Temperature Control Unit Question

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by JNL, Aug 18, 2013.

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  1. JNL

    JNL Devotee (386) Apr 1, 2013 Illinois
    Trader

    I've read a bit about the temperature control units many of you are using and they seem like they are working well.

    I'm using a commercial beverage cooler and I can't seem to make it stay any warmer than 40 degrees.

    I was thinking about using a temperature control unit to help fix this, but I do however have one concern based on what I saw in the coolers 'Use and Care Guide'.

    The model I have is a QDB CD26 (Pepsi branded). In the manual I see the following stated:

    "If the cooler is unplugged or turned off, you must allow 5 minutes before starting it or plugging it back in. If you attempt to restart it in less than 5 minutes, it may not restart and it may damage the compressor and void warranty."

    From what I understand about the temperature control units they basically kill the power to the fridge once a certain temp is reached. Then when the temp rises the power is turned on again.

    This seems like a constant state of powering on and powering off the fridge. Based on the quote above from the manual I’m wondering if using a temperature control unit will just speed up the death of my fridge?

    Any thoughts or insight here?
    Thanks!
     
    #1 JNL, Aug 18, 2013
  2. Cubatobaco

    Cubatobaco Pooh-Bah (2,057) Jan 27, 2013 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    No answers from me, but I'll be watching this thread close. I have been wanting to install something similar. Good luck!
     
    #2 Cubatobaco, Aug 18, 2013
  3. stupac2

    stupac2 Pooh-Bah (2,031) Feb 22, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah

    You can control the time constants on the PIDs I've worked with, so you could tell it not to power off/on too frequently. That would satisfy the warranty. As to whether it would damage the compressor, I don't know, it doesn't seem like it should (since turning the compressor on and off is how the fridge works in the first place, or so I thought...), but regardless you shouldn't ever need to do it in a 5-minute cycle anyway so you'll be fine.
     
    #3 stupac2, Aug 18, 2013
    jbeezification likes this.
  4. JNL

    JNL Devotee (386) Apr 1, 2013 Illinois
    Trader

    bump ... anyone have any additional thoughts here?
     
    #4 JNL, Aug 21, 2013
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