Can I use freezer as cellar?

That will work just fine, I prefer the digital one but no big deal, they work great

http://www.amazon.com/Johnson-Contr...8&qid=1430246624&sr=1-1&keywords=johnson+a419

 

the freezer + external temperature control is probably the most cost efficient way to cellar a large number of bottles in warm climates, but be careful keeping it in your garage. if the temp control malfunctions, the bottles will sit at room temperature until you notice the problem, which is obviously not an appealing proposition during the summer months in nevada.

 

that's the setup i use and i've never had any problems, but i can't speak for anyone else. all i know is that it would be a sad day if i opened my cellar to find that my beer had been cooking in 100+ degree temperatures, so i keep my upright freezer indoors.

 

The only thing I would caution you about is to ensure you know what happens if the temperature probe fails. I don't have any info as to how often this occurs, but I know that it does occasionally. If you're using this to control a freezer (rather than a refrigerator) and the probe fails in the "on" position, you would come out to find all of your cellared beers frozen. Which would be way, way worse than finding that they've be sitting for a few days at 100 degree heat.

I believe most of your digital versions have the option that lets you pick whether it fails with the circuit on or off. The last time I looked, the analog versions did not.

Also, I understand that the garage may be the only reasonable location you may have for the freezer. But what @bmf823 was alluding to is also correct - the further away the ambient temperature is from the desired temperature in the freezer, the more often the compressor will kick on, the more often the temperature probe will be switching, and the consequences for technical failure become greater.

 

I live in Nevada as well and I have had problems with wine fridges and the heat (mine was next to a wall that got sun exposure) because so hot the fridge worked twice as hard as it was designed for to keep the temps cool and ended up over heating. I would make sure that you check on your freezer on a regular basis as losing that much beer would be a real downer.

 

when i shopped around for external temp controllers, i tried to figure out what would happen if it malfunctioned. specifically, would the temperatures in the upright freezer revert to freezing temps, or would the controller shut everything off and allow the beer to sit at room temperature. i don't remember the source, but i believe i was told that the one i went with (johnson controls) would cut the power if it malfunctioned since the fridge plug hooks up to the temp controller, which then plugs into the wall. i can't be 100% sure in that outcome, but i'd say i'm 98% confident that no beer would be ruined if any part of my 'cellar' went awry. i assume the most likely cause of frozen beer would be leaving the unit plugged in with the sensor outside of the freezer for an extended period of time.

 

there is definitely a setting on the johnson controls that determines if the circuit is open or closed if it fails. You should review your manual.

 

If you have the A419 johnson controls temp controller and are using it with a freezer just set the "SF" to "0" and the freezer will be turned off if the senors fails.

The default setting for that controller is SF set to 1 which leaves the output energized.

I have heard that freezers might be slightly more energy efficient/better insulated, but can't confirm and if you are buying a new one, either is going to work just fine.

 

i could be mistaken, but i believe that my unit (the A19AAT-2C) is simply designed to cut power to the freezer if it fails. here's what i was told when i emailed johnson controls tech support last year:

"I believe that if it malfunctioned, it would "open" the contacts, resulting in the freezer's refrigeration system stopping, and the temperature increasing. Since the contacts would be "open," the freezer couldn't operate as power would be interrupted -- see Figure No. 2 - Page No. 3."

i'm a complete layman with this stuff so i can't be sure, but it also seems like there's no setting to determine what happens to the circuit if it fails. it certainly appears that the only possible adjustments are to the thermostat and the set point stop.

 

I would never recommend a freezer. You'd probably be fine but one malfunction, whether it be with the temp controller or with the freezer, can result in frozen and broken beers.

 

Yeah I looked at the documentation for the analog controller and it doesnt seem like there is a setting to determine what happens on failure. I know the digital one that I have does have the setting.

In your case I am sure you will be fine.

 

Not really sure what failure would result in frozen beer. If the temp controller fails, the circuit loses power. No frozen bottles.

If the freezer compressor fails, no broken bottles.

Human error could lead to broken bottles, but that is just part of the human condition.

I have drinks freeze in my drink fridge every once and a while so even a fridge is could have issues freezing a beer with human error.

 

Also the temp in your fridge is controlled by the temp in the freezer if you have a combo unit, so it could easily freezer everything in your fridge if there was "one malfunction".

 

If the temperature gauge on the temperature controller fails there is a chance it won't shut off the freezer and the beer will then freeze. Again, it would be rare for this to happen but I've seen it happen to people on here, I will try to dig up the posts. Not a risk I would take with my own beer but to each his own.

 

Good luck looking up those posts.

Thanks for your concern about my beer storage methods. It is greatly appreciated.