INKBIRD ITC-308 Product Review

Homebrewing Review

This is a overview and a review of the INKBIRD ITC-308 as it relates to homebrewing. The temperature control board can be used for several other things – for aquariums, terrariums, for food cooking, and more – but specifically for us – this review pertains to how it can be used for homebrewing.

I will cover it more later in the article, but I first want to say that this product was given to me in lieu of a review. .

Temperature

Ask any homebrewer what one of the most important things about home brewing is – and the answer will be quick and succinct – temperature. Temperature while formenting, temperature while mashing, temperature while pitching; temperature, temperature… temperature.

The INKBIRD ITC-308(S) WiFi temperature controller is considered to be the best option for homebrewing among temperature controllers. In the United States – the INKBIRD ITC-308 is considered to be one of the premier options for temperature control during fermentation.

What’s in the Box?

“Whats in the box?! Whats in the box?!” No… I won’t do a full Se7en parody for you, but I will tell you what comes with the box:

• Manual in multiple languages
• A warranty card
• The ITC-308 (135mm x 68mm x 33mm / 5.3in x 2.7in x 1.3in)
  • Temperatureprobe / sensor
  • Dual-Socket
  • 2 LCD Displays

Specifications

Feature	ITC-308
Temperature control range:	50 ~ 120 °C
Precision of the displays	0.1 °C
Model of temperature control	Control with switch, heating and cooling
Output control	Max. 10 A, 100 V ~ 240 V AC. E.g. in Germany you’ll get 230V * 10A = 2300W = 2.3kW max output power
Body dimensions	140 x 68 x 33 mm (5.5 x 2.7 x 1.3 inches)
Outlet	85 x 42 x 24 mm (3.3 x 1.7 x 1 inches)
Working temperature:	-30 ~ 75 °C / -22 ~ 167 °F
Storage conditions	-20 ~ 60 °C / humidity 20 ~ 85% (no condensation)
Temperature control range	-50 ~ 120 °C
Type of sensors	IP68 waterproof NTC sensor
Temperature Probe	40mm length, diameter 5mm (1.6in length x 0.2in), including the thicker plastics part 58mm Cord length: 183 cm (72 in)
LCD Displays	Each display 38 x 15.5 mm (1.5 x 0.61 in)
Cord length	Input: 140 cm (55.1 in) Output: 20 cm (7.8 in)

Features

Some of the high – level features of the Inkbird ITC-308 include:

• plug and play design
• Double relay output (cooling & heating at the same time)
• Dual display (measured and target temperature)
• Temperature calibration.
• Alarms for too high and too low temperatures.
• Adjustable (separate) heating/cooling difference function (hysteresis)

Installation

This is pretty much idiot proof – I do say “pretty much”. Its plug and play really, but you never know with some people. The INKBIRD ITC-308 is made up of a main control unit, which has a couple of LCD displays, and buttons for adjusting settings and configuration parameters.

If you would like to check out the online manual – you can find it here: INKBIRD ITC-308 Manual.

You should always read the manual first.

Mounting the Main Unit

The main unit of the INKBIRD WiFi ITC-308 can be easily mounted via the keyhole slot at the top of the unit. Easy peasy. This makes it easy to hang from a screw on the wall near the equipment you are controlling; although you could also easily use velcro strips or two – sided tape. I would like to point out here, it would be nice if there was a second keyhole slot at the bottom for a second screw positioned to make sure it stays on the wall good, but this is a bit superfluous.

Mounting the Power Outlets

The Heating and Cooling outlets are combined in a “mini power strip” connected to the main unit by a short cable. This is a feature you can find on many similar devices, and its nice and easy.

Like the main unit, the outlets can be mounted via a single keyhole for a screw or nail. This is where having a second keyhole slot on both parts would be nice to make sure everything stays mounted straight up and down, but its not absolutely needed.

Temperature Probe Mounting

The temp probe is connected to the main unit via a hardwired, 5′ length of cable.

You will want to mount the probe as close as possible to the area where you are keeping your fermenting beer will be located, and away from heating and cooling surfaces. That should give you a pretty accurate reading, and help avoid rapid cycling of equipment.

Do not submerge the probe into your beer. Instead, make use of the Heating Difference Value, Cooling Difference Value, and Refrigeration Delay settings to compensate for temperature swings and protect your equipment.

Buttons

Lets look into how the buttons on the main user interface lets you do certian things.

Setting the Target Temperature

Setting the temperature the “old school” way is easy: First, press the “SET” button for less than 3s. Second, press the arrow up and down keys to change the target temperature. This will be shown instantly on the lower LCD screen. Lastly, press “SET” again to save the target temperature.

Remember when using buttons was “old school”; just like having to get up and change the channels on your TV by yourself?

Setting the Configuration

First, hold the “SET” button for less than 3s. The menu will cycle will show. To get to the next menu item, short press SET. To exit the menu, you can press SET for more than 3s anytime:

• TS: Temeprature Set value – Setting the target temperature.
• HD: Heating Differential value – Defines a deadzone, where the heating socket is not turned on, despite the process value being below the temperature set value.
• CD: Cooling Differential value – same for cooling.
• AH: Alarm high limit – set the alert if this temperature is exceeded.
• AL: Alarm low limit – same as above, just the lower threshold.
• PT: Compressor delay – Delay for the cooling socket. If the cooling socket is flagged for turning on, this periode has to pass. This is to protect your compressor from being turned on and off to often.
• CA: Temperature calibration – If your temperature probe has an offset you can correct it here. The temperature relevant for turning on/off the sockets is calculated by “measured temperature + CA”.
• CF: Display in Fahrenheit or Centigrade / Celsius

Pros and Cons of the INKBIRD ITC-308

So you got an idea of how it works, all the features, the nifty things it can do, but whats our thoughts on it? What did we like and not like about it? Well, here it is, the things we loved and didn’t love about the Inkbird ITC-308:

Pros

• Easy to setup.
• Nice app(s) – we used the Inkbird Pro.
• Two displays are great to glimpse the current and target temperature – without having to pull out the phone and open an app.
• The max power of 2.3kW is easily enough to power any fermentation device such as a fridge, freezer, or glycol chiller.
• Data can be exported.
• Calibration of temperature offsets.
• Possibility to set alarms.
• Plug and Play
• Simple to Use
• Connectivity
• Overall Good Value

Cons

• Relais is turned off when the target temperature is reached. This will inevitably lead to temperature overshoots. Which is bad during mashing, especially during mash out – where you want to stay below 78°C / 172°F.
• The max power of 2.3kW (for 230V) is not sufficient to power common mashing devices such as the Hendi Induction Plate (3.5kW) or a typical heating element (3.2kW).
• The temperature sensor is hard to replace. This issue is however solved with the Inkbird ITC-380S.
• Logging interval is pretty long.
• Hardwired Temperature Probe – In some ways, it’s good that the temp probe is hard-wired. You don’t have to make any connections.

In Summary

In my opinion, the Inkbird ITC 308 gets the job done well, affordably, and reliably.

The cost to value ratio is outstanding

Having everything integrated into a single unit makes it far more convenient than building your own setup and using a cheaper control unit or letting it up to chance. This gives homebrewers a better degree of control over the temperature.

This controller can be used for many different applications. Fermentation chamber control and kegerator serving temperature control are common uses.

These are easily the best homebrewing temperature controllers I have used or am aware of. (Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments.)

The Inkbird ITC-308 is great device for homebrewers – especially for fermentation. In this case, temperature under- and overshoots are as well as the fact that the temperature is logged only every fifteen minutes is negligible.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Like I said at the beginning of this article, I received an Inkbird ITC-308 in lieu of a review. I have given my thoughts as my own, unchanged by receiving this item for free, and I have not been told what to say. I would like to thank Cecilia Kwok for the item and the chance to review it.

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