Ranco tempt controller probe

Pinkskunk · 10/27/2014, 09:41 AM

Hi there guys.

Is the temperature sensor (probe) from the Ranco water proof? can ifully submerge the tempt sensor (probe) in my tank?

raidendex · 10/27/2014, 10:11 AM

It is not. While it will not show it right away, eventually it may fail if you just use it as is, there is some coating on the sensor it's just not that great. You need to cover it with something. I have plastic tubing that i run up the wire for about a foot on mine with zip ties on both ends. Could possibly also dip the thing in some sort of resin/silicone I suppose, as long as it will not fall apart in the salt water with time.

tkeracer619 · 10/27/2014, 08:45 PM

Eh, never shielded one and never had one fail on one of my tanks. Seen one fail at 4 years on another reefers tank.

It may be a good idea to put the probe in a sheath but I wouldn't let it keep you from tossing the probe in the water. I think mine has been submerged now for 6 years without an issue.

slief · 10/27/2014, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Eh, never shielded one and never had one fail on one of my tanks. Seen one fail at 4 years on another reefers tank.

It may be a good idea to put the probe in a sheath but I wouldn't let it keep you from tossing the probe in the water. I think mine has been submerged now for 6 years without an issue.

I agree. I have an Aqualogic chiller that I ran for a number of years and it has a standard Ranco controller and no coating on the probe. It never failed me. My buddy Jim uses Aqualogics with Ranco's on his jelly fish tanks that he manufacturers and never has any issues with those either.

While coating it won't hurt anything and may not be a bad idea either, but it's not really needed. If it was companies like Aqualogic would be coating the probes on their chillers controllers as a matter of practice.

tkeracer619 · 10/27/2014, 09:07 PM

BTW the Ranco probe is user replaceable (with soldering iron) and is $20.

nomoney · 10/28/2014, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Could possibly also dip the thing in some sort of resin/silicone I suppose, as long as it will not fall apart in the salt water with time.

Do you think just regular tank silicone would work? I just picked out up used and am about to set it up in my tank.

liven learn · 10/28/2014, 04:30 PM

Mine is also fine just in the water.

zachts · 10/28/2014, 06:09 PM

A piece of vinyl tubing is the easiest, get a piece that you can slide the prob into tightly but easily, then use a lighter to melt and seal the end that will be in the water and leave the open end up above the waterline.

My first one I just covered with silicone and it has worked for ten years now...........

Big E · 10/29/2014, 05:23 AM

I had a probe fail and where it failed is at the probe sleeve /wiring connection. When I replaced the probe I just used some clear epoxy to cover where the probe and wire connect.

jda · 10/29/2014, 09:36 AM

I just drop mine in, too. 10+ years and working great.

Pinkskunk · 10/30/2014, 08:25 AM

thanks for the replies guys.

So i now only need a tempt controller for my tank and was looking between the DA ReefKeeperLite unit for $119 with a tempt probe (their tempt probe are not the best) OR the Ranco tempt controller.

sowildpaul · 10/30/2014, 07:36 PM

http://www.marinedepot.com/Aqua_Logi...FITETC-vi.html

They sell single and dual stage controllers. 15% off discount from 10/30 to 10/31

Quote:

Watertight Titanium Encapsulated Thermistor

sreefs · 10/30/2014, 08:08 PM

It depends on the the temp probe used. You can cover the probe with this shrink wrap or something similar.

http://www.etcsupply.com/thermal-wel...206fbc5f6f6d1a

laga77 · 10/31/2014, 09:20 AM

I have a Ranco in both of my tanks. I coated the bottom 4 inches of the probe and wire with silicone. The probe only sits a half inch into the water also. I expect I shold never have a problem.

SaltTinker · 10/31/2014, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sreefs

It depends on the the temp probe used. You can cover the probe with this shrink wrap or something similar.

http://www.etcsupply.com/thermal-wel...206fbc5f6f6d1a

Got my Ranco from here, along with the 24" shrink wrap tubing pre-installed.

10/27/2014, 09:41 AM	#1
Pinkskunk Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,773	Ranco tempt controller probe Hi there guys. Is the temperature sensor (probe) from the Ranco water proof? can ifully submerge the tempt sensor (probe) in my tank?

10/27/2014, 10:11 AM	#2
raidendex Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ocoee, FL Posts: 1,124	It is not. While it will not show it right away, eventually it may fail if you just use it as is, there is some coating on the sensor it's just not that great. You need to cover it with something. I have plastic tubing that i run up the wire for about a foot on mine with zip ties on both ends. Could possibly also dip the thing in some sort of resin/silicone I suppose, as long as it will not fall apart in the salt water with time. __________________ Michael Current Tank Info: 180g Discus Planted

10/27/2014, 08:45 PM	#3
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Eh, never shielded one and never had one fail on one of my tanks. Seen one fail at 4 years on another reefers tank. It may be a good idea to put the probe in a sheath but I wouldn't let it keep you from tossing the probe in the water. I think mine has been submerged now for 6 years without an issue. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

10/27/2014, 09:07 PM	#5
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	BTW the Ranco probe is user replaceable (with soldering iron) and is $20. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

10/29/2014, 05:23 AM	#9
Big E Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: South Euclid, OH Posts: 4,281	I had a probe fail and where it failed is at the probe sleeve /wiring connection. When I replaced the probe I just used some clear epoxy to cover where the probe and wire connect. __________________ 80g Rimless Acropora System reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2197142&page=31 Ed

10/28/2014, 04:30 PM	#7
liven learn Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 135	Mine is also fine just in the water.

10/28/2014, 06:09 PM	#8
zachts Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 3,259	A piece of vinyl tubing is the easiest, get a piece that you can slide the prob into tightly but easily, then use a lighter to melt and seal the end that will be in the water and leave the open end up above the waterline. My first one I just covered with silicone and it has worked for ten years now...........

10/29/2014, 09:36 AM	#10
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	I just drop mine in, too. 10+ years and working great.

10/30/2014, 08:25 AM	#11
Pinkskunk Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,773	thanks for the replies guys. So i now only need a tempt controller for my tank and was looking between the DA ReefKeeperLite unit for $119 with a tempt probe (their tempt probe are not the best) OR the Ranco tempt controller.

10/30/2014, 08:08 PM	#13
sreefs Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Pa Posts: 754	It depends on the the temp probe used. You can cover the probe with this shrink wrap or something similar. http://www.etcsupply.com/thermal-wel...206fbc5f6f6d1a __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 225 Coast To Coast SPS reef. T5 lighting

10/31/2014, 09:20 AM	#14
laga77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Alsip, IL Posts: 1,133	I have a Ranco in both of my tanks. I coated the bottom 4 inches of the probe and wire with silicone. The probe only sits a half inch into the water also. I expect I shold never have a problem.