Thank You very much for all of the responses. I actually have a BA in physics and understand the concept of fluid dynamics fairly well. I also understand the concept of heat exchange of the fluids. I have never doubted the idea that the specific heat of beer will result in drastic fluctuation in the temperature of the beer. As long as you keep the lid closed you will have cold beer. What made me wonder was more about efficiency. I know that if I have multiple fans running full time in the keezer i will be able to keep a more uniform temperature, as well as cool the beer quicker when the compressor is running. Also I understand that keeping the probe submerged will allow a buffer zone so that the compressor does not have to kick on after every time the lid opens. If the compressor does not kick on to compensate for the change in air temp the warm air molecules will hit the sides of the kegs and whatever else is in the keezer speeding up those molecules, transferring energy, and cooling down themselves. All of this I know to be fact, what I was wondering was real life experience.
I know that having beer at a constant temperature is best (IMO), but is it worth going through all of this trouble to get it. What i mean to say if you have your compressor kicking on every 10 min and turning of moments later you will destroy the compressor and increase your electric bill due to the starting of the motor, when they are least efficient. But on the other extreme if you only have your compressor kicking on once every six hours the fluctuation of internal temperatures of the system will be too unacceptable.
The answer, IMO, is some where in the middle, a happy medium. I was/am looking for advise from real world experience. I understand i will have an electric bill, that my keezer will eventually die, and that no matter what I do I'll still drink the beer.
Thus far I have decided not to run my fan full time, unless i have company over, otherwise it will be controlled by my ETC. As far as the probe in water vs air. I am still deciding, I have read many excellent reasons of why placing the probe in water is the way to go. However ever time I try and read something to the contrary someone else jumps in and starts an argument, and rationality seams to be thrown out of them window as though they are attacking the person, not the idea.
I would still love to hear reasoning of why the probe in water is good, but as of right now I am more curious about it hanging in the air. If you have a different opinion to that of another post, can you please hold it to yourself.
And remember "arguing on the internet is like winning in the special olympics ...in the end your still retarted." We are all on this site because we like to brew beer.
I was typing fast, I have a BS in physics with a minor in math. My current job i use 0% of my major. I could be wrong but I think there was a way to get a BA in physics at my school, but it seamed quite dumb to go that rout. Now I is Edumacated.
