Stc-100 As Replacement Thermostat For Fridge/freezer

[mkstalen]

OK. So there's lots of posts about wiring up an STC-1000 to just plug your fermentation fridge into. In fact I've wired one up in my little fermentation box & it works well.

What I'd like to know is has anyone managed to successfully used one to replace the thermostat in their Fermentation Fridge+Freezer so that the freezer section still works as a freezer? (I'm talking about those Fridge+Freezers which have a completely seperate freezer section, not little bar fridges which have the freezer inside the fridge.

I'm asking as Fridge+Freezers are much easier to come by (and often cheaper) than bar fridges or fridge only units, plus it would be handy to have a little extra freezer space.

Anyone?

 

[Yob]

wouldnt it need a seperate comperssor to controll the freezer?

 

[Wolfy]

I think that the fridge and freezer parts (on most all fridge/freezers) are connected, the freezer freezes while the fridge gets cold, and that there is no way to control them independently.

 

[Nick JD]

I can control mine independantly, but I think that's done by restricting the cooling amount that the freezer passes to the fridge somehow.

 

[Muscovy_333]

Mine are one unit. Cant seperate em! I wish I could though...

 

[JoeF]

This is exactly what I want to do.

I just scored a cheap side by side fridge/freezer off eBay and have enough space for 2 x fermenters in the fridge side and 2 x cubes in the freezer side. Ideally I want to cold condition/store kegs in the freezer at the same time as fermenting at say 13c for a lager.

Is it possible? Surely, someone's worked a way around it???

 

[kelbygreen]

they should have there own power point or are they a fixed unit??? if there fixed you will have to wire the temp control into the thermostat (way over my head) But I know tony done it to his freezer and he is a electrician so maybe ask him or a fridgo.

Edit: oh yeah as said they will need separate compressors if they use the same one then I cannot see a way around it. maybe put a fermenter with water in the freezer and a fermenter in the fridge and attach a temp prob to both but control the fridge at ale temps and see if the freezer could do a lager at the same time ?

 

[fergi]

has anyone wired up the eletech digital temp controller from beerbelly, wired up according to the wiring diagram but it doesnt kick the fridge in,all the functions light up and work but the fridge doesnt kick in,when i wired up my temp mate i am sure i had to put a couple of bridging wires in .
this one doesnt indicate that it needs bridging, the temp controller wiring diagram on the beerbelly site is a different controller and it has bridging in it.

fergi

 

[fergi]

has anyone wired up the eletech digital temp controller from beerbelly, wired up according to the wiring diagram but it doesnt kick the fridge in,all the functions light up and work but the fridge doesnt kick in,when i wired up my temp mate i am sure i had to put a couple of bridging wires in .
this one doesnt indicate that it needs bridging, the temp controller wiring diagram on the beerbelly site is a different controller and it has bridging in it.

fergi

FIXED,
FERGI

 

[np1962]

This is exactly what I want to do.

I just scored a cheap side by side fridge/freezer off eBay and have enough space for 2 x fermenters in the fridge side and 2 x cubes in the freezer side. Ideally I want to cold condition/store kegs in the freezer at the same time as fermenting at say 13c for a lager.

Is it possible? Surely, someone's worked a way around it???

You will need two temp controllers and a good heat source.
Set the freezer to it's coldest, fridge to it's warmest (they usually have a control for both)
Plug the fridge into one controllers cooling socket and set to 2C, plug the heat pad into the other controllers heat socket and set this to your chosen temp, put the heater in the fridge. Need good heat source as it will be fighting against the fridge cooling.
Nige

 

[kelbygreen]

what a waste of electricity lol just buy 2 fridges for $80 like I did and use them separate lol

 

[np1962]

what a waste of electricity lol just buy 2 fridges for $80 like I did and use them separate lol

I totally agree.

 

[stux]

If it were an upside down fridge freezer there would be a fan to move cold freezer air into the main fridge compartment

You could use an STC to interupt the fan power line

Dial the freezer to the temp you want, then the fridge to low and the STC would control the fan

This would work in a different style fridge if you can find a mechanism which transfers cool from the freezer

 

[JoeF]

You will need two temp controllers and a good heat source.
Set the freezer to it's coldest, fridge to it's warmest (they usually have a control for both)
Plug the fridge into one controllers cooling socket and set to 2C, plug the heat pad into the other controllers heat socket and set this to your chosen temp, put the heater in the fridge. Need good heat source as it will be fighting against the fridge cooling.
Nige

Thanks Nige
I guess it looks like I'll have to convince the wife we need another fridge/freezer! That'll make a total of 5 for the house.... Eeeck. Might have to ditch the upright freezer and just get a chesty instead.
Cheers

 

[MaltyHops]

...
I guess it looks like I'll have to convince the wife we need another fridge/freezer!
That'll make a total of 5 for the house.... Eeeck. ...

Make use of the fact that a fermenting fridge and temp controller with a good
seal (see) doesn't use much electricity - when mine gets to set temp, the fridge
might run for a minute or two and then off for the next thirty or so minutes before
repeating - fridge powered off when not used for brewing.

So cost to buy and space taken up (could put fridge on a wheeled platform) would
be the main issues.

T.