Warning about The Cheap Kogan Sous Vide/Circulator Todo T-SV1089A

stimutacs on 06/03/2023 - 13:09

I ordered one of these for myself, one for a friend, one for my mum. Seemed like a great deal, how hard can it be to make what's basically a freshwater aquarium heater and pump?

https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/todo-sous-vide-cooker-precision…

the specific model number is T-SV1089A.

First unit: catastrophically failed and looks like it stuck on heat mode while left unattended, luckily came back home before it got Bad. 98 degrees reading on the water from a thermometer, circulation pump dead, gladwrap seal melting to the unit.

Second unit: buttons ceased functioning in the middle of a cook, unable to change functions or turn off.

Replacement for the first unit: sudden power off in middle of a cook, which you'd have no idea about because it looks basically identical to having completed cooking. Good luck to your guts if this had been used to make something with eggs.

3 of 4 units failed with an average of about 3 uses to failure. Literally didn't even have time to get to organising a replacement for the 2nd one before the third one failed also.

It does appear it is in fact more difficult than it seems to replicate the Anova units, at a guess these guys cheap out on the vapor sealing and seem to have skipped having an internal fan to stop the electronics cooking/force clean air down from the top.

Electrical & Electronics Kogan Sous Vide

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Comments

  • Cheaplikethebird on 06/03/2023 - 13:19
    +2

    If you're going to go for a cheapy I would recommend getting the one from Inkbird. Now full disclosure I've not tested it but all my thermometers from them are going strong ~3 years later.

    Also FFS stop using lids where you're directing the steam towards the unit. Go get some sous vide balls off Amazon and use those instead, much easier to take things in and out, steam evaporates evenly over the surface thus not ruining your SV unit, and the amount of water lost is negligible I've only ever had to top up on a 2 day cook. I've got two Anovas that are roughly 5 years old and still going strong and I regularly use them at 90c+

    • SBOB on 06/03/2023 - 18:16

      Also FFS stop using lids where you're directing the steam towards the unit

      Yep, would be interested to see if there's any details in the kogan manuals re container lids/glad wrap etc.

      If they aren't designed for that, the ops use is having an impact that could be contributing to the failures
      Unless cooking for 24hr +, trying to reduce evap is just extra unneeded hassle.

      • Cheaplikethebird on 06/03/2023 - 19:55

        Every single time I see a post about a broken circulator they're always using some dodged up lid with an imperfect seal.

      • stimutacs on 07/03/2023 - 18:42

        They say to cover the container for water in the manual IIRC. I use gladwrap with a hole in the side away from the unit. I actually got made to video the failed units the 2nd and 3rd time and you can see the setup here:

        https://imgur.com/a/Fo08r1M

        After the first failure I took to completely wrapping the unit itself with a 2nd sheet of clingfilm and poking a hole in the far side from the unit as a release. Doesn't make any difference to how long it takes for it to fail.

        • Cheaplikethebird on 08/03/2023 - 10:08

          Yeah… use sous vide balls dude. Poking a hole isn't going to do much to limit steam exiting around the SV unit.

  • lostgoat on 06/03/2023 - 13:21

    I'm having a contest which is the worst brand Kogan or Anko ? For me I won't touch Anko but will sometimes buy Kogan 10-20% of RRP .

  • skid on 06/03/2023 - 13:31

    Don't think Todo know how to design appliances. Cheaped out on a Todo auto coffee machine which died inside 3 months from motor failure.

  • thepigs on 06/03/2023 - 14:16

    That's awful. The government should make it hard for Kogan (and others) to keep doing this - awful waste of resources and productivity.

    • stimutacs on 06/03/2023 - 15:03

      I don't even know how they make out on it at all - at a guess it's meant to lose money, or, they count on them being stocking stuffers for people who won't use it within the warranty period? They are on the hook now for 8x 500g ~1.5ft long packages back and forth, plus full refund. Can't possibly see how it was worth it to save money on some gaskets and a 20mm fan.

  • meowsers on 06/03/2023 - 14:52

    I've had really good luck with the Anova Pro. But I just rechecked the prices today vs what I paid. Holy hell. How on earth are they $649 now!??!

    Anova Precision® Cooker Pro (220V) - AU Plug
    SKU: AN600-AU00 1 AU$314.00

    NB
    If you are looking for a cheap sous vide plastic container dont buy on amazon or the official sous vide ones, get one from a commercial kitchen supply store. They are called "cambros" or equivalent. so much cheaper. $25 vs $250

  • Hybroid on 06/03/2023 - 15:27

    Warning about Cheap Kogan

    ..should suffice.

  • jinkerjinx on 06/03/2023 - 15:54

    Cheers for the feedback

  • JimmyF on 06/03/2023 - 17:17
    +1

    Good luck to your guts if this had been used to make something with eggs

    LOL you can eat raw eggs and not die.

    • stimutacs on 06/03/2023 - 18:24

      Specifically the issue is that the sous vide is likely to be used to heat and hold to pasteurise food intended to be used cold later, but one of these units will fail at doing so, switch off early, and provide no clue that it was only warm enough long enough to incubate rather than sterilise.

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