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Saw an ELI5 today about thermostats in DIY heating systems, and it got me thinking about how much simpler (or more complicated!) they can be depending on what you're actually DIY-ing. A basic thermostat is pretty straightforward – it's just an on/off switch controlled by temperature. But when you start integrating it into, say, a homemade greenhouse heater or a supplemental system for a poorly insulated room, things get trickier.
For example, if you're using a repurposed space heater controlled by a cheap digital thermostat, you might run into issues with inconsistent temperature readings or the thermostat's sensitivity leading to constant cycling. Has anyone else found that the built-in hysteresis (the difference between the on and off temperatures) on some of these cheap thermostats is way too large for finer temperature control?
I'm also curious about experiences folks have had with more advanced DIY heating setups using microcontrollers like Arduinos. Are you finding the added complexity worth it for the level of control and data you get? It seems like overkill for a simple electric heater, but probably essential for something more sophisticated like a hydroponic system needing precise temperature regulation.