Fridge controller - will it burn out fridge?

[ianmagson]

I have just put fv of wort into fridge, the TC-10 is reading 18.9C as the sensor is in the wort, now the fridge compressor seems to be on permanently - Will it stay on until the wort has cooled to preset temp (11C)?
Surely it'll take a couple of days to chill down, with the compressor running all that time?
Is it set up wrong?
HELP!
Ian

[StrangeBrew]

I have just put fv of wort into fridge, the TC-10 is reading 18.9C as the sensor is in the wort, now the fridge compressor seems to be on permanently - Will it stay on until the wort has cooled to preset temp (11C)?
Surely it'll take a couple of days to chill down, with the compressor running all that time?
Is it set up wrong?
HELP!
Ian

Have you preset at 11c because you're using a lager yeast?

I'm not up to speed on a TC-10 but I do use an ATC800 and if I preset it at a lower temp than the actual current temp then yes the fridge will stay running until the preset temp has been reached. On the ATC800 I use a temp difference of -/+1c and as soon as the -1c is reached then the heater switches in, then when preset temp is reached the heater switches off and when the +1c temp is hit the fridge will kick in lowering the temp back down to the preset temp. This is a continuous cycle of events. Some people like to put the probe in the Wort for a more accurate fermentation temperature control but my temp probe is set half way down the fridge side wall and not in the Wort and with experience with my set up I know that once the fridge and Wort temperatures have equalized they never have more than a maximum of 2 degrees difference. It works for me and it's one less item to worry about contamination! With the probe in the fridge rather than in the Wort, the fridge will reach the preset temp sooner than the Wort will, switching itself off and on when necessary to attain the preset temp. The temperature of the Wort will take longer to stabilise but that’s not a bad thing as yeast doesn't like sudden temp changes.

[ianmagson]

Thanks

[Scotty]

sorry to hijack but....

What do you use as a heater StrangeBrew?

[Jim]

The main problem with putting the probe in the wort is that it has a large thermal mass. This means that your temperature will tend to overshoot on both sides of the set temperature before the controller cuts out the heating/cooling devices.

I just put my probe inside the fridge/cabinet and make an allowance for the slightly higher temperature of the wort.

Edit: Pretty much what StrangeBrew said, in fact.

[HantsGaz]

A have a question on a similar topic. Can you convert a fridge freezer or will the ATC800 route only work with a pure fridge? I want to build something like this - but also need a lager freezer, so was wondering if I can kill two birds with one stone or that by converting a fridge freezer it somehow impacts the freezer part. Hope I've made sense there!

Thanks, Gaz.

[adm]

I do the same as Jim & StrangeBrew - although I tape the sensor to the side of the FV.

My reasoning is the thermal mass one too - by the time a temperature change registers with a sensor in the middle of the beer, I think the outside might be too hot or too cold.

Gaz - a single ATC800 can only control one temperature, and the way I understand it, most fridge freezers use a single compressor and typically have a semi-set relationship between the compartments, so if you drive one low, the other will go low too.

You might as well bite the bullet though.....before you are completely happy you'll want 3 ATC controlled fridges - one for serving from, one for fermenting in and one for lagering in! I'm still trying to bring the wife round to the idea of a 3rd one.....(she's got two for food and drink, but swears she needs them both.....which means I'm going to have to try and adopt another one from Freecycle)

[DarloDave]

I've finally got hold of a fridge and a freezer today, need to get some money to buy a second ATC and then hopefully get some decent lagers brewed for over summer

[ianmagson]

I do the same as Jim & StrangeBrew - although I tape the sensor to the side of the FV.

Yep, me too! - no honestly, I just removed sensor from wort, cleaned it and dumped it ontop of fv.

[StrangeBrew]

sorry to hijack but....

What do you use as a heater StrangeBrew?

A 12" 60w tubular heater.

I've used these pics on here a few times before so some people will be muttering... 'aw not again'

[garwatts]

sorry to hijack but....

What do you use as a heater StrangeBrew?

A 12" 60w tubular heater.

I've used these pics on here a few times before so some people will be muttering... 'aw not again'

Mutter, mutter, mutter. Not again!

Always nice to see a good set up

I've got the fridge now and ordered a TC-10(?) so hopefully will get it under way shortly.....

[Jerry Cornelius]

Gaz,
I'm using a fridge freezer as a fermenting cupboard set to 20 +/- 1 Deg C, but the freezer part is only filled with newspaper, because it turns on and off with the fridge (where the sensor is). I filled it up (with advice on here) to try and stop wasting electricity.

With the weather we've had for the last few days days, the fridge seems to be on most of the time, during the day at least. I've just had a check on the freezer part, and a couple of bottles of water in there are frozen. The freezer part is below the fridge and can't really be seen here.
Not sure if this is what you have in mind, but this set-up has been running since March this year.

[HantsGaz]

Thanks guys, I think that answers my initial question. Are most under the counter fridges big enough to fit a 5G fermenter in (above where the compressor is housed)? I'm looking at buying one off eBay, so trying to decide whether I go for a tall larder type fridge or whether an under the counter one will do. I guess both would be ideal so then I can build a kegerator too!

[garwatts]

Thanks guys, I think that answers my initial question. Are most under the counter fridges big enough to fit a 5G fermenter in (above where the compressor is housed)? I'm looking at buying one off eBay, so trying to decide whether I go for a tall larder type fridge or whether an under the counter one will do. I guess both would be ideal so then I can build a kegerator too!

Have you tried asking on Freecycle? I got one a couple of weeks ago - cleaned up like new

[HantsGaz]

garwatts wrote

Have you tried asking on Freecycle? I got one a couple of weeks ago - cleaned up like new

Great idea - have just placed a wanted add. Thanks.