes it works great for me. it will turn on if the weather goes below 35 degree.

 

[chookchick]

There is no reason why it would work differently in a GFI vs. non-GFI switch. The electricity does not "change" with a GFI. I suspect your problem is the same as that with many electrical products these days--produced in a certain foreign country with cheap labor, and not quite the quality we would like.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
That's what I'm thinking. The item at the end of the cord has no idea if it's plugged into a GFI outlet or a regular outlet, because there's no way to tell - unless of course there's a fault!

Here in Arkansas it's mostly only freezing cold after dark - so I mainly use a photocell timer instead of a temperature controlled one. If it's not going to be above freezing all day long then I will certainly be aware of the fact and can override the timer. If it's going to be above freezing for a while then I just unplug my whole system.

Me thinks if your climate is such that it's freezing all the time for an extended period of time you might be better off just leaving your heating elements on all the time, and if you need to use a timer I suggest you just get a better one.

 

[RocketDad]

Quote:
That was my line of thinking precisely. I like the thermostat listed above, thanks. It's really not very expensive, considering, either.

 

[TarzantheChickenMan]

im really intrigued by this maybe i would burn a lot less electricity in my area is has been less them 20deg most of the last couple of weeks during the day and as low as -18 at my place at night
i burn a lot as it is keeping them warm with out a temp control on the heater

 

[mdbokc]

I have used the same 4 Therm Cubes for 3 years now...in both regular and GFI protected outlets. Knock on wood, still working and no problems.

Actually, I have had more GFI outlets fail (2) than ThermoCubes in the last 3 years.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Yeah, I had to replace the one on the back of my house last spring. Apparently it just wore out.
I'm not impressed with the new one either, coz the reset button is a PITA to push (I have use a marker or screwdriver or something to push it all the way!)