hacking fridge thermostat

[cjyh84]

Hiya,

I recently moved to a very humid and tropical weather and have to use a fridge for fermentation. I use the analogue Johnson temp controler and if works just fine, but the fridge I use only goes down to 12c (53f), so basically if I set the Johnson to 0c (32f) the fridges' temp will only go as low as 12c no matter how long I leave it on.

I saw a video online which taught how to hack the thermostat so the fridge would go lower, but mine doesn't have the little dial that can be turned so it can fulfill that function. Basically I teared the plastic casing that protects the thermostat and the small light bulb and disconnected the thermostat but it only has the one knob.

So, my question is, does anybody know of another way to 'hack' my fridges' thermostat so i can achieve 0c (32f) for cold crashing?


thanks!

jack

 

[wilserbrewer]

Try a google search for "bypass refrigerator thermostat"
Removing the thermostat from the circuit should be done to leave the fridge in an always on condition, and controlled with the love controller.

Could be the fridge is not operating properly as well, hopefully not.

 

[ImNoExpert]

53F is too high for a properly working fridge. It wouldn't even be safe to store food in there. Based on what you said the factory thermostat might not be the problem.

Sounds perfect for cellaring, though.

 

[dinnerstick]

yeah just take the thermostat right out of line. my crappy little fridge wouldn't go below 9c or so at coldest, bypassed the thermostat (and unfortunately the light bulb which was in the same array) and right now it's 1.5c on an stc-1000. i am not an electrician. look up proper advice. but i soldered the 'in' and 'out' wires to/from the thermostat together.

 

[cjyh84]

thanks for the input.

so if i yank the thermostat out and hook the fridge to the Johnson, it ought to go below 53f (assuming that my fridge is working properly)?

Or do i also have to solder or rewire some stuff like dinnerstick mentioned?

And if my fridge isn't running properly, then i guess that removing the thermostat wont really affect temp, right? I mean, if the fridge isnt cooling propoerly (30-40f) then removing the thermostat wont really make a difference; if might be the compressor or something else that needs to be fixed...



Jack