My Johnson temperature controller ruined my beer please help

[Osborne]

I went down to check my beer earlier and the compressor was on with the temperature at 36 degrees the beer had been fermenting vigorously since Tuesday. The temparture controller was acting funny yesterday showing heating setting instead of cooling,so I unplugged it and plugged it back in and it was acting fine... But just went down a minute ago and it was displaying the heat setting again and the temparture 36 degrees.... How ruined is my beer are all the yeast dead?

 

[MrFancyPlants]

It should be fine once you warm it back up... maybe give it a little stir or shake to rouse the yeast. Is your thermometer lead from the controller in the fridge? If mine ever falls out ten it thinks the fridge is as hot as my brew shed and leaves the refrigerator running...
... And then I have to go catch it.

 

[3toes]

It's likely that they're just asleep. The important thing is that it was fermenting at the right temp for the first few days, which are the most crucial. Raising the temperature should wake them back up to finish the job.

Have you taken a gravity reading to see how far along they got before the temperature dropped?

 

[Bellybuster]

F or C?
If F. Follow above, if C, pray for luck

 

[Osborne]

It should be fine once you warm it back up... maybe give it a little stir or shake to rouse the yeast. Is your thermometer lead from the controller in the fridge? If mine ever falls out ten it thinks the fridge is as hot as my brew shed and leaves the refrigerator running...
... And then I have to go catch it.

Okay thanks soon as it gets to room temparture I'll do that! Yes it was in the fridge! I even had a piece of insulation taped over it to the fermenter.

 

[Osborne]

It's likely that they're just asleep. The important thing is that it was fermenting at the right temp for the first few days, which are the most crucial. Raising the temperature should wake them back up to finish the job.

Have you taken a gravity reading to see how far along they got before the temperature dropped?

Alright thanks, yeah my biggest worry though is its a high gravity beer (1.090 Northern Brewers imperial red) no I didn't get the oppurtunity to do that yet...

 

[Osborne]

f or c?
If f. Follow above, if c, pray for luck

f

 

[Osborne]

I called Northern Brewer, great customer service their sending me out another temparture controller, and I'm having to send them back my malfunctioning one!