installing a Johnson control in a fridge for fermenting

[San_Diego_Matt]

I'm going to look at a fridge tonight to add to my collection of them and serve as my fermentation chamber. It's going to start getting really hot where I live in San Diego and I need something else/bigger so I can keep brewing.

I've got a line on an Amana bottom freezer 21 cu ft fridge. If it all works out, I'd like to get it plugged in and running tonight.

I have a digital Ranco controller I use for my fermentation freezer now (it's a 5 cuft model that only holds 1 carboy) and I have a Johnson controller, but I'm unfamiliar with how they work. Assuming I just plug the fridge into it, plug it into the wall and set the temperature, what's the best way to incorporate the probe into the fridge? It has a plug so I don't need to do any wiring.

In my freezer I just have the probe cable go between the lid and the seal and stick it into a thermowell.

On a fridge, should I just stick it in through the open door and tape it somewhere so it doesn't fall out when I open the door?

The fridge has an ice maker. Should I remove the ice maker supply tube and run the probe in through there?

Finally, where should the probe be mounted to keep my temperatures as accurate as possible? Ultimately I'd like to get another thermowell to stick the probe inside of and stick the thermowell inside a big gulp cup of water or something like that. For the time being should I keep the end of the probe at the top of the fridge, the bottom or in the middle?

So, what say ye?

Matt

[Travisty]

I like to try and measure the temperature of the fermenting beer itself rather than the ambient temperature. so I use a thermowell that gets the probe for my Ranco into the actual beer. Before I had the thermowell, I would tape a bit of foam or something to the side of the carboy and then jam the probe between the foam and the carboy. That worked pretty well too.

[TheDarkSide]

I put the probe of the Ranco that I have against the side of the carboy and cover it with bubble wrap. What a difference the fermentation control has made in my beer...or at least I think.

[San_Diego_Matt]

ok, I can just get another thermowell and continue to use that. How does the probe go into the fridge though? Through the open door? Through the back/bottom some how?

[TheDarkSide]

How does the probe go into the fridge though? Through the open door? Through the back/bottom some how?

I have a chest freezer but I just close the lid on mine. The probe wire is small enough that the rubber seaL just surrounds it.

[BlueLoon]

Jamil says that class carboys transfer heat well enough that you do not need a thermowell. Tape it to the carboy and insulate the non-glass side. Works awesome for me and my Johnson.

In summary, tape your Johnson to the glass for the best fermentation.

[TheDarkSide]

In summary, tape your Johnson to the glass for the best fermentation.

I used to do this, but now I have to register wherever I go with the police.

[Travisty]

ok, I can just get another thermowell and continue to use that. How does the probe go into the fridge though? Through the open door? Through the back/bottom some how?

I run the wire for the probe right through where the door seals to the fridge. Works well.