Temp control for mini fridge

[pshakerc]

I am trying to see if there is a temp control for a mini fridge. I'd like to use it to get a good fermentation temp? Any help,vwould be awesome.

 

[ifnotuthenwho]

The STC-1000 is very popular. It takes some basic wiring skills, but there are plenty of posts on this forum that will guide you. One of the things I like about it is that it has two 120-volt outputs, one for cooling and one for heating. This is useful in the winter if you have your refrigerator in an unheated spaces. I use a 40 watt light bulb in a paint can for heat.

 

[flars]

Search stc-1000+, stc-1000, and a419 Johnson controls.

 

[pshakerc]

Awesome!!! Thanks. I tried to find one before i posted, but couldn't find one. So much for my searching skills.

 

[hunter_le five]

I use the Johnson A419s for my fermentation chamber and my kegerator, and I love them.

Not the cheapest option @ ~$80, but they are ready to go right out of the box and pretty much idiot proof, thus meeting both of my requirements.

 

[RPCidery]

I bought one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/110V-Digita...946?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51bcae332a

Works great.

 

[Smellyglove]

I love the STCs. Got three fridges, two of them for fermentation with this setup, the powercon is for the heating belt:

 

[pshakerc]

That looks nice, but how hard are the to install? And would if work for a mini that has the little freezer on the top shelf?


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[Smellyglove]

That looks nice, but how hard are the to install? And would if work for a mini that has the little freezer on the top shelf?


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I think it took me about two hours (with some beer-intermissions). If you have the tools for it it's just a question about time. I used a Dremel and a drill for the cutouts adn the two holes. You can probably do it with other tools, but afaik a dremel is the right tool for it as it gives you nice precision.

I don't know how the freezer-comparment is these things are wired, as I only have fridges without the freezer. If there's a standalone element or not. If it's a standalone you can just cut the wire to it. If not then the freezer-compartment will follow the STC.

But. If you want to do something like this you shouldn't take any shortcuts when it comes to components, you're messing with electricity. But it's a simple fix if you have a simple understanding of electricity and what's safe or not.

 

[MrCrabby]

What model fridge do you have? Some have removable freezer sections.

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[RPCidery]

That looks nice, but how hard are the to install? And would if work for a mini that has the little freezer on the top shelf?


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Just put the thermocouple in the fridge part itself, and set the built-in thermostat to maximum. Most of the refrigerators like yours are cooled by the freezer evap coils. If you don't want to cut into the power cord on your fridge, you can use the temp controller to control an outlet.