STC1000 Temperature controller build.

Discussion in 'I made this!' started by Rustynuts, Jul 9, 2011.

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  1. Rustynuts

    Rustynuts Flamingo Tongue

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    Well, I thought I'd show you what I use to cool my tank, coupled to this controller.

    [​IMG]

    It's a little 12v clip on fan, and runs at 7w. Sort of like a tiny hair dryer. It doesn't push out huge volumes of air (unlike the 10" desk fan we used previously) but the fact that it's directed precisely where a powerhead ripples the surface means that it cools very well indeed.

    The tank is a Percula 90 and this little fan holds it down at 26° very well. The large 10" fan blowing across the surface of the tank was virtually ineffective in comparison. So, a concentrated blast at the surface is way better than loads of air wafting somewhere over there.
     
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  3. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

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    Very nice. What brand is that fan? It looks familiar.
     
  4. Rustynuts

    Rustynuts Flamingo Tongue

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    The box it came in is branded SunSun (who make dirt cheap and very good for the price powerheads) but I bought it from a firm in the UK who market and sell all sorts of similar stuff. This is where I got it. Link.

    They're available here for $20 delivered free. Link.
     
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2011
  5. joff

    joff Plankton

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    Hi all I'm new on the forum.
    I just came across this post looking for something similar. really interresting: i just purchased a stc-1000.

    Rustynuts a question for you. I've no datasheet nor the stc-1000 but why did you fused the in-line and not the line on the 2 relays?

    thanks for sharing

    cheers
    joff

     
  6. Rustynuts

    Rustynuts Flamingo Tongue

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    Sorry for the late reply, just caught up here.

    I fused the unit at 3amps because that's all it needs. A 3amp fuse will blow and protect the unit if necessary. The two relays simply switch power, so the heaters/coolers plugged into the power bar are already fused at the correct rating for themselves in their own plugs. A 3amp fuse running the whole thing could be overwhelmed by a 300w heater switching on, so it would be useless fusing the whole thing that way.
     
  7. dragit

    dragit Plankton

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    This is cool! I actually have one of these thermostats. Got out on e bay for $13.

    I plan on buying a Apex jr... but this could save me a little money for the time being
     
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  9. Oryo

    Oryo Feather Duster

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    That's awesome!

    I think I need to build one of these for my tank. I have fans all on timers but sometimes they go on when they don't need to and this would help!
     
  10. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

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    So, It doesn't actually control the power via thermostat to the heaters plugged in to it? It's got to, right?

    I have a heater controller that works well, I think it's called a Geisman?
     
  11. Windy

    Windy Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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  12. Vu Nguyen

    Vu Nguyen Flamingo Tongue

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    < $35 :); Maybe a bit more as the person who does it on RC does not have the outlet which can be from $5 to $10....