PID Temperature Controller

I usually don't write reviews, but figured I would for this since the included manual isn't the best and I think it's unfair to give poor product reviews when it could be user setup issues which is easy for a controller like this. My background is 20 years in HVAC automation and knowing a thing or two about PID controls. The manual is helpful once you understand the flow. I'm using to convert my analog electric smoker to PID controlled. Here are the items to focus on. P00=18 (Have to do this first to unlock other menu options, oh and if you power off it resets this value) P17 and P22=0 (no alarms but can set alarms if you want to) P31=1 (sets to read degrees F) P42=0 (sets unit for heat control with SSR) P67=1 (sets to PID mode, 0 should work as well, but trying1 first to see if it does better as two way PID) P16=0 (refer to the sensor input chart and choose the one that best suits your temp probe) P80=2 (for SSRs you can set this to a much lower value than for a contactor relay, this is the control interval) P13=Temp Offset (This is where you calibrate the temp probe, I used boiling water and another known good temp probe for this to put my offset in. I needed about a +8F offset to match but I didn't use the included temp probe as I bought a longer one) Finally you can perform an auto tune. This will set the PID values. Press and hold the AT button until PV is flashing continuously. Let it do it's thing. When it is done flashing, the Auto tune has finished. Every situation will be different so it's best to perform this when you have everything like you normally would run your process. In my case load up the smoker and start smoking some delicious meat. You'll see it overshoot your desired setpoint, then start maintaining steady temps which is what PID control does. P76= P value (will vary based on what autotune does in your application) P77= I value (will vary based on what autotune does in your application) P78= D value (will vary based on what autotune does in your application)

Works exactly as I need in my powder coating oven. I use an old range from the dump, it was free. I’m running it with both the bake land broil elements. Holds the temp. Within one degree. Nice unit but poor instructions.

This works great keeping my old electric smoker at temperature. I hadn't used it in years because i had to constantly fiddle with the temp slider. Now i can set it and only worry about the time. As others have said, the instructions are lacking and setting P00 to 18 so other parameters can be set was troublesome. But as one reviewer noted, a long press on the Set button until it blinks and then a short press allows you to change it.

There are some settings that don't appear to do what they are suppose to. One example: "overshoot suppression factor". It did not have any effect on set value overshooting or derivative effect on the PID output. I tested and graphed this setting thoroughly under various loads and temps and it did not do anything. The device reads ice water at 32-33F which is what I would expect. As the temp rises, it gets exponentially more inaccurate. I tried it in a smoker to operate a fan up until the temp reached 225, at which point it should turn the fan off. I noticed the temp was much lower than a variety of other reliable probes and temp readers I had in the smoker grill for comparison and monitoring of this PID controller. I adjusted the target down from 225F to 216F to compensate. It seemed anywhere between 7 and 10 degrees too low at any given time. Since the performance was so disappointing I tried it in boiling water, which should read near 212F. It did not, it read 203F-206F at any given time. This could either be due to the failure of the PID controller to monitor and calculate temps correctly OR the type K probe that is provided with the device. It is brand new and since I do not want to spend more money buying compatible probes to determine this, I am left with no choice but to return this item as defective. This is disappointing.

I installed this on a salvaged oven to use for powdercoating. Once tuned it gives an extremely stable temp. Surprising due to the inherent hysteresis of a household oven, it keeps it within +/-1 degrees of target. This is a register-programmed device, and the instructions are typical of such an industrial device that has been brought to the consumer market. Many/most of the poor reviews are from not following the instructions. Let me give a quick overview of how I set mine up. Simple heater control no alarms. First get into settings and then P00 = 18 highest authority P17 and P22 = 0 no alarms P31 = 1 set to F scale P67 = 1 PID mode That's it for basic setup. Next set your target temp, put a dummy mass in the oven, and press and hold the AT button until PV is flashing continuously. Let it do it's thing. When it is done flashing, the Auto tune has finished and you're set.

Temp control is good, functions as intended, cheapest pid I could find. 4 stars because I accidentally destroyed the manual and it seems there is not one available anywhere on the Internet so don't lose that.

Worked perfectly and everything was compatible. Finding the auto tune took a minute but when you hold down set for like 8 seconds it says P00. Up and down arrows give you the different programming modes listed in the instructions. I think auto tune is 72. Temp started flashing and it ran thru a few cycles. Now the temp in my toaster oven is like +/- 2% which is light-years better than using the toaster oven controls.

Awesome pid controller for my heat tempering oil. Perfect size Perfect price and good instructions. You cant go wrong with this ine

Works well for me, just wiring circuit diagram given with it was little wrong.