[mheinemann]

I have a Kenmore stand alone freezer. I would like to regulate the temperature around 50 degrees F. Is that possible? I know it was not designed to do this.

[Gene]

No, that's impossible. The compressor, the evaporator and the temperature control should be very different.

Gene.

[mheinemann]

Sorry Gene, it is possible and am in the process of doing so. I knew it had do something with the Temp controller, or the thermostat. I had to look it up and found out how it worked. The vast majority of chest freezers utilize a simple internal electromechanical thermostat. These thermostats are preset by the factory to operate with a typical range between -20F and 20F depending on the position of the user accessible dial. Because i need to ferment a lager beer i need to have it right at 50 degrees.

I found that these internal freezer thermostats have a coarse temperature adjustment screw which can be used to widely adjust the temperature setting of the thermostat. They are usually recessed within the front of the thermostat itself and may be covered with tape. Some units have them on the side.

ALWAYS UNPLUG THE POWER WHEN MESSING WITH IT. THERE IS ALWAYS ELECTRICITY ON THE UNIT.

There is a diagram of it here with further explanations. Guide to set internal chest freezer thermostat to >32F; Eliminate external control - Home Brew Forums

I hope this helps someone else.

[richappy]

I suspect you will not be able to control the box temperature to be a consistent 50 degrees +- say 10 degrees as you may be operating the thermostat in a rather nonlinear area of operation, depending on how the thermostat is designed.
A true ambient controller like the GC505 may work if it has an adjustment screw. Will check later.
Yes, as the thermostat is differental pressure controlled, it has a adjustment screw to compensate for different atmouspheric pressures.

[Gene]

I don't think you can get any positive results because it is a simple chest freezer with the evaporator inside the walls and without an evaporator fan.

Keep us posted.

Gene.

[richappy]

Yes, I agree Gene, don't think you can acurately and consistently control the freezer temerature with the differential control you now are using.