bayite Temperature Controller 1650W 15A BTC211 Dual Digital Outlet Thermostat Plug, Pre-Wired, 2 Stage Heating and Cooling Mode, 110V - 240V, Fermentation BBQ Reptile Aquarium

This is a nicely designed unit that can handle both a heater and air conditioner, each with up to a full 15 amp draw simultaneously, since it will only supply power to one or the other, but never both. It can also be used to handle just one of either type of course. It will control over a wide range of temperatures from more than fifty below to over two hundred degrees Fahrenheit, and can be set to use Celsius.It has an external temperature probe that on a quick test with ice water proved to be rapidly responsive and dead accurate to within 0.1 °F. It controls by setting a single set point, and specifying a heating differential and cooling differential which control how far below or above the set point the temperature may drift before supplying power to the appropriate unit until the set point is reached again.It is very useful when the temperature knobs on portable electric heaters or air conditioners are not accurate enough to keep a constant temperature. On most units, you get a 1-10 dial with no way to know what the temperatures are without a lot of trial and error, and bad performance even then. Having the thermostat external solves that problem.The unit can be set to protect air conditioning compressors by setting a minimum down time in minutes so that the AC can't be cycled off and on rapidly. and can be set to audibly alarm at specified high and low temperatures.I was concerned that since it had touch controls it might not recover from a power failure, but this is not a problem. It behaves as expected: if it was turned on when the power fails, it will turn back on when it's restored, and if it was originally off, it will beep once but stay off.

I started to wait a while longer before reviewing this product but, I'll update if I have a problem. I bought this Nov 27, 2016 with reservations but, for what's available out there at a decent price, I figured I'd give it a try. So far, I LOVE IT!!! With a rating of 1650 watts I was worried about using it with a 1500 watt heater. I know, I know. That's lower than it's rating but, seemed a bit close to me and I almost expected trouble. You (I) never want to push the limits of an electrical item. (The heater would be 12.5 amps @ 120V while the controller is rated at 15 amps @ 110V)When I first got it, I wasn't sure how I was going to use it. I had planned to only use it for the heater but, in this world of ours, it seems that the weather is constantly changing, even in the middle of winter (it's Jan 12th and it's 70* outside) and I needed to maintain a certain temperature in my "area" which is the low 70's if possible. I thought I'd go ahead and put it to the test using both heat and A/C. I have a window A/C unit plugged in as well as a 1500W heater in a fairly small area. One day the air is on and one day the heat is on. At night it may be colder and use heat while during the day it might be warmer and use the A/C. I don't always "maintain" that "margin" that I've set but, it does what I want it to do. Maintaining a close temp can be managed by the unit controls which takes some "fiddling" but, it can be done. It's very easy to change your settings. You just have to adjust the settings until you get what you want. Unless you want to stay there watching it, it may take days or a week or so to get it just right but, it can be done. The temperature displayed is different from the temp displayed on my other devices I have all around. Of course, they don't agree with each other either so.... But, there is a way to adjust for that too. Check out the specs. It's very "customizable". Like I said, I love it. I just hope it holds up to daily use. The only thing better would be one that has a higher rating. I might add that the price has gone up $7 since I bought it.UPDATE: It's April of 2019 and I own 2 of these now. It wasn't long after buying the above unit, I decided to buy another. I thought there was a problem but so far it hasn't shown up again. Also, since I have 2 now I can "micro manage" my temps. I have 1 hooked to the A/C and 1 to the heater. I know, I know. You're asking why? Hey, it's working fine for me. Both of them. If for some reason I burn up a relay on the heater side, I can use it for A/C. Another thing is that both units register almost exactly the same temps. They seem to be calibrated well. I love the long probes too. I have one of my control units totally outside the room which I'm monitoring.These units are GREAT!!! I'm in my 3rd year using them and expect to use them for years more. I highly recommend!!!!!!!

I looked at many controllers before settling on this one. First I needed one that would handle a 15,000 btu window a/c so that put many of them out. Between the rest, I ended up choosing this one. Very happy with this! It's pretty easy to set and the only reason I say pretty easy is because I have to think backwards since you set the shut off temp first (for a cooling appliance) and then add the number of degrees to that for when it cuts on. Probably easy for most everyone else but me. Still, it's an easy press of the button to set the on and off temp. It's got a nice long power cord and a nice long temperature probe cord which is very handy for me. It's worked perfectly all summer and we've had a couple of power outages. It also has a compressor delay function which is helpful. I'd buy this again if I needed another and have recommended it to a few friends. UPDATE: After two full hot summers running my large window a/c unit, and now being used to turn on/off two heat lamps I have to say I'm more than pleased with this unit. This past summer it would trip it's breaker occasionally and I thought perhaps it was the controller but later realized my old window a/c unit was off and on pulling too much power at startup coupled with periods of too much voltage spikes and dips on my line after the wind turbines were powered on all around me. It's running the heat lamps perfectly and the temp probe reads spot on with another thermometer probe I have hung next to it so I can read the temperature from inside. I highly recommend this unit.UPDATE at 4 years: Still no problems or complaints! This thing just keeps on working perfectly and spot on with the temps and controlling whatever I have plugged into it. I first thought it was a bit expensive when I purchased it but now I see that it's worth every penny and more. Don't hesitate to buy this if you have any needs at all for controlling a heating or cooling device.UPDATE AT 5 Years: Still going strong and reliable as ever. I count on this to keep my water lines from freezing in the rv basement area and it has it's work cut out for it for several months of the year, running two heat lamps. Seems perfectly on temp. Definitely a great purchase!