Johnson Temp Controllers

[voltron]

Is it indicating it's in cooling mode? I think it's a little snowflake on the display.

If so, it is probably a stuck relay. Give it the 'ol Fonz treatment.

[dannyboy58]

It is now after three unplug/plug in recycles but I'll be giving it the ol' trash can treatment as soon as my new docooler arrives.

[sneezles61]

I'm not ready to give up... BFH treatment... Sneezles61

[hd4mark]

I'm not ready to give up... BFH treatment... Sneezles61

A.K.A. percussion tuning.

[sneezles61]

Alright, heres some info to disperse... It seems on the temp controller that is installed on the freezer, theres a course adjustment screw that you can adjust. It will only allow it to act like a fridge! I will be tinkering with that this W/E. Sneezles61

[dannyboy58]

I've heard this before. Where is this alleged adjustment screw located?

[sneezles61]

One said screw is hidden by some gimmicky sticker... Some of the stuff I read, has you to pull out the fine controller with a putty knife... Remove the knob, and some where there, lurking under a sticker is the alleged resolving screw... Now some say it takes about 4 full turns.. Oh yeah, do unplug it whilst one goes on the proverbial snipe hunt... You wouldn't want to be wacked now... would you? I'll be brewing tomorrow, so I'll hang out with all me brewing gizmos... And when I find this, I'll take a picture and post... Did I mention, some friends have a fairly new 5 cu. ft. freezer... free? Sneezles61

[sneezles61]

That arrow is pointing to the one on a Criteria model... As you can see, that plastic mounting panel was no match for me! I'm still waiting for a final adjustments.. maybe take a couple of days to tweak it!
Now I'll use the Johnson controller on the new littler used freezer I got... I can ferment cool, then cold crash, in one container... again! Sneezles61

[sneezles61]

So an update... Its working just fine... And no, I haven't put the guts back into it... I still gotta make a new face plate.. I did get silicone to glue the new one on though... Sneezles61

[dannyboy58]

It appears that I am guilty of improperly maligning my Johnson Controller. I put a docooler controller on the upright freezer a few days ago and it's worked fine until today when I noticed its doing the same thing the Johnson was. Displaying 54 degrees and the freezer sounds like it's cutting on occasionally but never cooling down.

SO, I guess the old freezer is the issue and not the controller.

[loopie_beer]

I had a fermentation freezer like that once. Sometimes it worked others it didn’t. And like yours, would work for a bit longer after having it unplugged. One thing I started doing when I used ferm chambers was once I started having problems and there was no beer fermenting I would unplug the controller and operate it like a traditional freezer. If it worked I would know it was a controller issue, if it didn’t work I knew it was the freezer.

[dannyboy58]

Yep, tried that. worked fine overnight off the controller so I was convinced it was the controller. Apparently my freezer issue is intermittent.

[wilcolandzaat]

This sounds stupid. But once me ready with brewing area. Gonna build a new. Kegurator. Now my question. When i use. The johnson temp controller. Or. A other brand. Do i leave the knop on zero of the freezer and let the temp controller run the kegurator temp control

[dannyboy58]

You turn the ffeezer to the coldest setting. Then the controller determines when the compressor comes on.

[wilcolandzaat]

Thanks. Me love my cocacola bottle machine. Perfect. Fits 4 kegs. Temp controller on outside. Easy to set the temp. But its a older machine eats power. Power bill 150 per month more. So wife says got to buy a new cooler. A eco friendly one. My next project

[dannyboy58]

My freezer has finally given up the ghost. Spent an hour or so searching for a deal and finally decided to check out craigslist. Found an appliance store in a nearby town selling a brand new frigidaire 17.8 cu ft upright with 1 year warranty for $399, $95 delivery and haul off the old one.

Done! I should have a new freezer tomorrow!

[voodoo_donut]

How many years did you get out of it?

[dannyboy58]

It's a Kenmore that I purchased right after we moved into our current home so almost 22 years. Not bad huh?

It's been threatening to go for 2 years now. I kept thinking it was an issue with the controllers at first but confirmed it's the freezer when it failed to cool plugged directly to an outlet.

A few times in the past when it stopped cooling I could unplug it for a few minutes and it would work when plugged back in, or it would just begin to work again after a day or so... It's been 4 days now with a couple hard reset attempts...no luck.

So, as painful as it is to spend $500, I've been anticipating this for a while.

[sneezles61]

Sometimes you have to cry a little.... It'll be OK... Now you'll 22 more years of bliss in front of you! Sneezles61

[dannyboy58]

Edit:

Moved this to a new topic post

New Upright Freezer

Got my new upright freezer today after a couple delays in delivery because of snow, ice, etc. My old one that died after 20+ years was a 13 cf and the new one is 17cf. It's taller so that means more storage space for yeast slurry, hops, bottles, etc. It's also got a slightly larger foot print. The old one held 4 kegs with the gas cylinder on the outside and line through the side. The new one can hold 4 plus the cylinder OR I could run the line out and fit 5 kegs. I have no intention…