Timer to control temps in a fridge?

[ewibolo]

Hey, anyone have experience using a common vacation timer one that has multiple settings, to turn on the fridge at certain intervals to control the temperature of a fridge to around 70degrees?

I had this idea because a stinking temp controller costs at least 50 bucks.

Thoughts?

Eric

An example interval may be:
on-5 min, off 20 min, on-5 min, off 20 min to keep the temps at about 70. I tried turning the dial to the lowest setting already and the temperature is at about 60.

Below is my setup.....I know it's ugly!, but it works. I just made it today!....or shall I say, yesterday. Whatever, I've had a couple of "glasses" (or pints) of wine.

 

[pauljmccain]

It's been done before. It's just a matter of a lot of trail and error to get it to maintain the right temp, and making sure the ambient outside conditions remain the same.

 

[shortyjacobs]

It's been done before. It's just a matter of a lot of trail and error to get it to maintain the right temp, and making sure the ambient outside conditions remain the same.

And that you never open the thing. As soon as you do, you change the temp inside, and it will settle in at a new equilbrium since the timer won't compensate.

Buy an ebay aquarium temp controller. They are $30. Work great.

 

[GatorDad]

And that you never open the thing. As soon as you do, you change the temp inside, and it will settle in at a new equilbrium since the timer won't compensate.

Buy an ebay aquarium temp controller. They are $30. Work great.

Yea, get a controller of some sort. Anything. Your beer is worth at least that much.

 

[audger]

as mentioned, the problem with that is the fact that the heat load inside the fridge isnt constant, so a constant time setting will not work. when you put 5 gallons of warm beer in there, the fridge will(should) be on for much longer than when the beer cools down to 70, where it only has to maintain that temperature with short little bursts every so often.

 

[schrod]

To beat the dead horse, I've attached a plot of the temperatures in my fridge. There is a 5 gallon batch in there now that is going on 5 days. You can see that slight change in ambient temperature has a big effect on how often the fridge needs to run. You'll be better off with a controller of some sort.

 

[ewibolo]

I appreciate the advice, I have since ordered a controller off of e'bay. I didn't even know I could do that. That's a great product.

Again, thanks for all of the replies and ideas.

 

[mcubed45]

I converted a freezer to use a fridge using a timer. Had it running for more than a year that way. It was being used to keg though so I didn't need very precise control. Just needed it above freezing. A temp controller is a much better solution, but a timer does work.