Electricity usage of fridge for temp control

[trustyrusty]

Hi

Just got a bar fridge that fits fermenter in, with some modifications. Just wondering about usage of electricity. If it has to turn it on and off every 1/2 or hour won't that use a lot. Not sure never done... As I am writing this I am thinking maybe not as much as normal fridge but if you have controller running too? I Thanks

 

[Camo6]

They don't add anything to the power bill.

Well that's what I tell my wife about the four in the shed...

 

[trustyrusty]

lol

 

[TwoCrows]

The fridge will be OFF for a lot longer that you surmise, it will turn ON for a few minutes every few hours at the highpoint of fermentation.

 

[earle]

The controller itself will use close to no electricity

 

[trustyrusty]

Thanks, it was just that I understand a fridge uses most of the power in the beginning getting to temp, but I guess it will be same as normal fridge only at 18 degrees..

 

[koshari]

Thanks, it was just that I understand a fridge uses most of the power in the beginning getting to temp, but I guess it will be same as normal fridge only at 18 degrees..

A normal fridge in normal operation as you correctly state uses a bit of energy initially as it cools to its setpoint because it has to cool a lot of mass to this temp. as a fermenter it only has to cool the mass back to a lot higher setpoint. Additionally the greater the difference between the ambient temp and the setpoint the more energy needed.