Anyone using STC-1000 as a fridge thermostat on-board?

[vas]

hi all,

got a couple of these a few years ago and as I'm tidying up I found them!
not sure what I was thinking of when I bought them, but now the only need I could have for them is to display fridge temps and act as an accurate fridge thermostat .
Easy to wire, tested it at home on a bench power supply, works fine, thermocouple is fairly accurate (or impressively so), so no issues.

I'm talking about something like that :
STC-1000 Digital Temperature Controller Thermostat Aquarium Sensor AC 110-220V | eBay

Wondering if anyone is using them and have reasons not to recommend them. I'm asking as I'll have to drill a 70X28mm hole in a panel to fit it and not too keen reupholstering later on.
Further, the digits are WAY TOO BRIGHT red for my liking, means it will be lighting the whole galley at night. If I install it, I'd like to be able to see easily as I'm moving about what the fridge is doing, so don't want to get the display hidden in a locker, defies the reason.
Other than getting a film used in car windscreens and covering the screen is there any other option? Had a quick look at the PCB, no obvious place to play with...

cheers

V.

 

[Paulg25]

I have one I use in my incubator. Works fine.

 

[Big John]

You need 110/220 vo;ts AC to run it. Most boats are only 12v/24v DC.

 

[yotter]

I have two 12volt versions. I only use them as thermometers, they seem pretty accurate. The sensor wires can be extended.

 

[vas]

thanks guys,

P, do you run them for long periods (like a week or two) or just for short runs?
BJ, mine are 12/24V (happy up to 30V DC tried it)
yotter, thanks you answer my next Q if it's ok to extend the sensor wires I'll need to add at least 2m to get where I want. I guess I may have to compensate which is easy to do.

cheers

V.

 

[earlybird]

I used a 12v. version connected to a buzzer as an exhaust temperature alarm, usually set at ~45 deg. Worked OK but for one irritation. when powered down, it sometimes, not always, defaulted to 25 deg. when re-powered. Could cause a panic attack!

 

[Paulg25]

Hatching time for guinea fowl is 28 days. So 4 weeks at a time.

Probably a single resistor on the PCB to set LED brightness.

 

[Daverw]

thanks guys,

P, do you run them for long periods (like a week or two) or just for short runs?
BJ, mine are 12/24V (happy up to 30V DC tried it)
yotter, thanks you answer my next Q if it's ok to extend the sensor wires I'll need to add at least 2m to get where I want. I guess I may have to compensate which is easy to do.

cheers

V.

No need to compensate for length, ive used similar sensor over 50m. Re the display brightness, as it’s LED display not backlite best way to but tape over the front, I use cheap electrical tape either red or black and works very well.

 

[vas]

No need to compensate for length, ive used similar sensor over 50m. Re the display brightness, as it’s LED display not backlite best way to but tape over the front, I use cheap electrical tape either red or black and works very well.

thanks!
tried the el. tape trick (had it apart so put the tape straight on the LEDs sandwiched with the front fascia tinted plastic. Works fine now it's dark, probably too dark to see in daylight, will test tomorrow and else try another lighter tape

V.

 

[Daverw]

I have seen small tamper proof covers that fit over the front, these were tinted, i put the tape on the outside and soon find you actually stop looking at the temp display anyway.

 

[Billyo]

.I've been using the 12v version to control a fridge and freezer consistently for 12 months and think they are great. I bought a project box off ebay and mounted them in a cupboard, neat and out of the way.