Help: Near Cellar Catastrophe!

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by CoreyC, Nov 29, 2020.

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  1. CoreyC

    CoreyC Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2015 Wisconsin

    My Ink Bird external temperature controller alarm was going off in the morning and the temperature of the freezer was down to 32 degrees. I had thought if the controller failed, it would just shut down the freezer altogether since the freezer is plugged in to the controller. The controller was still on showing the the target temp of 55 degrees and the actual at 32.5 but obviously not "controlling" the temp.
    It makes me think I need to unplug the whole thing if/when I ever go on vacation again, as I have a lot invested in those beers. Has anyone else ever had this problem?
    I appreciate any thought or ideas.
    Corey
     
    #1 CoreyC, Nov 29, 2020
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  2. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    You can freeze beer no problem. It won't change Other than risking bottle explosions. And at 32.5 these beers didn't freeze anyway.

    No worries.
     
    #2 billandsuz, Nov 29, 2020
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  3. CoreyC

    CoreyC Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2015 Wisconsin

    My concern is more of an ongoing one - I'm worried about everything exploding if I wouldn't have caught it in time. So my question is does anyone know if different controllers do what I thought mine would do if it failed - just shut down the freezer - as opposed to letting it go to freezer temperature and ending up with exploded bottles?
     
    #3 CoreyC, Nov 30, 2020
  4. Hinda65

    Hinda65 Pooh-Bah (1,908) May 7, 2017 Utah
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Is it a refidgerator/freezer or just freezer?
     
    #4 Hinda65, Dec 16, 2020
  5. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #5 unlikelyspiderperson, Dec 16, 2020
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  6. Vitacca

    Vitacca Pooh-Bah (2,250) Sep 15, 2010 Montana
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    @Hopgoddess312 had this happen to her several years ago and everything leaked except 2 Toppling Goliath stouts if I recall correctly, and they were buried in the middle. I’d unplug it. That was a semi sad but fun tasting though. Drank 2-3 cases of pretty amazing albeit slightly flat beers. Glad nothing exploded for you but I’ve seen the damage firsthand.
     
    #6 Vitacca, Dec 16, 2020
  7. macrosmatic

    macrosmatic Pooh-Bah (2,735) Mar 9, 2006 Florida
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I would suggest the digital Johnson controller that @unlikelyspiderperson linked. Those are what I have had controlling two separate freezers-turned-refrigerators for years without problem (knock on wood). There's a setting indicated in the manual that if it fails, it fails "on" or "off". I suppose if you were using the controller for things that would spoil if warmed, failing "on" would be important. Of course, I have mine set to "Off" for the same concerns you voiced.
     
    #7 macrosmatic, Dec 18, 2020
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  8. CoreyC

    CoreyC Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2015 Wisconsin

    Just a freezer.
     
    #8 CoreyC, Dec 27, 2020
  9. CoreyC

    CoreyC Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2015 Wisconsin

    #9 CoreyC, Dec 27, 2020
  10. CoreyC

    CoreyC Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2015 Wisconsin

    I this the one you have?
    Johnson Controls A421ABC-02C Electronic Temperature Control?
     
    #10 CoreyC, Dec 27, 2020
  11. CoreyC

    CoreyC Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2015 Wisconsin

    Thanks all for the input!
     
    #11 CoreyC, Dec 27, 2020
  12. macrosmatic

    macrosmatic Pooh-Bah (2,735) Mar 9, 2006 Florida
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Pretty much. Doesn't look quite the same, but mine are Johnson A421 digital. The one you linked does have the setting to change behavior in case of sensor failure. You just have to change the factory default to "0" in the settings it looks like.
     
    #12 macrosmatic, Dec 27, 2020
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