how often does the compressor in your ferm fridge click on

[erick0619]

I am just curious how often is too often. I've timed mine, so it clicks on, runs for 15 minutes +/- a few minutes and then shuts off for a good 45 to an hour depending how hot the house is. Is this normal? and if not what can i do to make it more efficient. The reason i ask is because i've read about some temp controllers that will make the fridge work too hard. I am using a ranco ETC.

 

[redbeard2687]

I don't know anything about the Ranco, but I have a Johnson Controller I have set to no more than every 12 min. The fermentation cooler when I have an ale in there (65F ish) probably only turns on every hour at most. The keezer is more often for sure.

 

[day_trippr]

Unfortunately the Ranco doesn't have an "Anti Short-Cycle Delay" function, but if your ferm fridge is cycling hourly, an ASD wouldn't change anything (typical controller ASD settings max out at 15 minutes or less).

Where do you have the Ranco probe? Hanging in the air, strapped to your fermenter and insulated, or in a thermowell?

Cheers!

 

[erick0619]

I have it strapped to my bucket. I've been thinking of putting a small fan in there to circulate the air and hopefully improve cooling. It clicks on once the temp has gone up one degree. Right now it's set at 70 so as soon as it hits 71 it starts back up.

 

[day_trippr]

Something to keep the air moving 24/7 is a good idea, whether it's a ferm fridge or a kegerator/keezer. It doesn't take much, any pissant 12v peecee fan running on half voltage will work just fine for anything short of a behemoth chamber.

btw, consider that a stock fridge thermostat typically has a much larger differential than 1°F, closer to 3°F from what I've found on the topic. If the "stock" fridge was loaded with the same thermal mass as your batch of beer the cycle time would be extended significantly, but you'd lose that tight control...

Cheers!