Farm Innovators TC-2 Thermo Cube Cold Weather Thermostatically Controlled Double Outlet, Auto On/Off

So far it has worked fine. I believe the one I bought comes on at 20 degrees and turns off around 30 degrees. I use it for the heat lamp for my chickens, and so far I am quite satisfied.

I have both the TC-2 and TC-3 units. The TC-2 unit (20 degrees on, 30 degrees off) controls an immersed heater in the circulating water fountain I constructed for pet drinking water. The circulation pump by itself keeps water flowing above 20 degrees. Below 20 degrees, this switch enables an immersed aquarium heater to add heat to the system to keep it from freezing. Works great, and cats love to drink from the flowing fountain. The TC-3 unit (35 degrees on, 45 degrees off) controls power to 2 low wattage heating pads that the cats sleep on in their outdoor shelter to keep them nice and toasty. I also feed power to a low wattage decorative rope light so I can tell when it comes on (not sure if the cats have figured that out yet). The temperature settings appear to be fairly accurate, to within a degree or so. I have had no problems with either the TC-2 or the TC-3 units. I have used them for several seasons and they keep working. I am very happy with them.

Paired this with 9 ft of heat tape meant for a roof/downspout to put around a few 12 packs of beer/cider/other adult beverages in the attached, but unheated, garage on the counter top. In Minnesota, even an attached garage gets cold enough to freeze your beer solid some days. Threw a random blanket over the top of the beverage boxes encircled by the heat tape and retained the heat from the warming strip. When cold enough to freeze the beer in the garage, this bugger kicks in and the heat tape warms things just enough to keep the bottles and cans drinkable cold but not frozen, and ready to move to the kitchen fridge. Better than fighting beer-cicles that leak when they thaw and having flat beer/cider.

I ordered TWO of these (on at 20 & off at 30) at the same time. Both were delivered in the same package. NEITHER OF THEM WORKED. It got down to 12 degrees --- and stayed well below the 20-degree threshold for more than 24 hours. NEITHER of them ever came "on". BOTH of them were dead in the water right out of the box. They were in open air (but protected from any weather) under the vehicles. Both block heaters worked when plugged directly into the power source (yes, I tested it). I then tested them in a freezer at zero degrees. NEITHER of them ever came "on". Worthless junk. Don't waste your time or money.

I use these for protecting outdoor shrubs that would be killed or damaged by temperatures below about 15 F. I have a small spotlight that generates heat inside a bag that covers the plant. Without these cubes I had to have the lights on all night during cold weather. With them, the lights go on by themselves when the temperature drops to around 20. My only issue with these is that for some reason the plugs are difficult to plug into certain receptacles. I couldn't get them into some of my extension cords at all. Others I had to push very hard. I'm also concerned that if the unit fails, my plants will die. When I left the lights on, I could easily tell if one burned out. But with these cubes, there is no real way to tell if the unit has gone bad.

I love these. I get the on at 20 deg. F and off at 30 deg. F model which is perfect for keeping your pipes from freezing in the winter. I put a Halogen spot light inside the pump area near the pipes, and cover everything with 2" foam insulation and a blanket over that. The Thermo cube is outside the insulation and in the ambient air. Works like a charm.

Nice to be able to know that these little power plugs will turn on when you need them. Pick your temperature requirements and buy one to match. You can get one if you need your car engine heater to only run when it is really cold, if you want your bird bath to turn on only once it is freezing outside, or trying to protect some plants in the greenhouse? I have used it for 2 months so far and it seems to work great, the real test will be in the spring when I find out if my plants in an insulated cold box survived the winter, those would be the ones that need to freeze but can not take the bitter cold winter temperatures that Minnesota is know for. I have the heater plugged into one side and an indicator light plugged into the other.

Turns on at 20 degrees, turns off at 30 degrees, as advertised. I put a night light in one of the sockets so I can tell when it is on/off. I am using it outdoors (protected from snow/rain) to run a warming bulb to keep an outdoor faucet warm. My cords, and the night light, fit the plugs. No problems. The three prongs should have some kind of an extension to get a better seat with an outdoor plug fixture, but I added an extender ($1) to do that. I'm giving it five stars because the main feature (on at 20/ off at 30 - plus or minus a couple of degrees) works so far, through several cycles.