Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This review is for an ITC-1000F "Inkbird" controller compared to the MH1210F "Docooler" controller I give the ITC-1000F itself 5 stars but take away 1 star on Amazon because I had to return the first unit. The first order came missing one of the orange clips. They could not ship me just the orange clip so back it went for a full refund. In the meantime, I ordered a second unit via Prime so my down time was only 2 days. The ITC-1000F is a 2 stage temperature controller meaning it can heat and cool at the same time using 2 different sides of a standard electrical outlet. This differs from the MH1210F controller (single stage) which can only heat OR cool but not simultaneously. Other than that, the controllers are essentially the same in function. In heat mode, the controller switches on when the temperature is below the SET temperature and switches off when above it. In cool mode, it switches on when the temperature is above the SET temperature and switches off when below it. There additional variables (ie. time delay, degree difference) but not relevant to this review. The ITC-1000F is a more capable controller and can switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit display. Since the price is the same, I recommend the ITC-1000F over the MH1210F. I originally designed the MH1210F into a box for Sous Vide using a crock pot and it works great for that purpose but I ended up giving it to my brother. I used the ITC-1000F in a smaller box for the second version as you can see in the pictures. In case you are wondering, both boxes came from Radio Shack (7x5x3" and 6x4x2") so grab one before they close for good. The smaller size is as small as an enclosure you can use for all the wiring needed (mine is wired so the left outlet is cooling and right is heating). NOTE: The smaller box was a pain to wire up so proceed at own risk In summary ITC-1000F: 2 stage, F/C degree display, thicker temperature probe and wire, audible alarm MH1210F: single stage, F display only, thinner probe and wire, simpler wiring connections The translated instructions for the ITC-1000F are not great but I've seen worse (MH1210F are bad) so here are my cleaned up instructions. @ (Power) Key - Toggle power / Confirm setting value / Save & exit Up Key - Show temperature setting / Up setting menu / Increase value Down Key - Show difference setting / Down setting menu / Decrease value S Key - Settings menu / Select setting / Save setting value In normal operating mode, pressing Up once shows the set temperature value and pressing Down once shows the difference value. Press and hold @ for 3s to turn off. Press and hold @ for 1s to turn on. When the temperature is less than or equal to the set temperature minus the difference setting, the heat relay closes and the heat indicator turns on. When the temperature is equal to the set temperature, the heat relay opens and the heat indicator turns off. When the temperature is greater than or equal to the set temperature plus the difference setting, the cooling relay closes and the cool indicator turns on. If the cool indicator flashes, the cooling relay is delayed from closing for the programmed time (to protect refrigerator compressors). Press S for 3s to get into settings menu. Use arrow buttons to select setting, then press S to change and press arrow buttons to change values. Press S to save and @ to save and exit menu settings. TS - Set temperature -50F to 210F, default 50F CF - Switch to Celsius or Fahrenheit CA - Calibration -15F to 15F, default 0F PT - Compressor delay 0min to 10min, default 3min DS - Difference setting 1F to 30F, default 3F Changing CF resets all settings to default values. ER is displayed and alarm sounds if the probe is disconnected or short circuited. Press any key to silence alarm. HL is displayed and alarm sounds if measured temperature exceeds maximum operating temperature. Press any key to silence alarm.