I ordered a NEW Thermostat controller, but received an obviously USED & ABUSED unit (DIMPLED LCD power light, DEEP SCRATCHES, SMUDGED & SOILED (food or ??? – yuck!). After submitting requested personal purchase information & a copy of the Amazon receipt by email to iPower, I was immediately sent a replacement – not soiled, although still also somewhat scratched on the face. I’m very satisfied with the cordial & responsive Customer Service. What a pleasure & surprise to not be forced to fight for what I’ve been promised or paid for! So far, after less than one week of use, this thermostat is super simple to use & has performed as represented by the seller/manufacturer. I have a surge protector plugged into the unit controlling power to a large pet heat mat (cat/dog hard plastic design, 90Watts), along with a large heated bird perch (Toucan sized, 9Watts), set at 40 degrees F, used in a 4 cubic ft, insulated chicken coop. The design of the thermostat control unit afforded easy attachment to a convenient, weather protected upright beam on the exterior of the coop. The sensor is dangling in a protected, screened-in area in a lower corner of the enclosed coop. My thermostat is successfully reading ambient air temps in the area of the sensor. The unit’s ‘heating’ light & temperature LCD display indicates that the thermostat opens the circuit at about 39-40 degrees & the two mentioned appliances do indeed provide heat as long as it is colder than 40 degrees. It closes the circuit at about 40-42 degrees, preventing over-heating of the enclosure & eliminating unnecessary electric consumption. I can imagine this little ‘heat’ thermostat being valuable in a wide range of applications where open circuitry is reliant on a specified heat requirement of a specific area. [Obviously, for ‘cooling’ purposes, opposite circuitry would be necessary & a ‘cooling thermostat’ required.] This thermostat simply opens & closes the electric circuit (power to) the ‘plug in’ receptacle molded into the unit’s bottom, according to the one (1) temperature you digitally ‘set’ & is ‘read’ by the specifically positioned sensor ... designed to control power supply based on a ‘near’ temperature (2-3 degree variance) to a specific appliance (more than one appliance if using a multi-plug adapter or surge protector) within ‘total’ safe amp/watt limits. The plug receptor on the unit will even accept a large gooseneck type outdoor 3-way adapter without interfering with the sensor line or power input cords, but this method may prove to be too heavy & susceptible to dislodging. This unit allows my heating appliances to operate (use power) when needed – NOT CONSTANTLY! 24 hr or high constant temp designed heat sources (appliances, such as mine) could cause over-heating & stressing of my cold acclimated hens – not to mention, wasting my time & electricity. Here, in an already frigid (Sept), high altitude, this unit seems to be the solution to better management of my time, as well as (most importantly) safe, happy, healthy & cool (but not frozen) chickens! If it continues to operate with the current (admittedly short term) consistency & quality, this thermostat is a winner! If not, I’ll be back with another honest update & change in ‘coop accommodations!’
