Fridge temp control unit???

where can I find a good fridge temp control unit that works well?? I want to buy something that someone is actually using and knows works well. I want to make some lagers. can use some good help.

Get this one from Austin Homebrew..its worth the money. I use it and it works great.

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/produ...=1214&osCsid=220dec3f79c748f487c92c04779be3e7

Keith,
Is that Johnson thermostat a digital or analog? If it's analog I'd recommend the Digital A419

http://www.zymico.com/controls/

You can buy it wired or not, depending on if you are electrical savy (I'm not). Those prices include shipping, by the way. If you dig hard you can find A419's for about 45 or so + shipping.

I thought about getting a temp controller, but I don't have a thermowell for the temp probe.. since I'd want it to be gauging the temp off my ferment rather than stagnant air in the fridge.

I have an old school Control Temp that I've used with a previous fridge in the garge similar to the one at midwest...

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products/ProdByID.aspx?ProdID=4230

Not sure you couldn't (eeek!) beat the price somewhere like ebay. I've not had any problems with mine and the temp accuracy is pretty good. Digital is great but cost more...old school is old school...depends on your budget and mindset. I like old school...whitewalls and flat black with lots of power... ! My $0.02.

woodstone said:

I have an old school Control Temp that I've used with a previous fridge in the garge similar to the one at midwest...

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products/ProdByID.aspx?ProdID=4230

Not sure you couldn't (eeek!) beat the price somewhere like ebay. I've not had any problems with mine and the temp accuracy is pretty good. Digital is great but cost more...old school is old school...depends on your budget and mindset. I like old school...whitewalls and flat black with lots of power... ! My $0.02.

Click to expand...

I agree with woodstone. I have two of those units in use for the last 3 years and haven't had a problem yet.

Wild

I have the Johnson A419 and it is great. Easy to use and very accurate. Or at least as accurate as the old fridge it's hooked up to can be.

Well I have a fridge, do I only use the fridge part or both the freezer and fridge parts. I have a top freezer type. I would like to use the fridge part as it is alot bigger. Thanks for the infor on the temp control units. I just need a lil more info before ordering it. Thanks again.

Any one into electronics?
Could this be used?
http://www.espares.co.uk/invt/hk00803


There's all this but I can't put it together.

http://www.stpats.com/kegsys.htm#controller / http://www.brewingtechniques.com/library/backissues/issue1.4/oconnor.html
Schematic. http://nov55.com/ther/thr.html (Could you use this for a base (Temperature range:5 to +30° C) http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSearch/partDetail.jsp?SKU=179868&N=401 and this? http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/55996.pdf or this http://www.toolstation.com/messages.html?code=47346&mainWin=1 or http://www.avenuesupplies.co.uk/index.php?id=367&pid=4345&sid=1 /http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=46257&C=Froogle&U=46257&T=37994

i use this one (top one from johnson controls). works great!
http://pivo.northernbrewer.com/nbstore/action/search-do?searchTerm=yeast+starter+kit&x=25&y=8

Just use the fridge part for beer and use the freezer section as a mouse-proof cold storage. I keep hops, grains and extract there.

Ofry - that controller needs a power relay to control the fridge. I suspect it would be cheaper to just buy a controller designed to handle a fridge.

If you can find one, I suggest getting one that can do both heating AND cooling at the same time. I'm not talking about the ones that allow you to set it into either 'cooling mode' or 'heating mode' (basically inverting the POWER-ON state to trigger above or below the set point) but one that actually allows you to plug in TWO devices at the same time; one that will turn ON when the temp is a few degrees above the set-point and one that is ON when the temp is a few degrees below the set-point.

Mine is just a simple "if it's above the set-point, turn the power on", and this works fine with the weather is warm, but whenit started to get colder here, my brews were sitting in the fridge and were falling WAY below the temp I wanted.

What I did to cope with this was put a lamp with a 20W lightbulb into the fridge. It has a small amount of warming power that is always ON, and when it gets too warm, the thermostat kicks the fridge into action to cool it back off.

This means that my light is ALWAYS using power, and the fridge is running more than it has to to keep the lightbulb in check.

If I had the dual-element gizmo, the light and fridge would only be using power when necessary.

-walker

I actually got a cheap line-voltage thermostat from ebay ($10 with shipping) . It has a little screw inside, that I used to adjust the temperature range to meet my needs. It's working pretty well for me. The only drawback is that you have to slightly modify your fridge and you will have to calibrate it (marking temperatures on the dail)

Okay, here we go. Let me guide you through what I have learned. Stay away from the anolog ones unless you find it at bargain prices. I got the digital for several dollars more than the anolog. No brainer. Walker-san has the right idea, you want a two stage unit if you can afford it, ill get to that in a second. I have a Johnson Controls A419. Bought it along with a ferm wrap heating sheet and a thermowell for the temperature probe. My plan was to run the Johnson Control so that I could put my carboy in a fridge with the heat sheet wrapped around it. I wanted to control both heating and cooling at the same time.
When I got the unit I wired it up and discovered there is an electrical jumper that you need to put in one position to heat, or another position to cool. I can not do both at the same time. Not a huge deal but my plan was to be spot on all year round. No guess work. I dont like the fact that I have to take the cover off to choose which mode I want. Other than that the Johnson Control is great. Since I have all the equipment and trying to get the end result I wanted I am going to buy a Ranco two stage Temperature Control Unit. They make a single stage Ranco that is like my Johnson Controls, But I am interested in the two stage. This will enable me to plug a heater into one socket and a fridge/cooler into the other socket. It can then be programmed for each to act in harmony of one another. I have a kegerator so I figure I will use my Johnson Controls for that since it is a simpler model.
The Ranco runs $99 dollars without being wired. You can buy it wired for $120. Might be worth buying wired since you need two female ends wired for the appliances. This requires more than just cutting an extension cord in half as I did for the Johnson Controls. I bought the Johnson Controls A 419 for $60 bucks which is roghly what you would pay for the anolog. So obviously you have options. You need to decide what your needs are. It might require you to fill a carboy with water and experiment around the house with finding different temperature ranges. All some people need it a chill spot in the basement and a ferm wrap around it to heat to temp. Others need to keep theirs in a fridge all year round to our friends out west. I hope my journey will help you decide.
Another thing is the instruction manual suggested 12 guage wiring be used for the unit. I went with this and it can be a little difficult to fiddle arond with stiff rigid wire in a tight little spot. Might wanna go with 14 gauge to make it easier on your blood pressure.

A friend of mine gave me his Johnson Controls analog controller and it works great!!! It is only 1F off. Right now I have my dopplebock sitting in a 50F small fridge.

Doing some searches for a temp controller and I found this:

http://www.energyequipment.com/p-36...9abc-1c.aspx?gclid=CPqAsvewnJ0CFRkpawodxB8s_A

Does that have everything I need? Basically plan to ferment inside a kegerator or refrigerator and just stick the probe in a small glass of water in the fridge. The cord seems pretty thick for running through the fridge door.

holy crap 4 year old thread.... im here so I might as well put in my 2 pennies . Either work fine I have two Johnson analog units and a Love they both do the job just differently. I like the bling factor of the love display on the kegerator but the other unit in the furnace room whats the point? The Johnson works fine and the fact I paid 25 $ for both I cant complain . The Love was 69$ and the wiring is a snap.

Kinda late on the answers here guys. But hey, thanks!! Better late than never!!

Didn't realize this thread was sold old...oh well, guess this stuff doesn't change. Anyone know the differences between the various Johnson 419 models? I found what seems to be a good price for these, but there are many different model numbers and I have no idea how they are different.

http://www.energysavingcontrols.com/Johnson-Controls-A419ABC-1C-Electronic-Temp-Control-P95.aspx

http://www.energysavingcontrols.com/Johnson-Controls-A419ABC-2C-Electronic-Temp-Control-P96.aspx

http://www.energysavingcontrols.com/Johnson-Controls-A419GBF-1C-Electronic-Temp-Control-P97.aspx

I also have the A419 and with some simple wiring it works fantastically. I love the digital readout.

I just picked up a Ranco ETC-211000-000 from http://www.rancoetc.com.

They have Ranco and Johnson controls and offer prewired versions for a few extra $.

mjc said:

http://www.chicompany.net/freezer-conversion-thermostat-remote-bulb-933.html

Click to expand...

Wow, that seems cheap. Anyone used this one?

MaxPower49 said:

Wow, that seems cheap. Anyone used this one?

Click to expand...

I just ordered one and should see it soon.

My goal is to be into my fermentation chamber for less than 50 dollars. I bought two chest freezers from a Walmart auction for 5 bucks. One of them works but neither has a lid. So far I have $48 into it, so I need to fashion a $1.99 lid somehow!