ChshreCat
Well-Known Member
Mine had a piece of tape covering it once I got the knob pulled off.
Guide to set internal chest freezer thermostat to >32F; Eliminate external control
- Thread starter AssistantBrewer
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I have been using a simple light timer for temp control with pretty good luck.The timer i have is not ideal ,because it has to go on for a 1 1/2 hour block of time minimum. It keeps cornys at about 45 if it runs twice a day.Now that ive seen this thread I might try adjusting the thermostat.
You guys were absolutely right, the screw was right where you said it would be. See attached pics, one with tape one with it exposed. I could have read the very first post in this thread a little more closely and would have seen the same thing! 
So I have a Frigidaire. Turned it 2 or so turns to counterclockwise = 24F after 24 hrs: frozen beer. Turned it another 3 or so turns = 27F after another 24 hrs: frozen beer. I'll keep trying!
Thanks again, I hope this works so I don't have to wire up the one I recently purchased.
So I have a Frigidaire. Turned it 2 or so turns to counterclockwise = 24F after 24 hrs: frozen beer. Turned it another 3 or so turns = 27F after another 24 hrs: frozen beer. I'll keep trying!
Thanks again, I hope this works so I don't have to wire up the one I recently purchased.
red999
Well-Known Member
Just did this to my 7.2 CF magic chef freezer. Turned the coarse screw CW until tight just like Flomaster and set my dial on the front to 1. Keezer has been sitting at 38-40 for the past 24 hours.
mmonacel
Well-Known Member
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blip01
Well-Known Member
You guys were absolutely right, the screw was right where you said it would be. See attached pics, one with tape one with it exposed. I could have read the very first post in this thread a little more closely and would have seen the same thing!
So I have a Frigidaire. Turned it 2 or so turns to counterclockwise = 24F after 24 hrs: frozen beer. Turned it another 3 or so turns = 27F after another 24 hrs: frozen beer. I'll keep trying!
Thanks again, I hope this works so I don't have to wire up the one I recently purchased.
haha...Warning, don't test this adjustment with kegs of beer in your chest freezer! lol
I think I made the same mistake though.
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diabolicaldon
Member
I have a little crappy 5cu ft frigidaire that I did this on about a month ago. I can actually get it up into the high 50's (possibly higher, but I haven't needed to go any higher) and still get down under freezing. So, it's served me both as a keezer and as a lagering chamber already.
D_Ranged_Eskimo
Well-Known Member
Subscribed. Has anyone tried this/had any success with a Haier? I just got the 7.1 cuft yesterday and it would be great not to have to order another aquarium temp controller for it.
diabolicaldon
Member
I believe that I went clockwise on my Frigidaire.
diabolicaldon, do you know your model number? Mine is 297010501F, I think I read a few pages up that I should be turning CCW but it's worth a shot.
I turned the keezer on and turned it all the way CW. It felt like I was tightening it, but in either case I'll have cold brew for a few hours tonight...then maybe frozen beer!
I turned the keezer on and turned it all the way CW. It felt like I was tightening it, but in either case I'll have cold brew for a few hours tonight
...then maybe frozen beer!
mmonacel
Well-Known Member
Just got a Maytag 14.8 freezer (model MQC1552TEW) from Home Depot. Fits 9 ball locks on the floor and a 5# bottle on the corner compressor hump. The thermostat is on the right side of the unit and is super easy to access (two small screws). Once the thermostat unit is out, pop off the plastic knob and just use some pliers to slightly loosen (1/8th turn) the silver nut holding it in place in the plastic housing to get the actual thermostat unit free. The small screw is on the top of the unit (opposite end of the two plugs shown in the picture). It took me 12 turns clockwise to basically dial it into a 40 degree setting with the big knob set between 4 and 5. I might fine tune further, but this is good for now.
Thanks so much to the OP. You just saved me some serious loot. Vote for sticky on this one!
Thanks so much to the OP. You just saved me some serious loot. Vote for sticky on this one!
diabolicaldon
Member
diabolicaldon, do you know your model number? Mine is 297010501F, I think I read a few pages up that I should be turning CCW but it's worth a shot.
I turned the keezer on and turned it all the way CW. It felt like I was tightening it, but in either case I'll have cold brew for a few hours tonight
How did turning it CW work out for you?
I'm at work right now, so I can check the model when I get home.
Thank You OP! (And everyone else)
Got the same freezer as mmonacel, am currently chilling it down- Thanks for saving me the cash OP!
Got the same freezer as mmonacel, am currently chilling it down- Thanks for saving me the cash OP!
mmonacel
Well-Known Member
Update: for the Maytag 14.8 in post 192, I have turned it 20 times clockwise which appears to be the limit for the screw. This has been holding 51-53 degrees for me at the 5 1/2 position on the big dial which is perfect for what I'm looking for. Just some extra info for those interested.
Stumbled onto this post while searching for keezer ideas. Fantastic. I just bought a 7.0 cubic foot freezer from Menards for $189, and the thermostat was exactly like the one pictured in post #4.
Just remove the side cover, then there's a white plastic cover behind the front temp control panel. Two screws remove that, then the panel will pop out the front to expose the set screw. I turned it clockwise probably 10 full turns and plugged it in. I left it over night and it was reading 30F air temperature (while empty) this morning. I put a gallon of water in there just to see if it would freeze, but it's certainly looking good for me.
Just be careful because once the side cover is removed there are lots of wires/tubes all over. Removing the two internal screws takes a little finesse, but not tough. The whole thing took me less than 10 minutes.
Update: ended up adjusting all the way until the screw stopped, then setting the knob to 1. Seems to have settled on about 35F liquid temp in a gallon of water I have in there.
Just remove the side cover, then there's a white plastic cover behind the front temp control panel. Two screws remove that, then the panel will pop out the front to expose the set screw. I turned it clockwise probably 10 full turns and plugged it in. I left it over night and it was reading 30F air temperature (while empty) this morning. I put a gallon of water in there just to see if it would freeze, but it's certainly looking good for me.
Just be careful because once the side cover is removed there are lots of wires/tubes all over. Removing the two internal screws takes a little finesse, but not tough. The whole thing took me less than 10 minutes.
Update: ended up adjusting all the way until the screw stopped, then setting the knob to 1. Seems to have settled on about 35F liquid temp in a gallon of water I have in there.
So I tried this last night on the 7 cu ft freezer I bought from the home depot. max temperature seems to be hovering around 33F, but I think my digital thermometer is reading off. there is ice in the 1 liter glass that I filled with water and placed in there to have some extra thermal mass for the temperature readings.
I did notice the cam on the temperature knob gets wider in diameter as you turn up the temperature. it gets really steep right as you are turning it off in the space between 1 and off. there are about 4 dots marking there. I had initially tried to set it to one of the dots, but the slope of the cam is so steep it is hard to set accurately and the smallest movement throws it off by upwards of 20 degrees.
my plan is to make a couple of small shims to place on the arm that rubs on the cam. this arm, when pulled away from the center of the cam controls the temperature. I figure if I can slip about a 1/8" think piece of metal in there and superglue it in place I will have a pretty permanent fix. and I can probably set the coarse adjustment screw back a little closer to normal in order to keep the deadband from being to narrow and running the compressor too much.
I did notice the cam on the temperature knob gets wider in diameter as you turn up the temperature. it gets really steep right as you are turning it off in the space between 1 and off. there are about 4 dots marking there. I had initially tried to set it to one of the dots, but the slope of the cam is so steep it is hard to set accurately and the smallest movement throws it off by upwards of 20 degrees.
my plan is to make a couple of small shims to place on the arm that rubs on the cam. this arm, when pulled away from the center of the cam controls the temperature. I figure if I can slip about a 1/8" think piece of metal in there and superglue it in place I will have a pretty permanent fix. and I can probably set the coarse adjustment screw back a little closer to normal in order to keep the deadband from being to narrow and running the compressor too much.
Got the kenmore 8.8 home last night, and have been contemplating my build and happened upon this post!
Turned the screw CW til up stopped moved the fine adj knob to 5 and its dialing in around 38 right now! A few more hours of tweaking and itll be perfect!
thanks!!!
Turned the screw CW til up stopped moved the fine adj knob to 5 and its dialing in around 38 right now! A few more hours of tweaking and itll be perfect!
thanks!!!
Anyone know if this works with the GE 7.0 from Home Depot? Everything I see in this thread regarding this freezer seems to point that it can't get warm enough turning the screw all the way in clockwise.
I didn't have any luck with that. it got to just about 32F, water was well frozen in it.
I attached a piece of copper sheet to the control arm of the switch where it rubs on the cam which controls the temperature. might be beyond some folk's ability... forgot to check this morning what the temperature was at, but it seemed to do the trick. now just have to fine tune things.
Long time lurker, first time poster.
I just got the GE freezer from Home Depot delivered and have been futzing with the adjustment screw with no success.
How is it working? Do you have pics of the modification?
Once I am off work I am going home to get a closer look at the Cam on that thermostat.
-James
I just got the GE freezer from Home Depot delivered and have been futzing with the adjustment screw with no success.
How is it working? Do you have pics of the modification?
Once I am off work I am going home to get a closer look at the Cam on that thermostat.
-James
AnchorBock
Well-Known Member
So my freezer went from holding at 37f up to 50f over the course of the last couple of weeks. My basement went from about 68f to 58f in that timeframe, is that to be expected? I adjusted the screw and have it set to about 37f again.
Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
Has anyone gotten one of these to work with this mod?
I got one for free and started messing with it before plugging it in. Turned both screws 4-5 times lefty-loosy and the compressor rand for 3 days without stopping. Eventually it got REALLY hot to the touch so I unplugged it. I never noticed any cooling of the chamber. The walls got a bit cold but that's it. No drop on the thermometer I have in a plastic soda jug filled with water.
Wondering weather I should scrap it and just go buy a newer one?
I got one for free and started messing with it before plugging it in. Turned both screws 4-5 times lefty-loosy and the compressor rand for 3 days without stopping. Eventually it got REALLY hot to the touch so I unplugged it. I never noticed any cooling of the chamber. The walls got a bit cold but that's it. No drop on the thermometer I have in a plastic soda jug filled with water.
Wondering weather I should scrap it and just go buy a newer one?
There are tiny screws inside the "cut in" and "cut out" holes. I assume if I turn those counterclockwise, it will run warmer? Turn both the same amount? Some insight would be helpful.
Goob said:
This really isn't ideal for fermentation temp control, since you can't control the actual beer temp. And I can almost guarantee you won't get a freezer that warm.
I really recommend looking up the "eBay aquarium temp controller" thread for an actual temp controller that shouldn't run you much more than $20.
negativereaction
Well-Known Member
I'm curious, sir, as to how this trick is working for you. Lots of Home Depot GE freezer owners out in the field after Black Friday (myself being one) that would like to see if your technique solves the issue. I can see exactly what you're describing on my coarse adjust shaft, but I don't want to start gluing things to it if it won't go the distance. I can hit 32F and 60F, but currently can't get anything in between.
is there a consensus as to what models work easily and what are PITA? i'm currently looking for a freezer to start kegging, probably new but maybe used. from reading through this thread it seems Frigidaire and GE aren't exactly winners, and these seem to be the most popular brands in my area. looks like some are having good results from Magic Chef??? any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
It worked is what I have to say.
I wish I had a more accurate thermometer. I have it sitting in water and it is reading 30 deg F. I told it that its not nice to lie, but that's what it reads. I had to do a more accurate test by putting some beers in the bottom, letting them come to temperature and then drinking them. Best tasting thermometer I've ever met. :cross:
Here is what I did: (Wish I had pictures, but I am at work)
Gain access to the internal part of the lever by removeing the stickers on the sides.
Move the follower off of the cam using a screwdriver.
Take a small shim and check the fit on the follower/ cam set up.
Trim as necessary.
Glue the shim to the follower.
*Curse at the drop of superglue that sticks everything to everything*
Make sure no glue is touching anything else.
Let dry for an extended period
*Don't test it before its dry, it will pop out in a hilarious fashion causing more cursing*
Plug the freezer in and let it sit. Mines working great. Threw a collar on it this weekend. Cheap pine for a stand in until we can get money together for a nice red oak one.
I wish I had a more accurate thermometer. I have it sitting in water and it is reading 30 deg F. I told it that its not nice to lie, but that's what it reads. I had to do a more accurate test by putting some beers in the bottom, letting them come to temperature and then drinking them. Best tasting thermometer I've ever met. :cross:
Here is what I did: (Wish I had pictures, but I am at work)
Gain access to the internal part of the lever by removeing the stickers on the sides.
Move the follower off of the cam using a screwdriver.
Take a small shim and check the fit on the follower/ cam set up.
Trim as necessary.
Glue the shim to the follower.
*Curse at the drop of superglue that sticks everything to everything*
Make sure no glue is touching anything else.
Let dry for an extended period
*Don't test it before its dry, it will pop out in a hilarious fashion causing more cursing*
Plug the freezer in and let it sit. Mines working great. Threw a collar on it this weekend. Cheap pine for a stand in until we can get money together for a nice red oak one.
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