Johnson controller for side/side fridge?

[cavemanbrew]

Just got a GE side by side fridge and want to use the fridge for ferm chamber and the freezer for a kegerator. Will a plug and play controller work with 2 probes to control both sides independantly, and would the defrost function cause a problem since the power is being cut to the fridge when not cooling?
Thanks for any advise.

 

[MalFet]

Nope. Typically the way fridges work is that the compressor runs to keep the freezer at a constant temperature, and then a vent with a controllable fan of some sort sends the cold air from the freezer into the fridge.

All a Johnson controller does is switch a power line open and closed in response to a temperature probe. If you've only got one power cord, there's no way to control two different zones.

You can hack apart the fridge to control the circulation of air between the two chambers either directly or by bypassing the thermostat, but in either case it gets a little technical.

 

[cavemanbrew]

OK, so in effect the only way to control fridge temp is to control the air flow
via fan and size of damper hole?

 

[MalFet]

OK, so in effect the only way to control fridge temp is to control the air flow
via fan and size of damper hole?

I can't say for sure without seeing your fridge, but generally that is the case. I have never seen a fridge with a separate compressor for each compartment.

 

[cavemanbrew]

Thanks