Customer Reviews

Johnson Controls A419ABC-1C Electronic Temp Controller

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This product was exactly what I needed. I purchased a chest freezer to convert into a kegerator (technically a "keezer") for homebrew - obviously freezers are meant to be used at temps below freezing, and I need to chill my homebrew to about 40*F, so a temp controller is required. I had never wired anything electronic before, but this was very simple and easy to accomplish. Overall, it was worth buying this unwired unit for cheaper, as I was able to wire it and install it myself for less $ than the pre-wired units from homebrew shops. If you have some steady hands, all the wires/tools required (you'll need pigtail wires, a spare 16 gauge extension cord cut in half, wire strippers, and some wire nuts) and a little bit of patience, it's worth it to purchase this unwired unit. The controller itself works great with my chest freezer - it's very simple to set up, and I'm able to achieve great temperature control for both chilling beer and maintaining specific fermentation temperatures. Highly recommended for fellow homebrewers looking to control their fermentation temps or trying to build a keezer.

It's a great thermostat designed for industrial use, but also perfect for any pet project involving temperature control. I used mine for more precise temperature control in an old fridge, but the fridge turned out to be worthless. Now I'm thinking about rigging my washing machine to more tightly control the mix of hot and cold. For instance, clothes labeled "cold" could be washed at the maximum specified temperature without fear of going too warm. The price of the device is obviously a little higher than a simple electromechanical thermostat, but very reasonable as far as professional controls go. If the thing has any flaw, it's that it's too precise! I set a band of 3 degrees for my refrigerator and it seemed to cycle like clockwork every 3 minutes, far more frequently than with an electromechanical thermostat. Perhaps a real HVAC guy would know better than to set it that tight. I don't know.

This control unit will be used, in conjunction with, a 24 hour time clock to control, not only the hours of operation, but also the temperature control of a group of electrically heated outdoor stairway (stair tread) mats. The ability to precisely control the temperature range and hours of operation will not only save operating costs but will increase the life expectancy of the electrically heated mats over the long term.

Dont buy this if you cant wire an electrical outlet. Product is industrial grade and i found it easy to install and program. I love how versatile the programming is. Cant say enough about how well this works for hombrewers looking to lager at a specific temp for months. Also keeps your beer at ice cold to luke warm dependimg on your prefference.