Worst day of my brewing career

[kbindera]

I have been using a Ranco dual stage controller I bought several months. It is used to temp control a freezer for lagering and cold storage.
Just today the controller started reading temps over 100+ degrees. So, it reads that the internal temp of my freezer is at 170 F. This has basically left my freezer on all day freezing two kegs of beer, a fermenting lager and several bottles of beer (a few of them exploded).
I checked the freezer in the morning and all was well. When I came home this evening, I was shocked to see the controller reading 170. It is completely hosed at this point and can't accurately read even ambient temp in the house right.
Has this happened before? Is it a known issue with this controller?

A somber day for this brewer.



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[giraffe]

I had a similar thing happen with a cheapo Will-hi controller. Suddenly thought the freezer was 60C. Froze 8 kegs solid. They were fine when thawed and given a bit of a shake, and then left for a week at 34 with a new controller.

 

[JosephLongbow]

Man that sucks. Hopefully the beer isn't ruined.

 

[Roadie]

I've been using that controller for about a year and a half with no issues. Bought it from a friend who used it longer without issues. This is the first time I've heard of this with that controller.

 

[day_trippr]

[...]Just today the controller started reading temps over 100+ degrees. So, it reads that the internal temp of my freezer is at 170 F.[...]

Where was the probe located through all this?
Was it submerged directly in liquid?

Cheers!

 

[kbindera]

It was actually in a thermowell in a carboy. Totally dry.


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