Showing posts with label duraflame infrared heater. Show all posts
Showing posts with label duraflame infrared heater. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
(Pack of 4) Buffet Chafer Food Warmer Wire Frame / Stand / Rack Review
Sturdy and strong set. Worked out perfectly! Just as advertised. Well worth the price that I paid. I would highly recommend.These are wonderful! Easy to fit sternos underneath and holds average buffet pans. Stack nicely for easy removal. Great value for the money!
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Discount Luma Comfort EC45S Tower Evaporative Cooler with 125 Square Foot
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $186.67
Sale Price: $139.99
Today's Bonus: 25% Off

I live in a studio apartment where a 10,000-BTU a/c handles most of the cooling.
Unfortunately, the cold air doesn't quite reach the bathroom, around a corner through an alcove.
So for many years I have had a Slant/Fin Personal Zone Air Cooler perched on the window sill in there (it's a pre-war building with windows in the bathrooms), pointed down at me when I'm, uh, reading...
The S/F finally conked -the motor gave out, and water leaked through the water level indicator window -so I was looking for a compact air cooler to fit in the bathroom. S/F no longer makes air coolers, apparently.
Enter this unusual tower, which looks rather like one might expect Dr. Who's nemesis, a Dalek, to look like if the cyborg slimmed down and became a fashion model... Like a Dalek, this tower rolls around on casters, but it lacks a plunger or exterminator ray!
Goodness, but this Dalek blows a gust of cool air! If you used this just as a tower fan, it seems to blow more air at the highest of three fan speed settings than any tower fan I've ever encountered -strong enough to make a plastic bottle of dental solution wobble on the bathtub rim three or four feet away!
But things get even cooler when you push the Cool button, activating a water pump that moistens a sponge-like wick through which air blows inside the tower. You add water to the reservoir that slides back from the base of the tower; the tower also comes with two ice packs you can chill in your freezer and slide into compartments in the water reservoir, yielding extra cool air for up to four hours, according to the instructions.
Other functions include a timer for automatic shut-off, side-to-side oscillation, a sleep mode that throttles down as the night air cools off while you sleep, and a "natural" mode, which randomly changes fan speed to simulate real breezes.
I am impressed by the manufacturer's attention to detail here. When you push a button, for example, the control lights get brighter, then dim after a few minutes. The tower also comes with a handy remote, duplicating all functions on the top switch panel. And the tower includes a washable air filter to keep the wick from getting gunked up by dust in the air.
One thing I'm not sure about is whether I will need to add some bleach to the water to prevent the fetid smells most coolers and humidifiers give off over time. The instructions don't address this issue. I can't imagine that the wick is treated with a germ-retardant that will continue to work after weeks and months.
In the meantime, however, this tower of power is sure keeping my bathroom cool and comfortable! The tower would probably work in any setting where you are within a fiveor six-foot radius. I should mention as well that the fan is quiet, even at the highest setting.
I will report back if I encounter any problems. Until then, I am impressed by the amount of cooling this tower provides, running on less energy than an incandescent light bulb consumes...
PROS:
* Tower form uses minimal floor space.
* Quiet in operation.
* Powerful fan.
* Swing mode disperses cool air.
* Several operating modes.
* Easy to maintain.
* Freezer packs for extra cooling.
* Remote control duplicates all functions.
* Minimum energy consumption.
* Casters enable easy re-positioning.
CONS:
* So far, haven't found any.
I would not recommend this to anyone.
List Price: $186.67
Sale Price: $139.99
Today's Bonus: 25% Off
I live in a studio apartment where a 10,000-BTU a/c handles most of the cooling.
Unfortunately, the cold air doesn't quite reach the bathroom, around a corner through an alcove.
So for many years I have had a Slant/Fin Personal Zone Air Cooler perched on the window sill in there (it's a pre-war building with windows in the bathrooms), pointed down at me when I'm, uh, reading...
The S/F finally conked -the motor gave out, and water leaked through the water level indicator window -so I was looking for a compact air cooler to fit in the bathroom. S/F no longer makes air coolers, apparently.
Enter this unusual tower, which looks rather like one might expect Dr. Who's nemesis, a Dalek, to look like if the cyborg slimmed down and became a fashion model... Like a Dalek, this tower rolls around on casters, but it lacks a plunger or exterminator ray!
Goodness, but this Dalek blows a gust of cool air! If you used this just as a tower fan, it seems to blow more air at the highest of three fan speed settings than any tower fan I've ever encountered -strong enough to make a plastic bottle of dental solution wobble on the bathtub rim three or four feet away!
But things get even cooler when you push the Cool button, activating a water pump that moistens a sponge-like wick through which air blows inside the tower. You add water to the reservoir that slides back from the base of the tower; the tower also comes with two ice packs you can chill in your freezer and slide into compartments in the water reservoir, yielding extra cool air for up to four hours, according to the instructions.
Other functions include a timer for automatic shut-off, side-to-side oscillation, a sleep mode that throttles down as the night air cools off while you sleep, and a "natural" mode, which randomly changes fan speed to simulate real breezes.
I am impressed by the manufacturer's attention to detail here. When you push a button, for example, the control lights get brighter, then dim after a few minutes. The tower also comes with a handy remote, duplicating all functions on the top switch panel. And the tower includes a washable air filter to keep the wick from getting gunked up by dust in the air.
One thing I'm not sure about is whether I will need to add some bleach to the water to prevent the fetid smells most coolers and humidifiers give off over time. The instructions don't address this issue. I can't imagine that the wick is treated with a germ-retardant that will continue to work after weeks and months.
In the meantime, however, this tower of power is sure keeping my bathroom cool and comfortable! The tower would probably work in any setting where you are within a fiveor six-foot radius. I should mention as well that the fan is quiet, even at the highest setting.
I will report back if I encounter any problems. Until then, I am impressed by the amount of cooling this tower provides, running on less energy than an incandescent light bulb consumes...
PROS:
* Tower form uses minimal floor space.
* Quiet in operation.
* Powerful fan.
* Swing mode disperses cool air.
* Several operating modes.
* Easy to maintain.
* Freezer packs for extra cooling.
* Remote control duplicates all functions.
* Minimum energy consumption.
* Casters enable easy re-positioning.
CONS:
* So far, haven't found any.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
I live in a 1 bedroom apartment in Hollywood CA. I have an in wall ac unit like most people do out here and no A/C in my bedroom. So I decided to try this out.... Well I couldn't be happier. Even with my window closed this fan is strong enough to keep me cool. I usually don't even put water in it but if you want it to be cold get 2 gallons of water put them in the fridge for a day then throw them in this thing. Will make it even colder. I get very hot very very easily and still have no problem with it. Love it!Best Deals on Luma Comfort EC45S Tower Evaporative Cooler with 125 Square Foot
When i first received the cooler i felt as though is did not blow very much air at all, two weeks after the purchase it stop blowing air period so i am not sure if it was defective from the start, i am returning to get my money back.Honest reviews on Luma Comfort EC45S Tower Evaporative Cooler with 125 Square Foot
The huge tree that used to shade my house was taken down this Spring. I bought this evaporative cooler to help with the increased heat. Last week we had 3 days of 100 degrees in a row. At 4pm on the third day the house was 76 degrees, which I think is success. The water holding tank is a little difficult to pull out to fill, which is why I didn't give it 5 stars. Warning though, only good in low humidity climates. I could feel a rise is humidity in the room, which in Colorado is almost welcomed. This unit is good for small areas. I like the sleek non-bulky look. It is quiet enough.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Luma Comfort EC45S Tower Evaporative Cooler with 125 Square Foot
This didn't even come close to doing what it says. If anything it made the room hotter!I would not recommend this to anyone.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Reviews of SideKIC Kitchen Immersion Circulator
This is a brand-new device (at the time of this writing) just released by ICA Kitchen: this is a review of the first version of the product. (Update March 2, 2012: I've added a few notes on the latest revision of the device to the end of this review).
The SideKIC has a very simple user interface: just a single clickable wheel and a color display screen. It is designed to hang on the edge of a stockpot or other cooking vessel: the depth of the pump outlet is not adjustable, and is quite shallow compared to other immersion circulators on the market. If you've been eyeing the SousVide Supreme Sous Vide Water Oven or perhaps even the PolyScience Standard Immersion Circulator, 120 VAC and intend to use the product at home, the SideKIC is a serious contender at a fraction of the cost.
To test the SideKIC I hung it over the edge of a 6-quart stockpot and added five liters of water at 18.3°C. I set the temperature to 50°C and turned it loose: it took 27 minutes to come to temperature. It overshot by 0.7°C before decaying back down to the set temp. According to my Thermapen, however, when the reading on the device was 50.0°C, the actual temperature of the water was 50.4°C. It held that temperature within 0.2°C while it was running, however, in an uninsulated stainless steel vessel sitting on a countertop (basically a worst-case scenario). It think the device is probably useful for most high-precision cooking provided that you check the temperature with a more accurate thermometer and compensate accordingly before adding your food. I also recommend starting with pre-heated water to minimize startup time.
The device itself it basically silent: the hum of the pump is very quiet, and is mostly covered up by the actual splashing of the circulated water. It does not appear to have a buzzer of any kind--it does not make a noise to indicate that the set temp has been reached, or that the countdown timer has finished, so I am assuming this means it does not have the means of doing so.
Physically the device requires that your water level run relatively close to the top edge of your cooking vessel, and there is not a great deal of margin to accommodate level changes when adding food. The best way to deal with this is to use a relatively wide, shallow cooking vessel, rather than a deep, narrow vessel, to minimize the water level change when adding the food (of course, then you will definitely want a lid of some kind to minimize evaporation). The pump is strong enough that in my standard stockpot the water is pretty close to the rim when it's running: I'd prefer a little more margin.
The countdown timer has a minimum five-minute granularity when being set: the minimum time you can set it for is five minutes and a maximum of 59 hours and 45 minutes. When the countdown timer reaches its conclusion the timer flashes on the screen for five seconds, and then begins counting up to tell you how far over you have gone (the pump does not stop running). It appears that it will only count up to the initial value of the timer: when I tested it I set it for five minutes, and when it had gone over time for five minutes, it reset to zero and started counting up again. I'd guess this is a software bug that has to do with how the device is checking for the timer completion, and is obviously very minor. However, in my opinion, without an audible beeper the timer is basically useless. In addition, it lacks sufficient granularity for cooks that last under 30 minutes (when a one-minute granularity is necessary, IMO), and cannot be set for longer than 59:45 so you can't do a 72 hour cook based on the built-in timer.
Finally, I killed the power externally to simulate a power failure: the device turned back on and remembered the set temperature, but not the cooking time or countdown timer. It did not turn the heater or pump back on when power was restored. If power failure is a concern you will want to take additional measures to deal with it.
My initial impression of the device is that even as it stands right now the SideKIC is well worth the amount it costs, when compared to the alternatives: it has some flaws, but if you have a decent thermometer and your own cooking timer most of them can be easily mitigated. I also think that with some very minor changes (some just software) it could be made an even better value. Obviously this is not a final verdict, since how well it holds up over time will clearly be important.
Pros:
* By far the lowest-priced immersion circulator on the market
* 300 watt heating element is adequate for most home sous vide uses
* Temperature accuracy and range is enough for most sous vide cooking
* Build quality is good (home-appliance level)
Cons:
* Built-in timer is useless
* Maximum set temperature is 185°F/85°C, precludes some vegetable preparations
* No power-failure detection or recovery
* Temperature accuracy is questionable for very delicate items
UPDATE March 2, 2012. The ICA Kitchen team has addressed several of my concerns in the latest version of the device. The built-in timer now includes a beeper and allows you to set it in finer-grained steps, completely eliminating that concern. The maximum temperature was raised to 95°C, making the device suitable for nearly all high-temperature vegetable sous vide tasks. Also, I've used the device a few dozen times now and not had any issues with the temperature accuracy for delicate items (eggs, in particular). For me the only major remaining con, and the item preventing me from giving this item five stars, is the 300W heating element. There are workarounds (use a well-insulated cooler with a lid, add a supplementary non-controlled heater, etc.), but 300W by itself is a stretch at higher temperatures.
In my opinion this is the best option for cooks interested in a low cost sous vide circulator, at least at the time of this review (April 2012).
While this is an exceptional value, I couldn't quite bring myself to give it 5 stars because of the relatively low wattage heater and the short immersion depth of the heater. These issues don't prevent you from using the unit but contribute to slow warm-up times and additional care needed for long cooking times.
To give you some perspective, I've tried several different devices over the past 3 years. In 2009 I was lucky to score a laboratory grade circulating water bath with digital controls on eBay for $65. I still use this unit but gave up hope of finding another at such a low price once sous vide became popular. My next unit was the DIY $75 design from the seattlefoodgeek.com site (and recently featured in Make Magazine). I built two of these and am pretty happy with them. After introducing friends and family to sous vide cooking last year, several of them bought commercial units that I have used. These include the Sous Vide Supreme and PolyScience Sous Vide Professional. A few weeks ago I purchased a SideKIC from Amazon to check it out. Of these I strongly recommend the PolyScience unit, the seattlefoodgeek.com DIY unit, and the SideKIC. I don't think the Sous Vide Supreme is a good value and it's not likely you'll find a lab grade circulator for a good price any more. PolyScience makes a nice unit but at $700 it's too spendy for me.
If you're new to sous vide I should explain that it can be addicting and at some point you may want to have two or more heating units to cook different foods at the same time. I've made single meals with 4 different water baths (egg, meat, vegetable, and fruit). Each needs to be cooked at different temperatures.
The SIdeKIC is (sort of) a simplified and nicely packaged version of the DIY unit. It has less heating power but the control menu is hands down easier to use, the control unit is separate from the immersion unit (which seems safer), and of course you don't need to build it. Both use the same type of immersion heaters your aunt used to have for making tea in her apartment. SIdeKIC has a single heater while the DIY version uses 3. This allows the DIY version to heat more quickly and heat larger volumes of water. The SIdeKIC heating unit doesn't extend as far into the water bath as the DIY version does. This makes control of water level more critical with the SideKIC.
After using the SideKIC for a few weeks I've determined that the lower power isn't much of a problem but the immersion depth does still concern me. If you start with hot water (or add boiling water) you'll be up to temperature quickly. However, when cooking for long periods it's important that you cover the water bath with a styrofoam insulating cover to slow down evaporation and the problems that occur when you add water (which could take a while to get back to the correct temperature) The immersion depth issue is a concern when evaporation occurs because the water level could drop below the heating element, causing the element to burn out. At first I was concerned that the SideKIC immersion unit wouldn't be stable in the water bath since it doesn't have a thumbscrew or other device to secure it. This hasn't been an issue for me, the immersion unit stays in place even when I cooked a bag that floated and bumped into the immersion unit.
It does take some practice to estimate the correct water level when filling the unit. If you guess too high the water may overflow when you add the food. If you guess too low, you'll have to top it up to ensure the heater is fully submersed. If your top up water is too cold or warm this could possibly affect the end product. What I usually end up doing is to fill to the proper level. When the water is up to temperature, I dip in a pyrex measuring cup and remove 2-4 cups of water. After adding my food bags I top up the water bath using the heated water in my measuring cup and cover with my styrofoam cover. As a small gripe, I had to mark the suggested water level on the unit, this is something the manufacturer should have done. The manual includes a diagram that shows the water level between the lower and upper 'windows' but this is apparently not the optimal level and I can imagine users forgetting this detail after not using the unit for a period.
To be fair, there are many differences between the SIdeKIC and the DIY unit. SideKIC uses something other than a thermocouple for temperature measurement and provides a customized, sous-vide specific user interface on the controller. The DIY unit uses an industrial PID controller with a pretty spartan interface. I don't know enough about how the SideKIC controller was made to say whether it uses inferior or superior temperature control technology but in my testing I haven't noticed any temperature control problems. The control interface on the SideKIC is simple, attractive, and easy to use. I was initially confused about the need to select a 'Start' menu item before the unit started heating but when I thinkk about it that's an important safety feature that allows you to safely remove it from the water without unplugging power.
One reason I'm comparing this unit to the DIY version is that after using the SideKIC for a few weeks I doubt I'd build another DIY circulator. Even though it costs twice the DIY unit, it's smaller and doesn't have the control unit perched above the water bath. Of course it's fun to watch people's expression when you tell them you made your own cooking appliance!
Here is an excellent thread discussing this product that includes honest and helpful comments by the manufacturer.
This current unit which I am now repackaging to return probably has a working heating element but I have no idea because while the water circulates, the temperature gauge is stuck at 00.0 degrees fahrenheit. There will be no third time, I'm taking the refund and looking for another solution. Darn shame as I like the controller, the setup was easy, but there's something wrong with the build of this device.
The SideKIC has a very simple user interface: just a single clickable wheel and a color display screen. It is designed to hang on the edge of a stockpot or other cooking vessel: the depth of the pump outlet is not adjustable, and is quite shallow compared to other immersion circulators on the market. If you've been eyeing the SousVide Supreme Sous Vide Water Oven or perhaps even the PolyScience Standard Immersion Circulator, 120 VAC and intend to use the product at home, the SideKIC is a serious contender at a fraction of the cost.
To test the SideKIC I hung it over the edge of a 6-quart stockpot and added five liters of water at 18.3°C. I set the temperature to 50°C and turned it loose: it took 27 minutes to come to temperature. It overshot by 0.7°C before decaying back down to the set temp. According to my Thermapen, however, when the reading on the device was 50.0°C, the actual temperature of the water was 50.4°C. It held that temperature within 0.2°C while it was running, however, in an uninsulated stainless steel vessel sitting on a countertop (basically a worst-case scenario). It think the device is probably useful for most high-precision cooking provided that you check the temperature with a more accurate thermometer and compensate accordingly before adding your food. I also recommend starting with pre-heated water to minimize startup time.
The device itself it basically silent: the hum of the pump is very quiet, and is mostly covered up by the actual splashing of the circulated water. It does not appear to have a buzzer of any kind--it does not make a noise to indicate that the set temp has been reached, or that the countdown timer has finished, so I am assuming this means it does not have the means of doing so.
Physically the device requires that your water level run relatively close to the top edge of your cooking vessel, and there is not a great deal of margin to accommodate level changes when adding food. The best way to deal with this is to use a relatively wide, shallow cooking vessel, rather than a deep, narrow vessel, to minimize the water level change when adding the food (of course, then you will definitely want a lid of some kind to minimize evaporation). The pump is strong enough that in my standard stockpot the water is pretty close to the rim when it's running: I'd prefer a little more margin.
The countdown timer has a minimum five-minute granularity when being set: the minimum time you can set it for is five minutes and a maximum of 59 hours and 45 minutes. When the countdown timer reaches its conclusion the timer flashes on the screen for five seconds, and then begins counting up to tell you how far over you have gone (the pump does not stop running). It appears that it will only count up to the initial value of the timer: when I tested it I set it for five minutes, and when it had gone over time for five minutes, it reset to zero and started counting up again. I'd guess this is a software bug that has to do with how the device is checking for the timer completion, and is obviously very minor. However, in my opinion, without an audible beeper the timer is basically useless. In addition, it lacks sufficient granularity for cooks that last under 30 minutes (when a one-minute granularity is necessary, IMO), and cannot be set for longer than 59:45 so you can't do a 72 hour cook based on the built-in timer.
Finally, I killed the power externally to simulate a power failure: the device turned back on and remembered the set temperature, but not the cooking time or countdown timer. It did not turn the heater or pump back on when power was restored. If power failure is a concern you will want to take additional measures to deal with it.
My initial impression of the device is that even as it stands right now the SideKIC is well worth the amount it costs, when compared to the alternatives: it has some flaws, but if you have a decent thermometer and your own cooking timer most of them can be easily mitigated. I also think that with some very minor changes (some just software) it could be made an even better value. Obviously this is not a final verdict, since how well it holds up over time will clearly be important.
Pros:
* By far the lowest-priced immersion circulator on the market
* 300 watt heating element is adequate for most home sous vide uses
* Temperature accuracy and range is enough for most sous vide cooking
* Build quality is good (home-appliance level)
Cons:
* Built-in timer is useless
* Maximum set temperature is 185°F/85°C, precludes some vegetable preparations
* No power-failure detection or recovery
* Temperature accuracy is questionable for very delicate items
UPDATE March 2, 2012. The ICA Kitchen team has addressed several of my concerns in the latest version of the device. The built-in timer now includes a beeper and allows you to set it in finer-grained steps, completely eliminating that concern. The maximum temperature was raised to 95°C, making the device suitable for nearly all high-temperature vegetable sous vide tasks. Also, I've used the device a few dozen times now and not had any issues with the temperature accuracy for delicate items (eggs, in particular). For me the only major remaining con, and the item preventing me from giving this item five stars, is the 300W heating element. There are workarounds (use a well-insulated cooler with a lid, add a supplementary non-controlled heater, etc.), but 300W by itself is a stretch at higher temperatures.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
UPDATE: 5/13/13 It's a shame but I think the manufacturer may have gone out of business. Does anyone have more information?In my opinion this is the best option for cooks interested in a low cost sous vide circulator, at least at the time of this review (April 2012).
While this is an exceptional value, I couldn't quite bring myself to give it 5 stars because of the relatively low wattage heater and the short immersion depth of the heater. These issues don't prevent you from using the unit but contribute to slow warm-up times and additional care needed for long cooking times.
To give you some perspective, I've tried several different devices over the past 3 years. In 2009 I was lucky to score a laboratory grade circulating water bath with digital controls on eBay for $65. I still use this unit but gave up hope of finding another at such a low price once sous vide became popular. My next unit was the DIY $75 design from the seattlefoodgeek.com site (and recently featured in Make Magazine). I built two of these and am pretty happy with them. After introducing friends and family to sous vide cooking last year, several of them bought commercial units that I have used. These include the Sous Vide Supreme and PolyScience Sous Vide Professional. A few weeks ago I purchased a SideKIC from Amazon to check it out. Of these I strongly recommend the PolyScience unit, the seattlefoodgeek.com DIY unit, and the SideKIC. I don't think the Sous Vide Supreme is a good value and it's not likely you'll find a lab grade circulator for a good price any more. PolyScience makes a nice unit but at $700 it's too spendy for me.
If you're new to sous vide I should explain that it can be addicting and at some point you may want to have two or more heating units to cook different foods at the same time. I've made single meals with 4 different water baths (egg, meat, vegetable, and fruit). Each needs to be cooked at different temperatures.
The SIdeKIC is (sort of) a simplified and nicely packaged version of the DIY unit. It has less heating power but the control menu is hands down easier to use, the control unit is separate from the immersion unit (which seems safer), and of course you don't need to build it. Both use the same type of immersion heaters your aunt used to have for making tea in her apartment. SIdeKIC has a single heater while the DIY version uses 3. This allows the DIY version to heat more quickly and heat larger volumes of water. The SIdeKIC heating unit doesn't extend as far into the water bath as the DIY version does. This makes control of water level more critical with the SideKIC.
After using the SideKIC for a few weeks I've determined that the lower power isn't much of a problem but the immersion depth does still concern me. If you start with hot water (or add boiling water) you'll be up to temperature quickly. However, when cooking for long periods it's important that you cover the water bath with a styrofoam insulating cover to slow down evaporation and the problems that occur when you add water (which could take a while to get back to the correct temperature) The immersion depth issue is a concern when evaporation occurs because the water level could drop below the heating element, causing the element to burn out. At first I was concerned that the SideKIC immersion unit wouldn't be stable in the water bath since it doesn't have a thumbscrew or other device to secure it. This hasn't been an issue for me, the immersion unit stays in place even when I cooked a bag that floated and bumped into the immersion unit.
It does take some practice to estimate the correct water level when filling the unit. If you guess too high the water may overflow when you add the food. If you guess too low, you'll have to top it up to ensure the heater is fully submersed. If your top up water is too cold or warm this could possibly affect the end product. What I usually end up doing is to fill to the proper level. When the water is up to temperature, I dip in a pyrex measuring cup and remove 2-4 cups of water. After adding my food bags I top up the water bath using the heated water in my measuring cup and cover with my styrofoam cover. As a small gripe, I had to mark the suggested water level on the unit, this is something the manufacturer should have done. The manual includes a diagram that shows the water level between the lower and upper 'windows' but this is apparently not the optimal level and I can imagine users forgetting this detail after not using the unit for a period.
To be fair, there are many differences between the SIdeKIC and the DIY unit. SideKIC uses something other than a thermocouple for temperature measurement and provides a customized, sous-vide specific user interface on the controller. The DIY unit uses an industrial PID controller with a pretty spartan interface. I don't know enough about how the SideKIC controller was made to say whether it uses inferior or superior temperature control technology but in my testing I haven't noticed any temperature control problems. The control interface on the SideKIC is simple, attractive, and easy to use. I was initially confused about the need to select a 'Start' menu item before the unit started heating but when I thinkk about it that's an important safety feature that allows you to safely remove it from the water without unplugging power.
One reason I'm comparing this unit to the DIY version is that after using the SideKIC for a few weeks I doubt I'd build another DIY circulator. Even though it costs twice the DIY unit, it's smaller and doesn't have the control unit perched above the water bath. Of course it's fun to watch people's expression when you tell them you made your own cooking appliance!
Here is an excellent thread discussing this product that includes honest and helpful comments by the manufacturer.
Best Deals on SideKIC Kitchen Immersion Circulator
First one came out of the box with the heating element broken, so while the water circulated, the built in temperature gauge told me that the water wasn't getting any hotter. Amazon promptly refunded my money after I returned it, and then I went and tried to buy a second one to replace it, thinking I just got a bad unit.This current unit which I am now repackaging to return probably has a working heating element but I have no idea because while the water circulates, the temperature gauge is stuck at 00.0 degrees fahrenheit. There will be no third time, I'm taking the refund and looking for another solution. Darn shame as I like the controller, the setup was easy, but there's something wrong with the build of this device.
Honest reviews on SideKIC Kitchen Immersion Circulator
I ordered this product on Amazon. The first one was defective the actual temp readout would display either 0 or 211, and the heating element did not work. The company replaced it free of charge. The new unit works, but the temperature will sporadically read 185 (the max temp this circulator can be set to). The only way to get it to start reading the actual temp properly is to remove it from the water, unplug it and let it dry out. This means I have to keep a careful eye on it when doing any cooking, which sort of defeats the purpose of sous vide. I would not recommend purchasing this immersion circulator, its cheap for a reason.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for SideKIC Kitchen Immersion Circulator
The first unit was DOA. The circulator ran, but no heat. The second unit heats, but is very erratic. Temperature set to Farenheit, but changes to Celsius. Would not reach 153 degrees and maintain it. Let it sit for two hours starting with hot water. It was maintaining 148 degrees, but when I changed to 153, it dropped to 144 (actual per thermometer was 140). Wild fluctuations of displayed water temperature (e.g. 140 then 262). I would like this unit if it actually worked. I've returned the second one and will order a third when they are available; if it's defective, then I'll look elsewhere. One thing that is a definite flaw in the design is that the sensor cord is too short. It's stiff and could be difficult to keep safe from water or off the counter.Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Best Standard Series Patio Heater Hammer Tone Deals
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $209.99
Sale Price: $187.31
Today's Bonus: 11% Off

Heater quality lower than expected. Gas was leaking, heater is very unstable and wably, did not work (no gas coming out of the burner), contractor checked the heater as well and confirmed to send back. But what to expect for this price. Next time I go to a patio furniture store and see myself and by the high quality stuff, even if it costs a couple of Dollar more.
DOOFUS
List Price: $209.99
Sale Price: $187.31
Today's Bonus: 11% Off
Heater quality lower than expected. Gas was leaking, heater is very unstable and wably, did not work (no gas coming out of the burner), contractor checked the heater as well and confirmed to send back. But what to expect for this price. Next time I go to a patio furniture store and see myself and by the high quality stuff, even if it costs a couple of Dollar more.
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I was under the impression that it would identical to the one that we had previously purchased, the photo that we saw appeared to be of the one we had. The lower part which surrounds the tank is dull, the one we have is shiny. Also the control and method of starting the heater is totally different which make for also to remember which was which. The original one is easier to start, this one requires a pilot to light first.Best Deals on Standard Series Patio Heater Hammer Tone
I have used it several times out doors at night with the temps on the cool side but my heater to my surprise (I am a doubter until I see it) extended with comfort our evening of sitting out with our neighbors.DOOFUS
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