Using a thermostat to control cookie tin water heater...

[iananderson]

Hi guys,
Has anyone else tried using a cheap STC-1000 thermostatic controller to switch on (and off) the cookie tin heater?

I just made this setup to give it a try. I set the temp initially to 2 degrees C but the top skinned over, so I bumped it up to 5 degrees C and last night it was minus 8 degrees C and no ice.

I also replaced the single bulb with a double bulb in case one blew. I figured that with a thermostat the power consumption would be less anyway. I read in the instructions that there is an alarm if it fails which I'm hoping means that if both bulbs blow and the water goes below 5 degrees C the alarm will sound.... Hope so anyway.

Here's the finished setup pic from the blog...


and the initially confusing wiring diagram converted into 'real life'



Hope that's food for thought for anyone else making this type of heater.
Cheers and Merry Christmas!
Ian

p.s. (although I'm really hankering after a plastic water carrier type with nipples and an aquarium heater and have just ordered a heater off ebay lol)

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've used the stc-1000 for incubators and hatchers. I'll be using them for brooders from now on as well. Should save some money.

 

[iananderson]

Good idea about the brooder. I was always conscious that our 150w bulb was going to be on 24/7 for a month or so!

Would be easy to pop the probe down where the chicks are to monitor the temp. I wonder if it will have any adverse affect on bulb life (assuming it'll switch on and off from time to time...)?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I switched to ceramic heat emitters for the larger brooders. That way I can provide a solid dark period and a light period each day. I have LED lights on a timer for that.

I also recently got Premier 1 heat plates for brooding a small number of chicks. The extra small one only uses 17 watts and 22 watts for the small one. I calculated it would pay for itself in one brooding with the savings in electricity.
http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=135875