Replace Beverage Center temp control with InkBird ITC-1000

[Tobor_8thMan]

Hoping someone can tell me/point me in the right direction to replace the beverage center temp control with InkBird ITC-1000.

Beverage center schematic.

Thanks.

 

[day_trippr]

What happens if you set a temperature, then pull the line cord, then plug it back in?
Does the unit resume with the previously set temperature or does it revert to something else?

Also, what is the coldest temperature you can achieve with the oem thermostat setting? And are you planning on using this unit as a fermentation chamber or a dispensing system?

Cheers!

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

What happens if you set a temperature, then pull the line cord, then plug it back in?
Does the unit resume with the previously set temperature or does it revert to something else?

Cheers!

Unfortunately, the beverage center resets to 52F. Not very helpful for brewing if the power (mains) goes out.

 

[day_trippr]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/use-stc-1000-with-danby-beverage-center.597710/

Sounded familiar.

Did you ever figure out if the evap fan is a 120vac device or something else? If it's 120vac you could rewire it so it runs when the compressor runs, then tie the red and black wires for the compressor together and connect the whole works to the Cool relay on your external controller.

The alternative is to figure out if you can exploit the temperature sensor inputs to the controller and just fake it out, perhaps by switching in and out a resistor with the Cool relay...

Cheers!

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Yes, is familiar as I didn't receive a valid reply/suggestion.

How do I determine if the evap fan is 120vac?

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Seems to me, perhaps I am wrong, but the Red and Black wires going to the compressor, get cut. Connect these wires to the appropriate ITC-1000 connections. When the ITC-1000 determines the temp it met, the red and black wires activate, the compressor runs and the beverage center cools. This way the compressor is no longer controlled by the beverage center thermostat. The compressor is now controlled by the ITC-1000.

I leave the light and fan (to circulate air within the beverage center) alone.

Thoughts?

 

[day_trippr]

I have seen various Danby units sporting the same or very similar control systems (often with a digital display added on) and they're all plagued with that power-loss behavior. Tbh I'm not sure we ever came up with a satisfactory solution, mostly because the owners would not put the effort in to understand what makes the oem controller tick.

Anyway, you can determine the fan voltage either by looking at the label or using a voltmeter.

Unless you're certain that evap fan runs 24/7 regardless of the cabinet temperature the concern with leaving the evap fan under control of the oem system is it may not run when your Inkbird-controlled compressor is running.

If it's a 120vac fan you can simply parallel it to the same Cool relay as you'd run the black and red compressor leads. You could leave the original line cord plugged in which would make the interior lighting work as original, with the Inkbird doing its thing with its own line cord...

Cheers!

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

I believe the fan comes on when needed. I do not believe it runs all the time.

 

[day_trippr]

So you can see the problem with leaving it under control of the oem thermostat.
Confirm that and figure out its operating voltage. If you're lucky it's not relying on some down-regulation provided inside the oem controller...

Cheers!