boochuckles
Well-Known Member
I have 2 mini fridges i needed to keep my fermentors at a temp to ferment proper in the Florida heat. I have one that stays around 70 and that is perfect for fermenting. The other one i have i was not able to adjust. I was just asked how I did it and figured I should start a thread to see anyone else needed help with this.
As to adjusting it, unplug it. I have forgotten this step and shocked myself good. I got a reptile thermometer from the pet store and i have it on the inside of the fridge. I found this was a cheaper option that works well for about 6-7 bucks.
You are going to have to take the thermostat dial thing off now. There are a few screws you need to take off. I have found that taking the temperature probe off the cooling unit is going to help too. Depending on the unit it may easier to wait till the dial is unscrewed.
Pay attention to where the wires are attached and what color goes where, Black, White, and Blue/Green.
Remove the plastic housing from the metal unit.
Now either on the front (where the dial is) or the top there should be a tiny screw that is going to adjust the temperature.
This is where the fun part is going to begin. Pay attention to where the starting point of this screw is. Give it a 1/4 turn and hook it back up. I waited to put it back in the plastic till i am sure it's set right. Put the temperature probe back on the cooling unit. It doesn't need to be fancy right now.
Set the temp to the lowest point it will turn on at and wait. Depending on the size of the fridge wait an hour or more and check back.
If your lowest setting is now too cold then you need to turn the screw back. Set it back to the starting point and then go 1/4 turn the opposite direction.
Wait again.
If warmer but still too cold another 1/4 turn the same way.
Wait and check.
Too warm, that is good. Adjust the dial, NOT THE SCREW, till you have the temp you are looking for.
When you get it there unplug the fridge, put everything back in plastic and screw back into the side.
Plug it back in and make sure it is holding temp.
If everything went well you should have a ferment-o-rater now.
You may encounter what happened on my other fridge. The adjustment screw may not allow you to turn it temp as high as you are going to need it to get. In this case you are going to have to get a separate/replacement thermostat. I have not yet talked my wife into letting me get one yet but I think I can make it work with the instructions from another thread. Any questions just ask me and i'll see if i can help further.
As to adjusting it, unplug it. I have forgotten this step and shocked myself good. I got a reptile thermometer from the pet store and i have it on the inside of the fridge. I found this was a cheaper option that works well for about 6-7 bucks.
You are going to have to take the thermostat dial thing off now. There are a few screws you need to take off. I have found that taking the temperature probe off the cooling unit is going to help too. Depending on the unit it may easier to wait till the dial is unscrewed.
Pay attention to where the wires are attached and what color goes where, Black, White, and Blue/Green.
Remove the plastic housing from the metal unit.
Now either on the front (where the dial is) or the top there should be a tiny screw that is going to adjust the temperature.
This is where the fun part is going to begin. Pay attention to where the starting point of this screw is. Give it a 1/4 turn and hook it back up. I waited to put it back in the plastic till i am sure it's set right. Put the temperature probe back on the cooling unit. It doesn't need to be fancy right now.
Set the temp to the lowest point it will turn on at and wait. Depending on the size of the fridge wait an hour or more and check back.
If your lowest setting is now too cold then you need to turn the screw back. Set it back to the starting point and then go 1/4 turn the opposite direction.
Wait again.
If warmer but still too cold another 1/4 turn the same way.
Wait and check.
Too warm, that is good. Adjust the dial, NOT THE SCREW, till you have the temp you are looking for.
When you get it there unplug the fridge, put everything back in plastic and screw back into the side.
Plug it back in and make sure it is holding temp.
If everything went well you should have a ferment-o-rater now.
You may encounter what happened on my other fridge. The adjustment screw may not allow you to turn it temp as high as you are going to need it to get. In this case you are going to have to get a separate/replacement thermostat. I have not yet talked my wife into letting me get one yet but I think I can make it work with the instructions from another thread. Any questions just ask me and i'll see if i can help further.
