Temperature control system for Keezer- suggestions please!

[baconsarnie]

Aiming to upgrade from a small fridge with 2 kegs to a keezer to hold 4 or 5. For the fridge I've been pretty haphazard in temperature control and just moderated the fridge's settings till i got a serving temp i was happy with. Yes, I am bone idle.

Anyways, that won't be an option so has anyone any recommendations for temperature control. I'm looking for something that involved minimal wiring- I won't have time for an additional project.

So I'm basically looking for the "easiest to install and none too pricey option" please (you can call it a lazy Cavan man solution)

[montofk]

Aiming to upgrade from a small fridge with 2 kegs.....

Just a chancing my arm with a thought but... what are you doing with your old fridge?  Where are you based?

[baconsarnie]

 Just a chancing my arm with a thought but... what are you doing with your old fridge?  Where are you based?
[/quote]

Haven't started the upgrade yet, just sourcing the parts. Once i get started & have the other fridge available I'll post here

Based in Dublin

[baconsarnie]

WillHi 7016. An NHC favourite, and plenty on ebay for like €15 delivered or less.

You can turn your fridge up to max and just use it inline (i.e. plug the fridge into a socket wired to the 7016) or a neater solution is to bypass the thermostat.

This one look okay?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Temperature-Controller-Thermostat-Keg-Beer-Tap-Kegerator-Keezer-Chest-Freezer-/121092751233


Is bypassing a freezer's thermostat easy? (obviously easy if you know how...can wire a plug and a bit more beside but does it need much dismantling of the freezer etc?)

[vonHolt]

STC-1000 on ebay.co.uk - 12.05 Sterling, shipping included.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/All-Purpose-Temperature-Controller-STC-1000-Thermostat-Aquarium-HD23L-sensor-/121150114635?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&hash=item1c351c0b4b

Get a parcel motel account and the first two drops are free (If I remember correctly)

[JimmyM]

Get a parcel motel account and the first two drops are free (If I remember correctly)

Not any more, that ended about a month ago - but i believe they do give you a free towel and pair of slippers as a little pressie though for signing up. And ya get to pick it out of the lockers.

[Ciderhead]

Have you had played Parcel Motel slots Yet?.
My 3 kids all pick a locker and then the one closest the locker that actually opens wins a euro. 
Who says brewing isn't a family activity

[Greg2013]

WillHi one is a bit cheaper and more suited to a kegerator as it's quicker and easier to adjust and it can only heat or cool but not both.

Is the STC 1000 not a better option as it does both heating and cooling? Just wondering since i will eventually have to do this myself.

[Will_D]

Is bypassing a freezer's thermostat easy? (obviously easy if you know how...can wire a plug and a bit more beside but does it need much dismantling of the freezer etc?)

It is easy IF you know what you are doing!!

I know thats glib but its true!

The thermostat is a switch in series with the live supply to the compressor. You just need to disable the .stat by a tinny bit of rewiring.

Usually all the wires are available at the back of the fridge.

If you need help just shout

HTH

[Ciderhead]

far easier to use a standalone project box with 2 sockets, one for heating one for cooling, no fridge wire fiddling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30TvX1Zz1-Y

[Ciderhead]

Oh no its not
I have 2 fridges and I am fairly sparks aware, I wouldn't touch the thermostats on either let alone gouge it out for an STC, each fridge has different wiring  .

[Greg2013]

Ok i am going to hijack this somewhat I have a chest freezer (Haier) that is very under utilized currently, if i was to purchase an STC 1000 would it be a simple matter of wiring it in between the supply and the freezer to make a keezer? Would i be able to run it like this as a fermentation chamber when needed? If i run it around 12c all the time it would do as both a chamber and a keezer?

[Ciderhead]

Oh yes it is! I've done it in 2 fridges and I'm probably going to do a third.

The majority of fridges use one make of thermostat (the rest use a different but similar type). There are only 4 wires at the thermostat: live and neutral from the mains in -- which are colour coded brown and blue, and two going back to supply the compressor, which could be any colour. The thermostat itself only acts as a switch on the live side. i.e. it has two terminals (and earth), the same as a switch.

Once you have the old thermostat physically removed, wiring in an STC is a piece of piss. JohnRM did his too, but he did a real nice job where it looks like the STC is part of the fridge.

pics of your butchered fridges please? As I am not going to hack this


In favour of this



Did I mention its portable?

[brenmurph]

Agree with CH three posts up


Its easier, simpler and effective to wire stc from a socket to a socket.......plug fridge into socket and leave fridge thermostat up full and forget about it. Use stc to control fridge...this leaves all the fridge wring alone.


How to
Use a plastic bucket & lid or big junction box, drill a hole to allow cable and thermo probe out, mount an electric socket on the bucket/ box and you have a self contained, plug in controller that can be moved to any other fridge / kegerator. U can even then use it for a boiler / electric mash tun*, just set appropriate temp.

* supject to it handling enough amps

[Ciderhead]

The one in the kitchen.

I know what you are saying and I saw a keezer here with it in the bottom and it was tidy, hands and knees to adjust but hey, oh no but thats not , sorry still not convinced, watch out for condensation in your stc there btw.
Did you consider running the wiring out and mounting on top or side wall?