Temp Controller

[sendkyleanemail]

Hey guys! So I am about to install my Johnson A419 temp controller. I am curious about probe installation.

Can I drill a small hole in the side of the fridge? It's a Sears/Kenmore 68571 model. Not sure if there is any thing in the side walls other than insulation?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Durhamite]

You might be able to lift up the plastic/rubber seal around the top and run the probe under that. That's what I did on my old one and it worked pretty well.

 

[SickTransitMundus]

Is it a chest freezer? My chest freezers (a Kenmore and a Whirlpool) have the refrigeration coils in the side, towards the top. Drilled coil = busted fridge. If you're going to drill, I'd drill through the front or top door. However, it should fit just fine through the seal without any drilling.

 

[sendkyleanemail]

it's an older upright fridge with a separate freezer compartment.

 

[Mikethepoolguy]

Then the side should be fine.

 

[sendkyleanemail]

I have been putting the prob in between the Carboys, wedges between the ridges. For the past 10 or so days the Probe and fermometer readings have been within a degree. Seems like a great set up!

 

[Spreadhead]

I have an old upright freezer. On the inside walls, there are small round white plastic inserts where the shelves used to pop into. I just drilled through one of those from inside to outside and it worked perfectly, with the hole only very slightly larger than the probe. No leak.

 

[sendkyleanemail]

That's cool. I drilled the smallest hole possible for my probe to go through, then sealed it with a dab of silicone caulk. If I ever use that probe elsewhere, the caulk will peel right of the wire and it is keeping things airtight now.