old fridge

[izumidai]

I recently acquired an old full size refrigerator (not sure how old, but I would guess maybe 15 – 20 years). It appears to run fine, but needs to be cleaned. I already have a chest freezer that is used as a kegerator, and I would like to use the fridge as a dedicated fermentation chamber. It is your typical fridge on the bottom and a freezer on the top setup. Can I just plug it into a temp control and set it on fermentation temps? What type of problems can I run into if I am running the fridge at 68F? I imagine the thing will not be running that often at that temp. Would using the old fridge for this purpose kill it quicker than normal use or would this actually prolong it’s usability? Also, how does the top freezer section play into this? I am assuming it will only run when the fridge kicks on to maintain temp. Do I have to do anything to the freezer settings to make the unit more efficient?

[BadRock]

It'll work fine. I'd set the fridge to max cool and freezer to least cool, plug in your temp controller and let in roll. If you are using a Johnson A419 controller you can set the anti short cycle parameter to 12 mins. This will save the compressor from getting started to often and burning up. Otherwise just open your dead band a few degrees and you will keep the fridge from cycling to often.

[Ironman]

I'm running an old fridge with a temp controller. I haven't seen any problems with it so far. I would assume, because it runs less on a temp controller, it will last longer than running on its own. I'm keeping 1/2 gallon jugs of yeast in the freezer. I have everything set at max because that is what the temp control instructions told me to do. The freezer is colder than the fridge part but not freezing and it is too small to fit gallon jugs with airlocks.

[Quin]

It'll work fine. I'd set the fridge to max cool and freezer to least cool

+1.

My max cool lager temp went from 35° to 28° in the refrigerator section by changing the freezer section to warmer and frige section to max cold.

[Mylo]

I recently acquired an old full size refrigerator (not sure how old, but I would guess maybe 15 – 20 years). It appears to run fine, but needs to be cleaned. I already have a chest freezer that is used as a kegerator, and I would like to use the fridge as a dedicated fermentation chamber. It is your typical fridge on the bottom and a freezer on the top setup. Can I just plug it into a temp control and set it on fermentation temps? What type of problems can I run into if I am running the fridge at 68F? I imagine the thing will not be running that often at that temp. Would using the old fridge for this purpose kill it quicker than normal use or would this actually prolong it’s usability? Also, how does the top freezer section play into this? I am assuming it will only run when the fridge kicks on to maintain temp. Do I have to do anything to the freezer settings to make the unit more efficient?

The biggest problem I see is that these old fridges are very inefficient. It's really the hidden cost. Even though the fridge might have been free - it might cost $150 to run it for the year. A new one will do the same job for less than $50.


Mylo

[cherala]

How does an upside down refrigerator work? Since there are many "upside down" (ie freezer at the bottom and fridge at the top) refrigerators out there now, I am wondering how do they actually work in principle because from what we learn in physics, the freezer has to be at the top in order for the freon to melt and absorb heat. (if I am not mistaken). But how does this principle hold once the refrigerator freezer position is reversed?