Cheap? Fridge Controller

[Aaron]

I can highly reccomend the Tobins in this set up:

http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/Wher...t2160-s15.html#

I have made one of these and it works perfectly. Keeps my fermenter within 2C range. Don't rely on the markings on the dial. Took me a little while to calibrate it.

 

[Gulf Brewery]

This what you want they are great
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...4386889978&rd=1

[post="62775"][/post]​

pj_nut

These are rated from 10 to 30C which may not be low enough for some people. Not sure about the current rating either (I didn't understand the acronyms they used). Link to info which is about 3.5Meg

Cheers
Pedro

 

[Trent]

Macr
Jeez, I feel pretty dumb asking where ya got ya Tobins thingy now! In my defence (that may make me look even dumber), I havent heard of Tobins before, I figured it was a brandname or something!
Thanks for the link
Trent

 

[macr]

No worries Trent. I wasn't trying to make you look ignorant, I just thought it was funny. Hope this improves your brewing experience :beer:

 

[Wobbo]

I'm happy to be corrected, but I have a feeling that the Jaycar unit is for heating, not a cooling nor a fridge controller.

Jaycar Thermostat

I bought one a few years ago, and it's been okay to activate a hot box to keep the brew warmed to a preset temp.
They may have another cooling thermostat in stock, but I couldn't find it on the website.

[post="62703"][/post]​

The Jaycar unit you are talking about is an old unit. The new one as detailed in this months Silicon Chip mag is a dedicated Fridge freezer temperature controller and can do heating or cooling. It has just been released in in a kit format for $39.95 and they obviously havent updated their website yet.

Wobbo

 

[Trough Lolly]

Macr
Jeez, I feel pretty dumb asking where ya got ya Tobins thingy now! In my defence (that may make me look even dumber), I havent heard of Tobins before, I figured it was a brandname or something!
Thanks for the link
Trent

[post="62827"][/post]​

Hey Trent,
Don't sweat it mate - the only dumb question is the one that isn't asked

 

[iand]

Saw the kit today in Jaycar for $39.95.

Cheers
Wobbo

[post="62595"][/post]​

And 38.95 for the Tobins one, which is already made ande has a greater range. Mind you, I couldn't imagine needing upto 30 degrees little alone 40 , but down to zero is useful.

[post="62606"][/post]​

can you tell us were Ican buy the Tobins controller Iam in Adelaide

 

[timmy]

Not as cheap but another option is a carel or dixell controller, I fitted a carel to my mates fridge so he can use it as a wine cellar/fermenting fridge.

The carel is about $130 with K type thermocouple but is fully programmable and has a serial interface for remote monitoring and programming.

The Dixell is very similar but only costs around $90 from Kirby's.

 

[sosman]

I'm happy to be corrected, but I have a feeling that the Jaycar unit is for heating, not a cooling nor a fridge controller.

Jaycar Thermostat

I bought one a few years ago, and it's been okay to activate a hot box to keep the brew warmed to a preset temp.
They may have another cooling thermostat in stock, but I couldn't find it on the website.

[post="62703"][/post]​

I opened one up (I don't have one) and it had changeover contacts, IIRC not mentioned in the booklet.

I would be concerned about using this one inside a fridge/freezer, IMHO the tobins is the go. It is very similar to the Fuji Koki menionted at http://brewiki.org/TemperatureControl which I have been using successfully for fermenting, CC'ing, chilling, incubating starters etc for well over a year.