How to keep my refrigerator at a constant temp?

[speckswme]

I have a sanyo 3.7 cubic ft mini fridge and it doesn't keep a constant temp during my cold crash. The fridge varies 3-5 degrees! Is it possible to hook up a external thermostat to keep the temp more constant? I've read some stuff online but am a bit confused, anybody out there have experience doing this?

Aloha!

 

[cannman]

I have a sanyo 3.7 cubic ft mini fridge and it doesn't keep a constant temp during my cold crash. The fridge varies 3-5 degrees! Is it possible to hook up a external thermostat to keep the temp more constant? I've read some stuff online but am a bit confused, anybody out there have experience doing this?

Aloha!

I built this controller in about an hour. Do a search for STC-1000, about $15 on amazon. It controls both heat and cold like the $150 models on brew websites! About $8 for the project box, $3 for wires and the plug. I added in some toggle switches "just in case" I ever needed to disable the heating or cool without disturbing the brew. I'm not sure if I ever would, but someone online said that they wished they had included it so I did.

I'll use the heat section to plug into a seedling starting mat tapped to the carboy. My temp will be monitoring the internal temp of the brew via a thermobung and when the target temp is hit, the fridge will stop compressing but then since temps would otherwise keep falling, the heatpad will kick on and keep the brew at the target temp and shut back off again once equilibrium internally is hitting my target temp, keeping it from extreme temps thus no off flavors!

There are some great Youtube vids on wiring too btw.

 

[speckswme]

Nice Work!! Does the device only read in celcious? Does the fridge plug into the device?

 

[flars]

I have a sanyo 3.7 cubic ft mini fridge and it doesn't keep a constant temp during my cold crash. The fridge varies 3-5 degrees! Is it possible to hook up a external thermostat to keep the temp more constant? I've read some stuff online but am a bit confused, anybody out there have experience doing this?

Aloha!

Cold crashing doesn't need a certain temperature to accomplish the task. You, of course would not want the temperature to stay below freezing. A 3° to 5° temp swing would be acceptable for cold crashing.
The temperature swing would be unacceptable for lagering or using your mini frig as a fermentation chamber. The STC-1000 would be an inexpensive solution in these cases.
Even though you are not using your mini frig for these purposes right now the addition of the STC-1000 will give you that flexibility.

 

[flars]

Check out the HBT vendors for the seller of the basic STC-1000 and the flashable STC-1000.

 

[speckswme]

I know it's not critical for the temp to be stable for cold crashing but I would check my digital thermometer in the morning and it would be like 36 degrees and in the evening it would be over 40! I cold crashed for 6 days and it was still rally hazy! I figure with a more stable temp I could cut down my cold crash time. What do u think?

 

[cannman]

Nice Work!! Does the device only read in celcious? Does the fridge plug into the device?

Yes, only Celsius but homebrewers here have developed ways to mod it to read F.

Yes, I plug the fridg in and set the temp along with several other variables. I could even use this puppy to control an entire room by plugging in an air conditioner into the cold port. :rockin:

 

[speckswme]

I'm gonna check it out on you tube, thank u for the great info!!

 

[flars]

I'm gonna check it out on you tube, thank u for the great info!!

Should have provided this link
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f41/black-box-fermentation-temperature-controller-480058/

Also search the forum for STC-1000+

 

[Paps]

nice

 

[HopSong]

Anyone interested.. I have a flashable model of the STC-1000+ that I'd like to sell. $10
(not all are flash able per the link above for the Black Box project.