Good evening all:
Went to the dump today to get rid of some trash and stumbled upon a fairly new upright freezer. I got it home, plugged it in, and is working beautifully. My question-
I’ve been looking at Johnson Temperature control devices online, but was disheartened at the sight of the price. Does anyone out there have another method (cheaper) for getting the freezer to the appropriate temps? If not, I may be forced to sell it and get a fridge.
Thanks,
David
That seems to be a good fit. Complicated though. Hard to believe that a fish aquarium temp control would work. The only issue is that I might want to convert it back into a fridge when not fermenting. Would this be easy?
You just plug the chest freezer into the controlled plug.
If you just want it to run as a freezer, just unplug and plug directly into the wall.
And if it is too complicated then just get the non-digital johnson controller. You can find them for less than $50. But they don’t run heating and cooler. Just one or the other.
Does the controller from eBay have a place where you can plug the freezer into it?
you have to wire one in. That is why I posted the wiring diagram as well. It can run heating and cooling both.
That’s what I thought. So I need both a male and female plug or outlet box. Cool. I’ve got my freezer ont the lowest setting and it actually isn’t too cold. Will look into it this weekend. Thanks!
Just take an extension cord and cut it in the middle if you like. Take a 25’ cord and cut 15’ from the male side. Then cut the female side 5’. Purchase another female plug to wire into the empty 5’ line.
Or wire it to an outlet like I did.
It’s simple to do. But if you are leery about electricity, ask around or a relative/friend that is more handy.
Thanks for the link to that controller! I think I need a few of those myself so will probably buy one to make sure it’s good and works well then buy more later.
I have a Well here so I use a bit of heat to keep the pump house from freezing up and busting pipes during winter.
I also use wood heat in house so it gets real warm near the wood burner then I use normal box fans etc… to move the heat. Problem is if fire goes out at night then the fan moves cold air, no temp control.
Getting a decent controller for those apps has not been easy to find or cheap if I do find something that adjust to the temps I need.
that looks perfect!
Says 10amps so that would be 1200Watts it can control at 120V AC and looks to have a great temperature range
Most normal household 120v items are well less than 1500 watts, a frig or freezer is probably about 800-900watts depending on the actual model. The start up for the compressor (like any motor also) is a higher surge of power needed then it takes less to keep it running. Most should have a plate on them somewhere that says how many watts they use, and startup or locked rotor watts which is the same thing.
Most anything even electric cookers and coffee makers are well below 1500 watts so should probably work with that controller, hot plates or space heaters are pretty much about the only things I have found that really push the 1500 watts in USA,
That actually looks extremely easy to use, Get a small extension cord heavy enough to run the freezer, cut the cord in half, wire the plug side to the Power INPUT and the outlet side to the Cooling OUTPUT, keep the ground wire in the cord running as normal, toss the sensor where wanted and press the buttons to adjust the temps where needed.
Can’t get much simpler than that.
It only looks to need enclosed in a case of some type because of the exposed wires on the back, so mount it where wires are safe or in a plastic box like a food container if wanted. If enclosing it for safety cut out areas of the top and bottom and sides of the container for air ventilation.
Wobbles, I tried to wire it my self, but forgot about something. So I gave it to a more inteligent friend. He actually opened the box up. He found the contacts were rated for more that what is listed on the name plate. I believe that plate says 10a, and the contacts said 15a. So there isn’t much this thing won’t work with.
I mounted mine in an electrical outlet box. Cheap, sturdy and available in any hardware store.
[quote=“Glug Master”]I’ve haven’t used these, but the price is good:
http://kkontrols.com/pothwse.html
[/quote]
The price is better than good. It’s pretty great.
nighthawk-
I ordered the thermometer off of ebay today. Should be arriving sometime next week.
[quote=“holaday1185”] I’ve got my freezer ont the lowest setting and it actually isn’t too cold.[/quote]Probably why you found it at the dump… 
[quote=“muddywater_grant”]The price is better than good. It’s pretty great.[/quote]It has a +/- 2F accuracy and a 3F differential, though, so not really accurate enough for controlling fermentation temp.
Sure is cold now and working Ike a champ! Looking forward to fermenting my brews in South Carolina minus the swamp cooler!
[quote=“holaday1185”]Good evening all:
Went to the dump today to get rid of some trash and stumbled upon a fairly new upright freezer. I got it home, plugged it in, and is working beautifully. My question-
I’ve been looking at Johnson Temperature control devices online, but was disheartened at the sight of the price.
David[/quote]
Use the money you didn’t spend on the freezer. :cheers:
What part? Charleston here.
[quote=“muddywater_grant”][quote=“Glug Master”]I’ve haven’t used these, but the price is good:
http://kkontrols.com/pothwse.html
[/quote]
The price is better than good. It’s pretty great.[/quote]
Better than an analog JC. But not as good of a price as the digital controller on ebay.
Summerville area. Where in Charleston are you?
