Temperature Controller upgrade and DIY question...

[itsernst]

Hi Guys,

Just got my Danby Kegerator and I have heard that they controller in them stinks. I wanted to get a controller with an LCD display that would be fairly easy to install and configure.

Anyone have any easy options that I could use to make this happen? I have seen the Love Controllers, but they do seem like they require a good bit of work.

Cheers,

Sean

 

[Psych]

STC-1000 from Ebay, just ensure you get one that's 110v and not 240v.

They come from China, they're $20 shipped (takes 3 weeks though) and work great for this! This is the 'ebay temp controller' or 'aquarium controller' that everyone talks about here. The rumors are true: it's great and cheap!

 

[zachattack]

Seconded. It doesn't require "a good bit of work", just stripping and twisting a couple wires. It'll only take a few minutes and is a great DIY.

 

[itsernst]

Thanks Guys! Do they display Celsius only?

 

[DRonco]

I just put one together last night . Took about an hour. I found mine on Amazon and had it in 4 days. $25 shipped. There's a youtube video with step by step instructions.

*Edit: This is the video I used...

 

[zachattack]

They do display Celsius only, that's the only downside. For a kegerator, where you won't be changing the temp much (or at all), it's no big deal. Mine keeps my keezer at 4.4 degrees C.

 

[willness33]

I also use the stc1000. Took about an hour to put it in a nice box with receptacles for heating and cooling. It works great in my ferm chamber no matter what the temps are around it.

 

[Psych]

The Celcius thing is an annoyance for sure, and this coming from a Canadian! But I'm so used to everything beer related being in Fahrenheit. I printed out a conversion chart and taped it beside my controller, it does the job

 

[itsernst]

I also use the stc1000. Took about an hour to put it in a nice box with receptacles for heating and cooling. It works great in my ferm chamber no matter what the temps are around it.

So i guess I am a little confused about the multiple outlets for heating/cooling. Is it just that you wire it if you want to use the heating outlet?

The Celcius thing is an annoyance for sure, and this coming from a Canadian! But I'm so used to everything beer related being in Fahrenheit. I printed out a conversion chart and taped it beside my controller, it does the job

I am sure that I would get used to it. Have a Good/Bad/Ugly conversion chart

 

[zachattack]

The STC-1000 is a dual stage controller, so it control both heating and cooling. This is awesome for a fermentation chamber, where depending on what you're fermenting and the ambient temperature you'll either need to heat or cool the fermenter to maintain your set point.

For a kegerator, you can probably just wire the cooling part. That's what I did for mine.

If you're ordering one on e-bay, you should probably just order two. Once you see how awesome it is you'll want to get a dedicated fermentation fridge.

 

[willness33]

The STC-1000 is a dual stage controller, so it control both heating and cooling. This is awesome for a fermentation chamber, where depending on what you're fermenting and the ambient temperature you'll either need to heat or cool the fermenter to maintain your set point.

For a kegerator, you can probably just wire the cooling part. That's what I did for mine.

If you're ordering one on e-bay, you should probably just order two. Once you see how awesome it is you'll want to get a dedicated fermentation fridge.

Yeah, what he said. Works great for ferm chamber temp control.

 

[Sharkman20]

Nice, I'll have to check these out too. I've been looking for a good temp controller but didn't feel like spending 100+ bucks on one. Can this be spliced into a short extension cord from the fridge to the wall? That way I wouldn't have to mess with the factory wire?

 

[zachattack]

It absolutely can. Most people build it into a little project box and mount an outlet on the box, then you plug the fridge right in.

Check out this thread:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/ebay-fish-tank-controller-build-using-wal-mart-parts-261506/

Or the master thread:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/ebay-aquarium-temp-controller-build-163849/

I built mine inside a 2-gang box like the OP in that first thread, then mounted it through the collar of my keezer. Sealed everything up real well on the back with silicone caulk so I don't have to worry about condensation.

 

[snaps10]

I just got mine in. I ordered the Fahrenheit version, but it's only single stage. Where I live winter is winter and summer is summer, so I'll just use either the heater or cooler.

I'll be mounting mine into the door of my upcoming fermentation chamber. If I decide I need to have heat and cold simultaneously I'll just order another to control the heat.

 

[itsernst]

I just got mine in. I ordered the Fahrenheit version, but it's only single stage. Where I live winter is winter and summer is summer, so I'll just use either the heater or cooler.

I'll be mounting mine into the door of my upcoming fermentation chamber. If I decide I need to have heat and cold simultaneously I'll just order another to control the heat.

Fellow Californian...where did you get the Fahrenheit version of this?

 

[snaps10]

Fellow Californian...where did you get the Fahrenheit version of this?

From the Magical Land known as... Hong Kong. The seller is nonstopwin. I'd put up a link but I'm on my phone at the moment.

I just got my insulation so it'll be a week or so enforce I get the chamber built and wire it up. I'm electrically challenged so I'll probably burn my house down in the process.

 

[AnOldUR]

The seller is nonstopwin.

Looks like it's rated for 5 amps. Could that be a problem?

 

[snaps10]

Looks like it's rated for 5 amps. Could that be a problem?

I believe they're all 5a

 

[AnOldUR]

Start-up load on a fridge or freezer may exceed 5 amps.

I've seen several links that say that the STC-1000 is rated at 15 amps, but

this Fahrenheit version may not be the same unit.

If you get a chance, will you look inside and let us know?

Here's what's in the STC-1000:

 

[Psych]

I thought mind was a 10amp at 120v or so, but I might be wrong. It definitely works, no heat issues, and when my compressor fires up I also fire up a fan and a dc converter which powers two other fans in the body of my fermentation chamber.

The compressor I'm using for cooling is older, like maybe 10+ years old now, so it's maybe no energy star or anything, probably uses 1.5-2amps to run but takes probably 7-8 to fire up.

 

[beaksnbeer]

I use the heat cycle to run the push/pull fans in coffin they don't run all the time or when the cool cycle is running.