Temperature Setting for Chest Freeze/Fermentation Chamber

[whovous]

I've made the move to upgrade my fermentation chamber from a rusty old refrigerator in the garage to a new chest freezer in the kitchen. Squeezing the 7.1cf Idyllis into the back of my MINI Clubman was tense, but I got it home.

Now it is time to learn how to use it! I have an Ohmbrew Automations Fermostat along with a terrarium heater on the warm end. I tried simply plugging everything in, setting the temp to 59F and throwing the temp probe in randomly, but I seemed to be getting some huge temp swings. The temp dropped to 40F, the heater came on, etc.

I am going to disable the heater for now and tape the probe to a water bottle. But how should I set the temp control on the freezer? One is coldest and seven is warmest. Does it matter which setting I choose given that the Fermostat is calling the shots?

 

[govner1]

I'd check the recommended std setting in the manual. Also, get a small fan from Wally World ($7-10) and either set it up to come on when the cooling/heating is on or let it run continuously.
I'm not familiar with your controller but I set a 2° differential for cool or heat with a 4° spread between the heat & cool range.

 

[owmatooth]

you can set the freezer temp to coldest setting, as the temp controller is the one doing the on and off work. definately add a fan and i keep my thermometer end in a bucket of water to lower my temp swings.

 

[whovous]

Thanks, all. I've filled my fermenter with water for now and affixed the temp probe to its' side with insulated tape. I think the original big temp swings were due in large part to the probe contacting metal surfaces near the compressor.

The manual for the freezer says to start at the 4 setting, and turn it up or down if I want the temp higher or lower. It occurs to me that it does not matter which setting I choose given that even a cold crash is going to be higher than 32F; this means the Fermostat will do all the deciding. I will leave it at 4 out of inertia.