Fermenting in a mini-fridge

[ISUBrew79]

I would like to try fermenting a lager in a corny keg in my Oster mini-fridge that also serves as a 2-tap kegerator. I have a Johnson A419 digital temperature controller, so I have everything I need to make this happen. However, I want to make sure that running my fridge on an external temperature controller won't shorten the lifespan of my kegerator. Are there any precautions I should take to ensure that the compressor doesn't cycle too much, etc.?

If anyone can chime in on this, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[FlatcapBrew]

Not sure about yours but my serving temp is lower than my fermenting temp with lagers and the same as my lagering temp and it cycles as normal

 

[wilceaser]

I am using an Oster 5.0cft mini fridge as my fermentaion chamber with a Ranco Digital Controller and I have noticed that the fridge runs less than if I am just running it on it's own.
I set the fridge's thermostat to the coldest setting and then use the Ranco for my temp control.
Once I load it up with my fermenter I don't open the fridge untill the beer is ready to be racked or transfered into a keg. Like I said above it seems to run less once it gets to my set temp.

 

[ISUBrew79]

I am using an Oster 5.0cft mini fridge as my fermentaion chamber with a Ranco Digital Controller and I have noticed that the fridge runs less than if I am just running it on it's own.
I set the fridge's thermostat to the coldest setting and then use the Ranco for my temp control.
Once I load it up with my fermenter I don't open the fridge untill the beer is ready to be racked or transfered into a keg. Like I said above it seems to run less once it gets to my set temp.

That's good to know- have you expanded the fridge to provide a larger space for fermenters, or are you fermenting in cornies? Do you have the temperature probe in the open air in the fridge, or taped to or inside the fermenter?

 

[wilceaser]

No Mods done to the fridge yet, but due to the compressor hump in the bottom of the fridge I have to use the lower glass shelf, this limits the overall height of my fermenter. Right now I use an Ale Pail with a blow of tube instead of an air lock with no problems.

But I will be removing the molded door shelves soon so I can get a Carboy or Better Bottle in there with no problems and have pleanty of hieght to use a standard air lock.