A/C Modification for ferm Chamber.

[kickrjason]

Hello All,

A few months back i bit the bullet and bought a brand new window A/C unit to build a fermentation chamber around.I have built a temperature control unit from the ebay 2 stage controller.

Basically i want it to get COLD!!

Well i need some guidance to rewire the internal thermostat so that the compressor will run in an always on mode.

If someone can help i can provide the model# of the unit.

thanks in advance

 

[Junkster]

Have you pulled the covers off of this unit yet? There's usually a schematic wiring diagram pasted somewhere inside. You should be able to look at it along with the control and see which wires you need to re-route to your new controller.

Post the Model #..... It couldn't hurt - maybe someone will chime in!

 

[audger]

if you post a picture of that wiring diagram, i could tell you exactly.

If someone can help i can provide the model# of the unit.

why not just provide it, instead of telling us to ask you to post it in order for us to be able to help you. its not my job to beg you for details, its your job to provide them.

 

[kickrjason]

Because i didn't feel like posting a long winded post begging for help. If someone showed interest i would provide the info.

Frigidare 5000 btu window unit. Model #FAX050S7A

Brand new from lowes

I attempted to remove the faceplate when i installed it but didn't want to break the mounting brackets so stopped while i was ahead.

Stupid long link but thats all i can do from an iphone.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_68868-2251-...gId=10051&NttParam=&storeId=10151&qvRedirect=

Sent from my iPhone using HB Talk

 

[Sebas83]

You should be able to pull the faceplate off without injury. Just watch where the screws are. Once inside the control panel, you should see the wiring to the thermostat. That thing acts like a light switch. It only interrupts one leg of power. There should be two lines connected to it. Unwire it and if you connect those two, you should be in 'always on' mode.

It's how I made my kegerator.

<-- not an electrician. I just take stuff apart and put it back together.

Try it out. Make sure you have a GFCI outlet for it (you'll be dealing with different moisture levels than what it's supposed to see) just for precaution.

Good luck!!

-S

 

[scone]

Why not just put a small incandescent (like a nightlight) on the temperature controller, and put the bulb right next to the A/C thermostat's temperature sensor. That way the warmth of the nightlight will fool the A/C unit into running past it's ~60F cutoff point. Not my idea, but a brilliant trick nonetheless.

 

[Bokonon]

Why not just put a small incandescent (like a nightlight) on the temperature controller, and put the bulb right next to the A/C thermostat's temperature sensor. That way the warmth of the nightlight will fool the A/C unit into running past it's ~60F cutoff point. Not my idea, but a brilliant trick nonetheless.

Another similar idea is to move the temp sensor onto the compressor so the heat of the compressor will fool it.

 

[audger]

Frigidare 5000 btu window unit. Model #FAX050S7A

ok good- an analog control panel. that makes it slightly easier. and actually if you have an external temp controller and only need to wire the thing to be always-on, its even easier still.

you will have to take the cover off. you will find the thermostat that is behind the control panel, it has a long thin metal tube attached to it that runs across the grill in front of the evaporator coil. inside the control panel there will be a small accordion-looking bellows, probably metal about 2" around, which presses against a switch. take both wires that go to that switch and wire them together. the compressor will now be perminantly on as long as its plugged in.

Why not just put a small incandescent (like a nightlight) on the temperature controller, and put the bulb right next to the A/C thermostat's temperature sensor. That way the warmth of the nightlight will fool the A/C unit into running past it's ~60F cutoff point. Not my idea, but a brilliant trick nonetheless.

you can use this to keep the internal thermostat in always-on mode, but it would be very inaccurate and unweildy to try to use the temp controller to control the bulb, and then in turn to control the internal thermostat. its good if you need a quick fix, but its very Rube Goldberg.

Another similar idea is to move the temp sensor onto the compressor so the heat of the compressor will fool it.

which would work if the compressor is on, but if its off and cold, the only way to heat it up would be to turn on the compressor, but the compressor is controlled by the thermostat which you are trying to heat, so its not possible.

 

[scone]

you can use this to keep the internal thermostat in always-on mode, but it would be very inaccurate and unweildy to try to use the temp controller to control the bulb, and then in turn to control the internal thermostat. its good if you need a quick fix, but its very Rube Goldberg.

I don't quite follow. The temperature controller is an external device (like a Love controller or STC-1000 based) which controls an outlet that it thinks is the cooling device. Instead of hooking up your A/C to it, you hook up a night light to it and place the nightlight next to the A/C's thermocouple. The thermocouple that plugs into your temperature controller (and thus actually controls the outlet) goes next to your beer in the ferm chamber.

When the chamber needs cooling, the nighlight turns on, heats up the A/C themostat and the A/C kicks on. When it's cold enough, the nighlight turns off and cools off (it's in the fermentation chamber after all). Thus the A/C thermostat is also allowed to cool off and turns the A/C off. It's kinda like always-on mode, except for when it's always-off.

 

[kickrjason]

I like the idea of bypassing the thermostat completely. i built the Ebay 2 stage temperature controller. i live in arizona so making this thing run cold when i need it cold is going to be a necessity.

thank you for the help