Control Products TC-9102S-HV Single Stage High Voltage Digital Temperature Controller

When I got the box open I was surprised a bit on how sturdy and well constructed this device is. It isn't heavy, really, but it does have a ABS or similar tough plastic case.The unit does require wiring and as others pointed out, the wiring diagram doesn't come with the unit. If you are an electrician, you won't need the instructions since the unit is well diagrammed inside. For novices like me, I needed the wiring diagram and that can be found on their website. I am kinda baffled why they don't put one inside the box, but finding the diagram was pretty easy.Now for the setup: I have a Keezer for beer storage and dispensing. I had a Ranco Digital but it died with E2 code, which is a motherboard failure or something like that. So, I did some reading and this model seemed like a good deal.I had some power cord from the Ranco and I used that. If you don't have power cable, you will need to get some at any hardware store. My electric cable was a simple extension cord 14 gauge that was modified. So, I have the male input to the wall and the female to the relays as per the wiring diagram. This being said, you also will need some short pigtails to wire from the relays to the power cord because there isn't a lot of space for 14 gauge cables. You also will need a wire clamp to secure the wires to the box. The wiring is pretty easy even for me. If I can do it, I imagine anyone can.First Opinions: The unit fired right up. There is an automatic delay cycle (5 Mins) which is a cycle to protect condensers from coming on too soon after power down. (This is one of the best features of the unit.)All settings can be modified. I left all my settings to default since I don't see any reason to change them. I placed the sensor into a glass of slush (which is really scientific ((ha)) and the reading came in at 32F/0C. So, the initial calibration seemed on the money. I left the differential at 3 degrees, so the inside temps will have to get +3 before the Keezer kicks in. I also placed the sensor into a plastic bottle that I designed. The bottle has some water and a bit of vodka in it. I drilled a small hole in the lid and placed the sensor in the bottle. I then placed silicon over the opening for a seal. I just don't want water in my Keezer if I can help it. I do recommend you place the sensor in water. (I used vodka so it wouldn't freeze at 32F/0C.) So, that works perfectly.One problem I had is the length of the sensor cable. It is pretty short, so I am going to take my Ranco wires and use them. Be advised that the Ranco sensor is not compatible with this device. The wires on the Ranco seemed more impressive since they are insulated. This is just a minor issue and you can find wire at any hardware store. I think it is about 25-30 gauge... not sure about that. In any event, splicing can be done easily. I do recommend solder and shrink tubing over the solder joint to limit oxidation of the wires or liquid contamination.I really don't think you can beat this device at this price range. I would love to see a WIFI model so I could watch my temps over the internet, but those devices run $$$$$??If you have a need for temp control, this is the unit you should get. For more range or to use a device to heat AND cool, get the Dual Stage model.I hope this review helps. I am going to TRY to get pics on this so you all can see the wiring. It's simple enough, but I like it when I can actually see the wiring.Thanks for reading this review. Comments welcome.

I've long desired the ability to accurately control temperature within an environmental enclosure. My immediate need for this temperature controller was to maintain a refrigerator at 57F +/-2F for making whipped/creamed honey. (The stock refrigerator controller wasn't accurate enough for this purpose.) In this capacity the TC-9102S-HV has performed flawlessly. I've also briefly used the controller to maintain a heated environment at 120F. In this application it also performed perfectly. For the first couple of weeks of use, I tracked the temperature readout against a thermocouple based thermometer. They tracked perfectly and I now trust the readout of the TC-9102S-HV without hesitation.The User Interface is fairly easy to navigate, especially in light of the limited input controls (up,down, mode, enter). Keeping the instructions handy is an absolute must since the 7segment readout can be rather cryptic when adjusting some of the mode settings. That said, the instruction manual provides a clear/concise section on the programming parameters. Once the parameters are set, simply adjusting the set-point up or down is trivial. Speaking of the manual: As another reviewer noted, the instruction manual does not contain information on how to wire the controller for specific applications, although the connection points within the unit are clearly described. Some understanding of electrical wiring is required.One relatively minor criticisms. The unit arrived in a bag with a protective sheet over the front. Despite this protection, the entire unit was coated in a very thin residue of sticky oil. The outside of the bag was clean so I assume the oil was deposited during assembly or possibly during the manufacture of the plastic components (mold release?). I was able to clean off the oily residue with a rag dampened with rubbing alcohol. (Obviously don't do this with the unit plugged into the wall.)As stated above, this unit has performed flawlessly in both cooling and heating applications. It is accurate and relatively easy to adjust. I would definitely purchase this device again.

Upfront, the best thing about this was that it was cheaper than both the Ranco and Johnson controllers, even with having to buy some cable separate and install.I bought this looking for a way to have some level of automated control of my mash temperature. I bought this and a Marshall Town Bucket Heater. The combination seems pretty awesome so far. I did a test run with 4 gallons of plain water, and set it for 152 degrees for an hour. At least when I was watching the read out, it stayed within 2 degrees of my target temperature.The cons, even if they are cons, is that it requires some setup. I have little to no experience in electrical work, but I was able to to hook up input and output cables to the relay after pondering over the wire diagram. Said diagram is not included with it, you have to get it online.Programming it was a breeze. I had to change several of the defaults. It has a default max temp setting of 100 F, which is likely for safety and/or liability, but easily raised to 200. It also has some sort of cycle delay to protect certain equipment like compressors. It was set to 5 min, which is easy enough to change to 0.It has heat and cool modes, so I plan to use it for mashing, and then setting it to cool and putting it on my mini fridge so I can use as a fermentation chamber for my carboy.