[ravenwater]

I have an Inkbird ITC-308 temperature controller on my fermentation chamber refrigerator. It's worked fine for 2 years running the fridge and also has run a small heater on a couple winter-time brews. I don't brew a ton so it actually hasn't had to endure massive hours of operation. Last week it failed me - I was afraid my refrigerator was biting the dust because it couldn't get the beer below 72 degrees according to the Inkbird display with my set point of 69. I use a thermowell in my fermenter. Well, I opened the fridge and discovered the fridge was working overtime and my beer was VERY cold.
Two questions:

1) Have other folks had an Inkbird fail (I see on a couple other forums brewers have reported this problem and noted it's likely a temp probe issue, and also noted response to customers at Inkbird has been less than stellar)

2) If I wanted to replace the unit rather than replace the probe, what might folks recommend for a tried-and-true long lasting dual controller that can connect both heater and fridge?

Thanks in advance.

[purduekenn]

Johnson controllers have a good reputation. MoreBeer has them.

[BrewBama]

I had an Inkbird probe on my RIMS PID controller fail. I replaced it with much higher quality unit from the Electric Brewery.  When I reported the failure on another popular beer site I was treated like I was badmouthing their mom or something. There are some very brand loyal brewers out there.

I use Auber Plug n Play Programable Dual Channel Controllers for both my fermentation and cold crash/serving fridges. They’ve been on the job for several years now. I forget they’re even there.

You could just replace the probe vs the whole unit if you’re confident it’s the probe.

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[chinaski]

I too have had an inkbird fail.  I wasn't surprised given how inexpensive they are.  I bought another one and its been working fine when I need it to- in the winter months during lager season.

[Bob357]

My Ranco is about 10 years old and has outlasted  2 fridges so far. I brew about every 2 weeks, so its almost always working. For the first couple of years it was also used for warming during the Winter.

[joe_meadmaker]

Johnson controllers have a good reputation. MoreBeer has them.

I have a Johnson A419 on my keezer.  It just passed the 4 year mark a couple months ago.