questions about a temperature controller and heaters

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bluexselvedge

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 1, 2009
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Elk Grove
noob questions so be easy...

im piecing together parts for my first tank and i want to get a temp controller and heater(s) from jehmco. i emailed them a few times and called them, but no response through email or a returned phone call from them. so i figured i would ask here.

The controller i want is the "ETCI-1R"
http://jehmco.com/html/temperature_controller.html

i have never seen it in person so i have no idea how it works.

-is it plug and play with any heaters? or do i have to cut/solder/do some wirings?
-it states a load of up to 1800 watts. is there a limit to how many heaters i can hook up as long as it doesnt go over 1800 (wont be going anywhere near that anyways)
-can i mix and match heaters that are hooked up to this controller? Like can i use one Ebo-Jager heater and one titanium heater? (http://jehmco.com/html/heaters.html)

The size tank i will be using is a 72x30x24 and its glass. I want a heater in my sump (65 gal or 75 gal, not sure which yet). would a 200watt ebo jager in the sump and a 500 watt titanium in the main tank work be good enough? (that is if i can control an ebo jager and a titanium heater with the controller)

thanks in advance
 
Yes it's plug and play. Set your heater/heaters to something above your normal temp. I set heaters to 85 and I set my controller to 80. Thats sort of a safety feature. Instructions will tell you to max out the heater temps but if your controller fails then you cook your fish. This way if you don't see your tank temps rising they will stop at 85 because your heaters are only set to 85.
- Don't go over specified watts (1800)
- Any heater is fine, I have three different heaters on my 450 gallon tank. The controller just sends power to the heaters when needed. Very simple.
- I have one sump heater and two tank heaters all working on the same controller, works fine.
As far as how much/many heaters your going to need depends on room temps and how much more heat your going to need, insolation, are your pumps giving off heat, how long your running your lights, bla bla bla. Most likely if your going 5 to 10 degrees over your room temps with a covered tank you should be fine. If not just add another heater!
Good luck :)
 
still a little confused about how the temp controller works. jehmco emailed me back and told me I can use a triple power strip into the single receptacle that's already installed in the controller to make 3. how will the controller know since an adapter of 3 Is plugged into one? can someone explain to me how that works?
 
bluexselvedge;3921630; said:
still a little confused about how the temp controller works. jehmco emailed me back and told me I can use a triple power strip into the single receptacle that's already installed in the controller to make 3. how will the controller know since an adapter of 3 Is plugged into one? can someone explain to me how that works?
Click to expand...

The temperature controller has a heat probe that measures tank temperature. When the tank temperature gets too low (or high if it is used for cooling) it energizes an outlet. The controller doesn't know or care what is plugged into it, it just turns the plug on or off.

Like Egon says, turn the heaters up to 85. Your heaters' thermostats will always be in an "on" position. You plug both heaters into the three-way pigtail. When the outlet turns on, they turn on.
 
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