Keggerator/Fermenting Chamber

[Orfy]

Have I got my head around this.

If I have a fridge I could use it for storing my beer in to serve. On maximum setting it should be around 10c which is a little cold but okay. If I wanted to lager in there than I could.

But If I fit one of these.

I could use the fridge thermostat for 2c to 10c and the controller for 10c+
So I could use it for a fermenting chamber when temps hit 25+ like it did last year?

I have a PID and relay but I'm not sure I can cope with the programming etc.

[Andy]

Or replace the fridge thermostat with one of these which is what I'm going to do for my beer fridge...

[Seveneer]

Hi Orfy,

The PID is not the way to go for controlling a fridge. It turns the compressor on and off too quickly.

The unit you've linked too looks like it will do the job of cooling the fridge to ale temps in the summer.

Personally, I have one of these. I haven't connected it up yet but it has a heating and a cooling circuit so I can connect the cooling circuit to drive the fridge compressor and the heating cirsuit to drive a bulb insde the fridge to provide heat. It will control the temperature inside the fridge between 4C through ale fermentation temps. It has a delay of 3 minutes built in between turning the cooling circuit off and back on to protect the compressor on the fridge.

The other way is to use the thermostat that was posted around here the other day. It replaces the built in job and will allow you fridge to have a broader range of temperatures.

/Phil.

[Seveneer]

That's the link I was talking about. Nice one Andy,

[Garth]

Orfy, I use some of those Habistat controllers on my reptile vivariums and these also turn the heater/chiller on and off too often, it would probably damage or shorten the fridge compressors life very quickly

use a thermostat like Andy suggested, I've got one but haven't gotten round to fitting it. They're cheaper anyway than the Habistat.

[bandit]

This may seem like a dumb question but can Andys thermostat be used on a fridge and a freezer. I fancy using a second hand chest freezer for storing my cornies in, will this thermostat control it to the recommended 10 Deg C. And one other thing, how do you fit it ?

[Frothy]

I've got on fine with a PID controller. They are really not that difficult to programme. I've got the PDF instruction manual from S.Flack if you want it?

Frothy

[Andy]

As Phil mentions though Frothy, they're not best suited for controlling a fridge as unless you get one with hysteresis capability then they will turn the compressor on/off too rapidly and considerably shorten the lifespan of your fridge.