True Glass Door Fridge with Johnson Controller (Long Term)

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by airpoppoff, Apr 19, 2016.

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  1. airpoppoff

    airpoppoff Initiate (0) Dec 30, 2015 Washington

    All,

    I recently purchased a brand new GDM-26 cooler to use as a cellar. I currently have it hooked up to the Johnson Controller set at 50-53 degrees. Anyways, after many phone calls and emails everyone at True Manufacturing is telling me that this will ruin the unit turning it on and off all the time, void the warranty, blah blah blah. So they said I need to buy their "wine thermostat" (True 988265) to keep it functioning correctly, keep warranty, etc...

    I guess my question is after a couple of searches on this forum I see people using True Mfg coolers for alot of things with Johnson Controllers and was wondering if they have had any long term issues. I just dont trust the "Service Guys" at True to sell me on their $110 thermostat if I dont need it.

    Thank you,

    of course obligatory photo (where do i get something cool for the light on the top???)
    [​IMG]
     
    #1 airpoppoff, Apr 19, 2016
  2. MtnSoup

    MtnSoup Initiate (0) May 20, 2013 Colorado

    I have no answer. But I do have fridge envy.
     
    #2 MtnSoup, Apr 19, 2016
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  3. RDMII

    RDMII Initiate (0) Apr 11, 2010 Georgia

    No answer either, but I'd run a piece of window tint on the door. Can't hurt to cut down some of the light coming in, even if it's minimal now.
     
    #3 RDMII, Apr 20, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2016
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  4. airpoppoff

    airpoppoff Initiate (0) Dec 30, 2015 Washington

    Excellent Idea.
     
    #4 airpoppoff, Apr 20, 2016
  5. deleted_user_1117387

    deleted_user_1117387 Initiate (133) Mar 6, 2016

    Nice fridge! You mind me asking how much it ran you?
     
    #5 deleted_user_1117387, Apr 20, 2016
  6. monkeybeerbelly

    monkeybeerbelly Initiate (0) Dec 6, 2012 New York


    just curious, how long are you planning on cellaring the coors light for?
     
    #6 monkeybeerbelly, Apr 20, 2016
  7. airpoppoff

    airpoppoff Initiate (0) Dec 30, 2015 Washington

    I'm going for at least a decade, I was even given a wax topped one on the far left from a friend.
     
    #7 airpoppoff, Apr 20, 2016
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  8. airpoppoff

    airpoppoff Initiate (0) Dec 30, 2015 Washington

    I luckily am good friends with someone that distributes them here so it was $700 instead of the retail $2,100 :astonished:
     
    #8 airpoppoff, Apr 20, 2016
  9. c-rum

    c-rum Savant (1,179) Apr 13, 2013 Missouri
    Trader

    Nice cooler airpoppoff, I have a True GDM-19 cooler with a Johnson Controls A419 Digital Thermostat that I have had for about 2 years, no issues so far.
    I like the fact that the A419 shuts the cooler off and saves on electric cost.
    Friend of mine also has a GDM-19 with a JC A419 dt and no issues with his either so I'm guessing you should be fine.
    I got a 12pk of garage aged Coors lite from 2007! (planned to use it for targets one of these days)
    Cheers!
     
    #9 c-rum, Apr 20, 2016
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  10. airpoppoff

    airpoppoff Initiate (0) Dec 30, 2015 Washington

    Awesome! Thanks so much for your input. I'll just leave it the way it is!
     
    #10 airpoppoff, Apr 20, 2016
  11. billandsuz

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

    True is correct. Frequent cycling of the compressor will shorten the life of the unit. This is not BS. The energy required to get an electric motor spinning to full speed is an order of magnitude greater than the energy required to maintain speed. Think of the energy required to get going on a bicycle vs coasting with a little applied effort. The life of an electric motor is almost entirely based on the frequency of start/stop.

    True has to warranty the product and they can only warranty what they have control over. So I don't think it is fair to characterize the True people as not having your interests in mind and only wanting to make a sale. True along with Beverage Air are by far and away the most respected companies in this business for good reason. People pay substantially more for those products.

    BUT there should be no reason the outboard Johnson Control would work any substantially different than the True t-stat. You must be sure to set the differential to the same span as the True retro fit t-stat. Other than that it's the same thing, just uses mechanical device instead of a circuit board. The people at True have no way of knowing if your controller will be clicking on and off with every 1 degree increment.

    If it were me, I would maintain the warranty.
    Cheers.
     
    #11 billandsuz, Apr 20, 2016
  12. c-rum

    c-rum Savant (1,179) Apr 13, 2013 Missouri
    Trader

    You might check into the warranty.
    This is from True's website
    "*RESIDENTIAL APPLICATIONS: TRUE assumes no liability for parts or labor coverage for component failure or other damages resulting from installation in non-commercial or residential applications."
     
    #12 c-rum, Apr 20, 2016
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  13. riotontheroad

    riotontheroad Savant (1,211) Apr 7, 2010 California
    Trader

    congrats on that beautiful cellar!
    i can help you out on a custom back lit film for the top. pm me the measurements, as well as a design (or i can mock something up for you).
     
    #13 riotontheroad, Apr 21, 2016
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  14. airpoppoff

    airpoppoff Initiate (0) Dec 30, 2015 Washington

    Awesome, Thank you! I will get that next week
     
    #14 airpoppoff, Apr 22, 2016
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