Received the monitor-controller and the heating element. What was not included was an explanation of how both units work in tandem and even the prepacked cards provide no clues.The controller is generic and is identified with 1500W output and that's part of the confusion. Conversely, the heating element is identified as M1 with 1000W capacity but that's when an explanation is needed. Plugging and submerging the heating rod, it's critical to keep it underwater and add the monitoring element as well.Once on, you have a upper limit and approximation of the actual water temperature and it'll take somewhere around 20 minutes for tap water to reach 100 degrees if set.What's not explained is that the controller-monitor will adjust to the rating of the heating rod and will not exceed 1000W of power unless you have a larger one (i.e. 1500W???).So, it would have been helpful with that little bit of information...

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Okay, this immersion water heater for 5-gal buckets is INCREDIBLY effective. We're having sub-freezing temperatures right now, into the single-digits at night and only into the teens during the day, meaning we've had to go out and dump and refill a 3-gallon stainless watering bowl we have for our barn kitties multiple times in a 24-hr period. We put this in, filled the bowl up with water that's coming straight from our well at 44-deg, and we set the water temperature to 50 deg. It hit the temperature in under two minutes! This is going to be wonderful - we won't have to keep getting up in the middle of the night and dumping the solid-ice bucket and refilling it for the cats. I'm going to get a bigger, long trough and it'll work much more effectively than the small ones they market for outdoor cats. I think this could handle a 50-gal trough with ease, honestly, so it may be a manufacturer typo?FIRST OVERNIGHT SUB-FREEZING TEST: With wind-chills, it was down to 6 deg overnight, with temps in the low teens. We checked the water first thing this morning and it's liquid; holding at 48 deg (we set the temp at 50 deg), so it's INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE!The GOOD:It comes ready to use. You just plug the heater into the power unit and uncoil the temperature probe (leave that little bit of foam on the temp. probe so it floats around and doesn't rest on the side of your water bucket per the directions), plug the power unit in and then you just set the temperature you want the water to be. This says it'll set the temp from 32 deg all the way up to BOILING (212 deg), as it has other uses such as for home brewing and honey storage, so use with caution around ANY of your pets.2) It comes in two pieces, which makes me hope that when either the heater or the power module fails, that I could possibly get a replacement piece? I'm not sure about that one, though, so do your own research. Being in two pieces means it'll be much easier to remove the heater portion and take it indoors to clean it when it gets scaly or dirty without having to unhook everything else.3) It's got an indicator light so you can see that it's running (especially helpful at night if you're worried about your pets in cold weather).4) Because it's a portable unit, You can take it out of one watering bucket and move it to another if needed.5) Straightforward display shows the temp you set it to, and what temp the water IS.6) The light on the unit AND on that clear plug both light up when it's actively heating, saving you trips back and forth in the cold, dark and snow. This is my favorite part!The CONS:1) It's really overkill for a typical watering pail that you may have for your dog. This is more suited for larger troughs for livestock, I think.2) It CAN get that hot! Be cautious what you set it at. You could easily make a 5-gal bucket way too hot for your critters, defeating the purpose of it.3) BE SURE IT'S SUBMERGED! The instructions stressed that several times, and this is a 15-amp max draw, so I guess they're NOT lying. Don't let the bucket run dry with even part of the heater sticking out in the cool air.4) Because it's not incorporated into a watering dish, the cords are all at risk of being chewed by pets. Just be aware and take precautions. If your dog or livestock animal is a chewer, this isn't the water heater for you.5) If you have it set to a high temp because your livestock need WARM water for whatever reason, just be sure that the watering trough is deep enough to prevent burns.This heater is HIGHLY effective, though. It'll get the job done for sure!