Outdoor Keezer vs freezing temps outside

Hey guys,

just as the title says, I have my freezer outside due to SWMBO not wanting it in the house... it has a Johnson digital temp controller on it set at 38, kicks off at 34.

Actually, she said I could put it in the basement but it is too big to take down & back up after winter. So it sits outside... upstairs we have no room for an 8.8cu freezer anywhere.


Anything I can do to keep it from freezing inside the freezer & freezing the kegs too? Any DYI threads on warming a Freezer to stay stable around 34-38 inside temps? I searched, wasn't successful.

Are the Johnsons dual stage?

You need to hook up some form of heating inside hooked up to the heat line of your temperature controller. A lot of people use small reptile lamps you can get at a Petsmart or other store for like 15 bucks.

VegasJ said:

Hey guys,

Anything I can do to keep it from freezing inside the freezer & freezing the kegs too? Any DYI threads on warming a Freezer to stay stable around 34-38 inside temps? I searched, wasn't successful.

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...find a new wife?

seriously though, it sounds like you need a dual stage controller and a heating source inside...especially for Pburgh.

the johnson A419 - single stage...

http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/cont.../temperature/electronic2/a419singlestage.html

guess I should have thought about that before buying this one... Just got it Saturday.

It isn't really SWMBO's doing, we really have no room inside for a chest freezer. I'm still working on her though, into making some room.

we both work at home and she's got this huge desk downstairs.. hmmmm, looks like 1/2 of it has to go! LoL

no, really... what kind of dual stage controller should I be looking for? I've seen the e-bay special sc1000 or whatever it is... but I'm no specialist on wiring crap like that myself. Even if it is easy for others.

That ebay sc1000 seems like an easy to build control. I'm going to buy one for a ferm chamber and one for a keezer. There are a couple of threads with color coded wiring diagrams. The Jan/Feb 2012 issue of BYO also has a nice article on the sc1000 controller and how to build it.

limulus said:

That ebay sc1000 seems like an easy to build control. I'm going to buy one for a ferm chamber and one for a keezer. There are a couple of threads with color coded wiring diagrams. The Jan/Feb 2012 issue of BYO also has a nice article on the sc1000 controller and how to build it.

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This, go build a STC1000 for ~40 bucks.

Save your johnson as an excuse to build a keezer/kegerator, as that will only need cooling.

You don't want to run the compressor at all while the ambient temps are under 50F. You'll burn that thing out in a couple years. You just need to use your controller to switch a heat source inside the box now.

My "keezer" is in the garage as well. I've the Love TSS2-2100 and a simple 100 watt bulb for the heating side. Works great here in Rochester temps. I had it running at 54F for the past three weeks as it was my lagering chamber at the time. Dropped it to 43F today. Outdoor temps have run 30F-45F lately.

VegasJ said:

the johnson A419 - single stage...

http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/cont.../temperature/electronic2/a419singlestage.html

guess I should have thought about that before buying this one... Just got it Saturday.

Click to expand...

Bobby_M said:

You don't want to run the compressor at all while the ambient temps are under 50F. You'll burn that thing out in a couple years. You just need to use your controller to switch a heat source inside the box now.

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Agree with Bobby_M that you should not run at low ambient temps, at least without adding the proper pressure controls and crank case heater (probably more expense than its worth). For the short term, your JC 419 is programmable to work in Cooling mode or Heating mode, just not both simultaneously. If your average ambient temps are cool enough, you could use your existing controller as heat only until spring (using heating rock, heating pad, light bulb, etc). Not the perfect solution for those "in between" months, but might get you through till you convince SWMBO that she would be so much better off with a smaller desk!?

501irishred said:

Agree with Bobby_M that you should not run at low ambient temps, at least without adding the proper pressure controls and crank case heater (probably more expense than its worth). For the short term, your JC 419 is programmable to work in Cooling mode or Heating mode, just not both simultaneously. If your average ambient temps are cool enough, you could use your existing controller as heat only until spring (using heating rock, heating pad, light bulb, etc). Not the perfect solution for those "in between" months, but might get you through till you convince SWMBO that she would be so much better off with a smaller desk!?

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Just looked at the owner's manual for my Kenmore 8.8cf freezer. The installation section states "For the most efficient operation, the freezer should be located where surrounding temperature will not exceed 110 deg. F (43 deg. C). Temperatures of 32 deg. F (0 deg. C) and below will NOT affect freezer oparation. Additional compressor heaters are not recommended."

Guess that it depends on the age and/or design of your freezer. Fortunately for a keezer you probably won't be running the compressor if ambient temperature is below 40-45 deg.

Bobby_M said:

You don't want to run the compressor at all while the ambient temps are under 50F. You'll burn that thing out in a couple years. You just need to use your controller to switch a heat source inside the box now.

Click to expand...

501irishred said:

Agree with Bobby_M that you should not run at low ambient temps, at least without adding the proper pressure controls and crank case heater (probably more expense than its worth). For the short term, your JC 419 is programmable to work in Cooling mode or Heating mode, just not both simultaneously. If your average ambient temps are cool enough, you could use your existing controller as heat only until spring (using heating rock, heating pad, light bulb, etc). Not the perfect solution for those "in between" months, but might get you through till you convince SWMBO that she would be so much better off with a smaller desk!?

Click to expand...

AH! that is correct... the Johnson A419 does heating & cooling... but I can still use it with the jumpers switched, just have it switch a light or warming blanket 'on' if the temp goes to 34 then have it switch 'off' when it warms the inside to 38-40.

I guess I'll need to do this once our daytime highs stop getting over 50 though (I think).

In the meantime, I'm going down to tell SWMBO that her desk is too eff'n big, has to go. Wish me luck!

if yours is like mine, you'll need it!