The All American electric sterilizer is a workhorse — but its 1950s-era controls make you babysit every run. This kit adds our PID controller and pre-cut Reflectix insulation so the sterilizer heats to an exact temperature, holds it, and shuts off on its own. No more wind-up timer, no more fiddling with the “1–10” knob. Built to order in the USA with a 2–3 week lead time.
If you’ve graduated from a stovetop pressure canner to an All American electric sterilizer, you already know the hardware is excellent — and the controls leave everything to be desired. Here’s what the stock unit makes you deal with, and how the kit fixes it.
The stock timer is a mechanical wind-up dial that rings a bell and does nothing else — it doesn’t control heat or shut the unit off. Our PID controller runs a real countdown and cuts the power automatically when the sterilization hold is done.
Temperature is set by an outdated mechanical “1–10” dial that you constantly nudge to chase the right pressure. The kit takes that job over entirely — you set the knob to max and let the PID hold an exact temperature for you.
The bare aluminum body isn’t insulated, so the room’s ambient temperature changes how the sterilizer holds heat — a setting that worked last week drifts this week. The pre-cut Reflectix wrap stabilizes the body so every run behaves the same.
The kit converts your sterilizer to hands-free operation in six steps. After setup, the PID controller does the temperature work the “1–10” knob used to demand.
Tape the controller’s temperature probe to the outside of the sterilizer’s aluminum body. No drilling, no modification — it reads the body temperature from the surface.
Wrap the body in the provided pre-cut Reflectix insulation. It’s cut to fit your model, so the sterilizer holds heat evenly regardless of the room’s ambient temperature.
Plug the sterilizer’s power cord into our PID controller instead of the wall. From here, the controller decides when the sterilizer’s heating element gets power.
Set the sterilizer’s own temperature knob to maximum (“10”) and turn its switch on. The stock control is now wide open — our controller governs the actual heat.
Start our PID controller. It heats the sterilizer up to your target, holds it there precisely for the countdown, and keeps it rock-steady through the whole sterilization cycle.
When the countdown timer expires, the controller cuts the power automatically and the sterilizer cools down — no one standing over it, no forgotten loads.
A quick look at the same PID-with-timer controller this kit is built around — setting a target, starting a run, and letting it manage the whole cycle.
Because the probe reads the body from the outside, its temperature runs a little below the internal gauge reading. It’s simple to account for.
The external probe reads lower than the sterilizer’s internal gauge, so you set the controller below the gauge temperature you actually want and let a short, one-time calibration dial in the exact offset. You bring the controller up in small increments until the sterilizer’s own gauge sits right where you want it — then you have your number for every run after that.
We include the step-by-step incremental calibration procedure with the kit so you land on the right setpoint the first time. Your pressure is still governed entirely by the sterilizer’s own regulator weight and safety valve — the kit only controls when the heating element gets power.
| Fits | All American 50X and 75X electric sterilizers |
|---|---|
| Control | PID temperature controller with countdown timer |
| Power | 110V or 220V controller build (220V adds $300) |
| Temperature probe | RTD probe — tapes to the outside of the sterilizer body (no drilling) |
| Insulation | Pre-cut Reflectix, sized to your model (50X or 75X) |
| Relays | Internal solid-state relays — switch the sterilizer’s element with ease |
| Cords | Heavy-gauge line cord; sterilizer plugs into the controller |
| Units | Celsius or Fahrenheit selectable |
| Enclosure | Professional enclosure, clearly labeled |
| Calibration | One-time incremental probe-offset procedure included |
| What it sterilizes | Everything the All American does — grain jars, agar, liquid culture, spawn jars — at full pressure/temperature |
| Pressure & safety | Depends on the All American’s own regulator, safety valve & the operator — the kit adds no safety function |
| Lead time | Made to order — typically 2–3 weeks before it ships |
| Shipping | Compact — ships by standard carrier, no freight |
| Build | Made in the USA |
Have a different All American model (like the 1941X)? Call (530) 300-9292 and we’ll spec a kit for it.
The All American sterilizer is not included — you provide your own 50X or 75X. This kit is the controller and insulation that automate it.
Unlike a steam pasteurizer, the All American electric sterilizer is a real pressure sterilizer. With this kit it still reaches full pressure and temperature (15 PSI / 250°F), so it sterilizes exactly what it always did — grain jars, agar, liquid culture, and spawn jars. The kit doesn’t change what the sterilizer can do; it just makes the temperature hands-free and repeatable.
The kit adds no safety function of its own. Safe operation depends on the All American sterilizer’s own pressure regulator and over-pressure safety valve and on the operator following the manufacturer’s instructions — our controller only governs when the heating element receives power.
All American® and the 50X / 75X model names are trademarks of their respective owner. This is a compatible automation kit made by Mycology-Supply for use with those sterilizers; we are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the manufacturer.
Choose your model (50X or 75X) and power (110V or 220V) at the top of the page and order. Questions about your setup? We’re glad to help.
