Fridge control only?

[Phlyborn]

I have a question and I'm having trouble finding the answer. I have a refrigerator with the freezer on top and I am building a temp control unit for it. However, I just want to control the fridge temp without affecting the freezer. (Plan on storing misc. items in the freezer)I know I could just plug the whole fridge into the control unit but then that would turn on/off the freezer compartment. I'm sure there is a way and I'm just missing the info. Maybe just tap into the fridge thermostat somehow?
If there is a link to some directions for doing this or if someone has done this any assistance is appreciated.

 

[Ole_Smoky]

Im not to familiar with newer fridge setups but I believe they still only use a single cooling system. I just picked up a used fridge that's got to be 10 years old and the way it functions is by cooling the freezer and then that cold air is directed through some sort of fan/vent system to cool the fridge. For something like that you would just need to gain control of the fans and stuff. Probably wouldn't be hard to figure out as long as you got a full wiring schematic of the fridge.

 

[Phlyborn]

Thanks for the response. The refrigerator is an old one. I'll have to look into getting the schematic.

 

[RedRaiderDavid]

Another option is to do what I did. I bought an ITC-1000 (variant of the STC-1000) one night after a few drinks. Yeah, I should put a breathalyzer on my computer. Anyway I am just using the temperature probe on it not the temp controller functions. While this same thing could be accomplished with any thermometer I like having the digital readout outside the fridge and it allows me to fine tune the temp using the fridge's normal dial.

 

[day_trippr]

How is ^that^ an option?

Cheers!

 

[Phlyborn]

I would prefer to have more control than just using the dial inside.
I'm going to try and "tap" into the wiring that controls the air door between the freezer compartment and the fridge.

 

[day_trippr]

Afaik fridge/freezers always share a common compressor/evaporator/condenser that essentially services the freezer section when needed, while the air door (or fan, in many cases) draws from freezer to fridge.

So controlling that door or fan is your best/only shot at gaining enough differential between the freezer section and fridge section to make the freezer section actually useful. It may not be a big stretch, you basically need to gain a bit under 30°F differential to get into ale territory (and a lot less than that for lager yeasts)...
Cheers!

 

[Phlyborn]

I found the owners manual and it appears as though there really isn't a good way to do what I wanted. So I'll just deal with it for now and get another cheap $50 fridge down the road. I thought I'd share this diagram just to show how some units work. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1424264404.894015.jpg

 

[Staestc]

I'm looking for the same thing. I would love to keep the freezer as a freezer yet control the fridge temp as a fermentation chamber. In my case I just replaced a bottom freezer french door LG fridge with a new one due to broken shelves, drawers, etc., but the old unit still cools/freezes just fine.

I'll keep looking, but if anybody finds a thread where somebody has done this please let me know! I'll have to go pull schematics on my old fridge and figure out what seems possible.