Chest freezer and temperature control (Will the lid shut?)

[rival178]

I'm looking into buying a small chest freezer along with a Johnson a419 thermostat.

My concern is that the freezer door will not shut with the probe going in between the lid and freezer.

Is there another way to do this? Cutting a hole in the freezer?

I see plenty of pictures and videos of the probe going in the freezer and the lid appears to be shutting, anyone have thoughts or use this process?

 

[LLBeanJ]

It'll shut.

 

[WDT]

It'll seal around the lid, you'll be fine. I've never had an issue.

 

[nitz146]

I did it this way for a year before I built a collar. Never had an issue.

 

[shelly_belly]

5 years doing this - no problems.

 

[RM-MN]

IT WON'T SEAL! But that is ok, you don't want it to seal. There should be a rubber gasket on the freezer lid that will deform slightly around the probe wire. That should let the CO2 escape.

 

[kkramer56]

I drilled a hole. I first drilled a small hole through the outer layer of metal. Then probed around to make sure nothing important was there then drilled through the second layer. Larger this time, making sure the probe will fit through.