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cali_reef

Fish and Coral Killer
Rating - 97.3%
36   1   0
You can't "calibrate" them, the sensor are always off from the actual temp in my system. One of mine just stays on all the time, don't matter what the temp is.

You need a dedicated controller if you want accuracy and reliability.
 

samksy

FISHING, I'M IN!!!!
Rating - 100%
346   0   0
Thanks Pierce, i thought there's something wrong with mine or that it can be calibrate...guess not.

cali_reef said:
You can't "calibrate" them, the sensor are always off from the actual temp in my system. One of mine just stays on all the time, don't matter what the temp is.

You need a dedicated controller if you want accuracy and reliability.
 

Sean

Advanced Reefer
Location
Brooklyn
Rating - 100%
14   0   0
If your heater isn't precise and you need to "calibrate" it you could check the actual temperature with a thermometer then comparing it to what the won heater thinks it is make the adjustment.

example: won heater says 78 actual temperature 75 if your ideal temperature is 78 then "calibrate" the heater by raising the temp. to 81. If the temperature is jumping up and down more then 4 degrees then you probably need a larger or additional heater.
 

samksy

FISHING, I'M IN!!!!
Rating - 100%
346   0   0
cali_reef said:
NP, all heaters with built-in temp controller suck..

Lolz...i see, i'll keep that in mind. Thanks


House of Laughter said:
Samsky,

Best way to calibrate them is to throw them in the garbage - I went and bought a pinpoint temperature monitor cause the heaters keep freaking out -

I am not in for buying a controller (good one $250) so I monitor instead.

House

But a heater is still needed, which heater/brand do you recommend?


Sean said:
If your heater isn't precise and you need to "calibrate" it you could check the actual temperature with a thermometer then comparing it to what the won heater thinks it is make the adjustment.

example: won heater says 78 actual temperature 75 if your ideal temperature is 78 then "calibrate" the heater by raising the temp. to 81. If the temperature is jumping up and down more then 4 degrees then you probably need a larger or additional heater.

Yeah, that's what i use to do. Turn the heater temp to a point where the heater turns on and off and finds the differences in degrees....but it no longer works, for some reason there seems to be a large gap differences lately so just thought that real "calibration" exist for heater. :)
 
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NYPDFrogman

Advanced Reefer
Location
Vernon, NJ
Rating - 100%
35   0   0
my won bros heater says it's 96.7 degrees and the water got as cold as 70 degrees. thank god it was my 65 gall that had nothing of value in it.
itwas the 250 W with digital display.
I have a 500W on 180 that has an analog controller so far so good I plan on buying another and springing for a controller for the 450

I agree with Jim if it needs to be calibrated it belongs in the garbage
 

cali_reef

Fish and Coral Killer
Rating - 97.3%
36   1   0
NYPDFrogman said:
I agree with Jim if it needs to be calibrated it belongs in the garbage

Save them...

All bi-metallic type of contact in heaters with built in controller will turn bad overtime. Nature of design and material. Electromechanical relays with a separate temp control loop are much better.

For around $50 you can get a single Ranco controller to control the water temp to within one degree you set with precision, but it may not accurately read the actual temp. You can even plug in the heater you just throw in the garbage since it will just act as a heating element.

I own 7 digital temperature thermometers (two aqua controllers, two Ranco and three RS thermometers), not any two of them read exactly the same. I even borrowed a lab calibrated IR thermometer and none of the 7 reads within .3 deg of it. Aqua controller is the only device I own that you can off-set the temp sensor to correct for the error. I am not aware you can calibrate any heaters with digital readout.
 

samksy

FISHING, I'M IN!!!!
Rating - 100%
346   0   0
kimoyo said:
Do your won heaters drift?

I don't expect heaters to be at the correct temp but they should be keeping the temperature steady at the same temp. I ignore the setting on the heater and just look at my digital thermometer.

It's starting to drift. I do the exact same thing, just like you. It not longer keeps the temperature steady at the set temperature....goes on even when temperature reaches 80 when i set it to 70, so i set it even lower now, since i have a chiller, my tank probably won't heat up and i constantly monitor the temperature now until i can get myself on a used controller that helps.
 

samksy

FISHING, I'M IN!!!!
Rating - 100%
346   0   0
cali_reef said:
Save them...

All bi-metallic type of contact in heaters with built in controller will turn bad overtime. Nature of design and material. Electromechanical relays with a separate temp control loop are much better.

For around $50 you can get a single Ranco controller to control the water temp to within one degree you set with precision, but it may not accurately read the actual temp. You can even plug in the heater you just throw in the garbage since it will just act as a heating element.

I own 7 digital temperature thermometers (two aqua controllers, two Ranco and three RS thermometers), not any two of them read exactly the same. I even borrowed a lab calibrated IR thermometer and none of the 7 reads within .3 deg of it. Aqua controller is the only device I own that you can off-set the temp sensor to correct for the error. I am not aware you can calibrate any heaters with digital readout.

Throwing it out is a little wasteful, so i'm gonna stick with a controller with a heater, i'm in the market for a used controller. :) I sort of prefer titianium heater, they heats up the water better and does not break on you. :)
 

NYPDFrogman

Advanced Reefer
Location
Vernon, NJ
Rating - 100%
35   0   0
the 500W won bros heater I have has a serperate plug for the heating elemnet.
the 250 does not. the 250 is useless you have to cut the wire leading to the element and splice in a plug to use it with a controller, not worth the effort on my part and a possible shoch hazard too.
JMHO
 

cali_reef

Fish and Coral Killer
Rating - 97.3%
36   1   0
NYPDFrogman said:
the 250 does not. the 250 is useless you have to cut the wire leading to the element and splice in a plug to use it with a controller, not worth the effort on my part and a possible shoch hazard too.
JMHO

NO, you don't have to do that, just set the temp on the WON controller to few degrees higher than the desire temperature, plug it into the RANCO and you are in business. It would actually act as a secondary fail-safe control if the RANCO relay is to stick close, not likely to happen but its there anyway.
 

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