STC 1000

[lord.president]

Hi all, I've finally got myself a nice tall fridge, I've been eyeing up STC 1000's on fleabay, however, the cheapo ones from China say 'max current 3 amps'. Does anybody know what the rating should be- I'm planning running a fridge and a tube heater off it. Thanks.

[keith1664]

Do you have a link to the one you're looking at? AFAIK they're rated at 10amps.

[chastuck]

Hi all, I've finally got myself a nice tall fridge, I've been eyeing up STC 1000's on fleabay, however, the cheapo ones from China say 'max current 3 amps'. Does anybody know what the rating should be- I'm planning running a fridge and a tube heater off it. Thanks.

3 amp is probably enough for cooling, but not for heating. I have a STC 1000, and on the hot side it has a 40 amp relay for driving a heater.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

I wouldn't have thought you need 40 amp to run a heater in a fridge. I use a 60 watt bar heater in my fridge snd unless my maths are wrong that only draws 0.25 Amps.

The only time you need a relay is if you are using it to Control an HLT with a 3kW element in it drawing approx 12.5 Amps

[irv]

Hi all, I've finally got myself a nice tall fridge, I've been eyeing up STC 1000's on fleabay, however, the cheapo ones from China say 'max current 3 amps'. Does anybody know what the rating should be- I'm planning running a fridge and a tube heater off it. Thanks.

3 amp is probably enough for cooling, but not for heating. I have a STC 1000, and on the hot side it has a 40 amp relay for driving a heater.

The fridge will draw more current than a 60W tube heater.

Although you have not provided a link, I think that the STC 1000 you are looking at will be fine for your purpose.

If you intend you use this for running a HLT then you would need secondary relays.

I have a theory that a lot of these clone electronic stuff from china come from the same factories that make the non-clone stuff. ( i haven't any evidence for this )

[chastuck]

I wouldn't have thought you need 40 amp to run a heater in a fridge. I use a 60 watt bar heater in my fridge snd unless my maths are wrong that only draws 0.25 Amps.

The only time you need a relay is if you are using it to Control an HLT with a 3kW element in it drawing approx 12.5 Amps

You're quite right of course. I should have said that I sometimes use my STC1000 to run an HLT heater element of 5500w. I could have used a 25 amp relay for this, but just happened to have the 40 amp relay lying around.

[ArmChair]

I thought they only made 10amp & 30amp ones

[lord.president]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STC-1000-All- ... 2439wt_925

[keith1664]

The one you've linked to states 5A, so not as bad as 3A, however the clue seems to be in the price as searching for stc1000 throws up lots of results from Hong Kong around the £11-£12 mark (which state 10A) seems like the one you've found has saved the money on the relay. I suggest you spend a little more.

[irv]

when i was looking into them, a couple of years ago, the cheaper ones were heat OR cool not heat AND cool. but they seemed to have bigger relays.

i would avoid this one and pay an extra £4 for a different one.

[lord.president]

Ah right. Getting amps and watts mixed up,must have been off the day they did that at school! Thanks for help,I'll probably end up getting one of those ready made things.

[chivelegs]

The higher rated cool only / heat only ones are pretty good for using with an HLT and to control a aquarium heater water bath. I've got one for that reason and a STC-1000 which I added a bigger relay to for controlling my keggerator.

when i was looking into them, a couple of years ago, the cheaper ones were heat OR cool not heat AND cool. but they seemed to have bigger relays.

i would avoid this one and pay an extra £4 for a different one.