Power Cord Thermostat for Refrigerator?

[GGB]

Well, I've finally given up my Google search and am now asking the pros here on GJ.

I'm trying to find a power cord with a thermostat to turn OFF the power to the refrigerator in my unheated barn. I didn't realize that keeping a refrigerator or freezer in an unheated area that goes below 40 degrees can dramatically shorten the life of those appliances. Or at least that's what I'm now understanding.

I can find plenty of options to turn an appliance ON around 40 degrees, but not the reverse. Any suggestions?

Thanks.
GGB

 

[Angelfire]

Try the homebrew supply places. I've seen a number of them on offer. I haven't shopped for brewing supplies in quite a while so not sure who's even still in business (William's Brewing used to be one I purchased from regularly). IIRC, they required a probe to be placed inside the fridge but with wireless stuff these days, that may have changed.

 

[pattenp]

I know the combo refrig/freezer have a problem with maintaining correct temps when placed in a unheated area where the temp gets cold, but I haven't heard that it will shorten the life. I've had the same freezer in my unheated garage for 20+ years, the temps get down to the mid 30's during the winter and near a 100 during the summer.

Edit: Run a normally closed relay off the thermostat to control the power to the refrig.

 

[Gary S]

I keep an eye on the thermometer in my garage in the Fall, and unplug the fridge when the garage temp drops below 35 degrees. Then I place my portable thermostat with a light bulb inside the garage for the winter to heat the fridge and set that thermostat to 35 degrees. That way my carrots and potatoes don't freeze during the winter.
In the Spring, the garage thermometer tells me when it is time to unplug the heater and plug the fridge compressor back in the wall.

Simply unplugging the fridge compressor leaves me with hard carrots and potatoes, and lumpy beer.

 

[madosta]

Just make one.

http://www.alliedelec.com/search/productdetail.aspx?SKU=70165412

 

[kbs2244]

I have had 3 different R/F in various unheated garages in north Illinois for 20 years.
Never unpluged any of them for the winter.
No problems with any of them.
When it gets cold out they just do not turn on.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I have had 3 different R/F in various unheated garages in north Illinois for 20 years.
Never unpluged any of them for the winter.
No problems with any of them.
When it gets cold out they just do not turn on.

^^^^^^^this^^^^^^^^

 

[rkevins]

try www.farmtek.com theys sell them for heating equipment, I had a few but sold them with some heaters. or as mentioned you can make one easy

 

[Jamey189]

This is what i used works good

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015NV5BE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Gary S]

I have had 3 different R/F in various unheated garages in north Illinois for 20 years.
Never unpluged any of them for the winter.
No problems with any of them.
When it gets cold out they just do not turn on.

But your beer gets really chunky when the garage temp drops to 15 degrees.

 

[Milton Shaw]

A refig in an unheated space does not run often enough to keep the freezer frozen. The loss of cold into a heated space is calibrated to keep the refig running about 50% of the time. In colder garages they don't loose the heat so they don't run often enough to keep the freezer frozen. The compressor is harder to start cold (thick oil just like cars) and that will affect the life of the start relay and compressor eventually. Freezers are designed to be in unheated areas and normally don't have a problem. This is based on 20 years experience in the appliance repair business.

 

[GGB]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. Do I understand correctly that since I just use this refrigerator to hold beer and water and don't use the freezer, it really shouldn't hurt anything?

GGB

 

[wideopen1967]

I bought these for work and did not realize that they have a programmable temperature mode.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QFZ3Z0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[horizontallyopposed]

But your beer gets really chunky when the garage temp drops to 15 degrees.

Yeah, but you can do that super awesome trick of grabbing a beer from the fridge at juuuuust the right temperature and watching it turn into a self-icing beer when you crack it!

Our biggest problem with our garage fridge/freezer here in the Great White North is that at marginally cool temperatures (a couple of degrees above freezing) the fridge doesn't run so the freezer starts to warm up and so you have to make sure it's empty so nothing thaws. Then wait a couple more weeks until it gets cold and stays cold!

Cheers,
Keith

 

[KPSquared]

I built something that would work but it's probably a little to over the top for your application. About $30 worth of parts and a little time. . . STC-1000 on ebay.

I use it to control the temp inside my freezer but it would work just as well to shut it off for outside temps as well.

 

[tomeckert]

Why don't you ask the repair buy about this, he has to always deals will this type of things so he can guide you much better for the things you are looking for. They are the one who are buy the parts and so if you ask them they let you know where quality cord is available.