Fridge fiddling - Replace or adjust thermostat

Tim C

Two heads are better than one
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Aug 6, 2014
Messages
445
Recently I have been getting a few old fridges going. One little bar fridge wouldn't even get beer down to temp, so I pulled out the thermostat and proceeded to dismantle it. Using a small, good-quality screwdriver, I bent the tabs out and carefully dismantled it. Basically all a thermostat consists of is the sensor, which is sealed, and a spring-loaded switch. When the sensor gets hot the gas inside expands, pushing the spring-loaded switch past its centrepoint. Click- now its on.. I use a 9volt battery and the multi-meter to work out when it's on or off. As long as you don't crease or break the sensor-wire, it's only the mechanics that need adjusting. If you look carefully there will be 1,2,or 3 adjustment screws. 1&2 for pressure on and pressure off, and maybe another to adjust the contact points gap. Generally you can adjust them using the multi-meter/9v battery. Take note of the original adjustment before you start fiddling. As a rule-of-thumb, you can work out the on/off point by turning the knob/shaft to and from the off position. If your lucky and observant, you may not have to dismantle the thermostat at all. I turned the off screw right back, and now use it as an extra freezer.
The other day I got my Mums freezer working properly. It was running constantly, and I was going to order a new thermostat,($70 for the original, or $6.99 for a universal,generic China-brand) but before I did I pulled it out-it was mounted in the back and un-adjustable without dismantling-,sprayed it with crc and turned it right down(it was right up). Now it's working like a beaut, cutting out appropriately and still freezing good.
I am waiting for a refrigeration gas adaptor that I bought on ebay for $6.49 and will then attempt to gas up another old fridge with propane, otherwise known a refrigerant R600 (R600a or R290 are butane and mixes, from memory)-yes, it is used-Google it up if you don't believe me. It's more effective than cfc gas, environmentally friendly and safe. And you use about 1/3 by weight. But illegal in Qld...????
So you can throw out your old fridge and pay thousands for a replacement, or have a crack.
Cheers, and COLD,COLD beers.
 

Ben Jamin

Active Member
Premium Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2015
Messages
29
Location
Glass House Mountains, Queensland
Ive been brewing my own beer since I was 16 but I've only recently got into more advanced mash type of brewing (rather than just a kit wort you can buy at the supermarket. This got me looking into various yeast types and quickly noticed that I've been brewing way too quickly at too high a temperature. The yeasts I use call for a steady 20degC and that is hard to do in Qld. I found a chest freezer on eBay for $5 and a thermostatically controlled 240V switch. It works a treat and when I'm not brewing I can set the temp close to zero and drop a milk crate of tallies in. Best beer fridge I've ever had.
 

Tim C

Two heads are better than one
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Aug 6, 2014
Messages
445
Hi Ben. Yeah, that's a good use of an old freezer. Those thermo controllers and other gizmos are cheap on fleabay. I've been busy making/designing/researching metal detectors lately( mt Cert2 Hort has slowed). Now looking at hi/lo voltage controllers for designing a solar/wind/load dump box, and another 18650 battery controller, to make my detector(s) solar charge on the run.
I do my beer into kegs, as you've probably read. Coopers Lager, 6-800gms sugar(1kg's a bit too much,I reckon) , with an extra 25gms Ringwood hops pellets, boiled 5 mins then strained. My Dad is a very fussy beer drinker, but he likes this one.
And kegs makes it 4-5 days brewing, then 1-2 days under 20-40 psi co2. So less than 7 days from whoa to go.
 

Ben Jamin

Active Member
Premium Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2015
Messages
29
Location
Glass House Mountains, Queensland
Ive always bottled my brews. I used to want to get kegs going because I got sick of cleaning filling, capping and breaking bottles. I like that they're easily portable and I can have quite a selection on hand to mix it up. Cheap as chips when compared to kegs for setup anyway. I've only had 1 dud in the last 3 years and that was a coopers lager with some added chinook and cascade hops (the Mrs. likes it but I don't). I also recently dropped pelleted galaxy hops into another lager kit after adding the yeast which made a nice drop. The coopers lager and Aussie pale ale are both pretty good kits for making a great clean tasting beer. I found I was getting a banana taste from the higher brewing temperatures and the thermostat/freezer has fixed that completely.

That's a quick brew Tim. My last one was in the barrel for 2 weeks and will be good to drink in 3 or 4 (better in 6 though). It was a Galaxy ale (pacific ale clone).
 

Tim C

Two heads are better than one
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Aug 6, 2014
Messages
445
Cheers Ben. I put in a 2x Coopers Lager with the Ringwoods on friday, and it's just about finished- I could keg it tomorrow, but will probably wait til wednesday. 22.8 degrees. This one worked like a beaut- the froth was 3 inches deep on top while it's been brewing.:cheers:
 
Top Bottom