InkBird heater control help

[Lyferxb9s]

I bought the Inkbird 306T being that it had two outlets I only assumed it could control both of them. However, that is not the case. According to inkbird it will just flip flop between turning on each outlet. But my question is, that they can't seem to answer, what is the difference between work 1 and work 2? Since this place apparently doesn't really know about their product, does anyone know if you can have both outlets on at the same time? I'm trying to get two 300w heaters to turn on at the same time, and turn off together,

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

I got the 308 which has one outlet for cooling and one for heating. I only use the heating outlet and just used a splitter cord on the heating outlet to hook up two heaters to it. I still have one outlet left on the splitter cord that I can use if I ever needed to add a third heater.

 

[esoxlucius]

I have an inkbird 306t on one of my 180's. There are two sockets for two heaters and both sockets are for heating only. I've just checked mine now to see if both heaters come on together when I raise the set temp. And yes they do. Also the "work 1" light came on. And when I decreased the set temp both heaters went back off together and the "work 1" light went off. To be honest I'm not entirely sure what the "work 2" light is for, nor do the instructions seem to shed any light on it. Maybe the "work 2" function has something to do with the units ability to do seperate day and night temps but i don't use this function so I could be wrong.

So if what inkbird are saying is correct (that the heaters should flip flop between sockets and NOT come on together), then mine must be broke!!!

Just some extra info for you. I've got two 180's and used to have inkbird 306T's on them both. However, I had nothing but problems with one of my inkbirds on one tank so I bought another to replace it, and not long after the replacement started to play up. So I took the replacement out, i'll not buy another inkbird now. My other 180 still has an inkbird in there and that one seems to be doing OK (though if what inkbird are saying is correct, then that one's broke too!!!).

Good luck with yours.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

I have heard that the 306 model is not as reliable as the 308 model, which is why I went with that one. I have had a few probes go out, but replacement probes are cheap and simply unplug and plug right back in. My most recent probes are covered in silicone grease and appear to be holding up quite well.

 

[Icecold Dan]

I know this doesn't answer your question, but I've had nothing but bad luck with Inkbird heater controllers. I've been through a few and each has been wildly inaccurate, so much so that the offset doesn't come close to covering it.

I've started using the Blue Line controllers from Champion Lighting and have been very happy.

 

[TheWolfman]

You need a splitter on the heating outlet. The other is for cooling. Program the temp you want the heater to come on by the set temp. Them set the difference to one degree above your set temp. The controller will turn on power to the outlet when the temp falls a degree below the set temp. The last thing you need to do is calibrate the thermostat I used a standard aquarium thermometer and then adjusted the inkbird to match the same temp. The last thing I did was to put some tape around where the probe plugs in to the controller so it can’t come unplugged by accident. The instructions it came with tell you how to program it, just hold the middle button to enter or exit programming.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

I know this doesn't answer your question, but I've had nothing but bad luck with Inkbird heater controllers. I've been through a few and each has been wildly inaccurate, so much so that the offset doesn't come close to covering it.

I've started using the Blue Line controllers from Champion Lighting and have been very happy.

Did you have the 306 or 308 Inkbird model?

 

[TexasMFK31]

Did you have the 306 or 308 Inkbird model?

Not the same person, but I had the 306T that was meant to run dual heaters, and a colleague who ran the same one. Both of us had it crap out within 6-8months. I have replaced the Inkbird with this controller. So far it has held up well (4 months now) but it is holding temperature without needing to set in an offset like I had to on the Inkbird.

 

[Nilsafeller]

One model is for 2 heater another model is for heater/cooler... find out you have the right unit first... I have the dual plug for heater only... works great and is accurate within .2 degree celcius... love it! Make sure the heaters you use are set very high so they turn on when the jnkbird turns on... if the heater control is too low the heater wont turn on itself cause it doesnt think ur needs to

 

[Rocksor]

Been using the 306T since April 2014 with no issues. I did put a plastic covering on the probe to protect it from water degradation. I've noticed that both heaters are on at the same time, or if they are turned on in sequence, like a few seconds apart, I wouldn't notice that.