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Turn a freezer into a refrigerator
I figured our freezer was old enough that it could give out at 10 days from now or 2 years from now and I did not want to gamble with $500 worth of meat. So I bought my wife a new one and wanted to turn the old one into a fridge.
I adjusted the thermostat in the freezer but things still freeze. Does any one know of an easy way to adjust the thermostat so it does not freeze the contents but still keeps them cold?
Thanks for your help.
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Turn a freezer into a refrigerator
You'd most likely have to get a thermostat made for a refrigerator (since freezer thermostats were never meant to be turned above freezing). I figure any refrigerator thermostat should work. You could probably pick one up for nothing. There's always someone wanting to give refrigerators away, if you'll haul it off. Good luck and good idea.
Billy
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Turn a freezer into a refrigerator
I guess the easiest way would be to leave the door open a little. Opps sorry, I aint in as good as mood as I have been.
This is my serious answer, and it is pure speculation, so the door is still open for a streight answer:
The cooling system on a freezer probably is different than the oned used in refridgeraters, because of the temps that are produced and maintained.
A freezer must produce colder air than a fridge, and if it is of the frost-free type, that changes things some more.
Your typical freezer, must(and I must add here this is only speculation) not only produce colder air, it's compressor probably has less volumetric efficiency than the ones used on refridgerator, since they are less likly to have the door open and closed as much, things are usually packed tighter, and since the air is colder it warms up slower than ,say, 40 degree air. Not that it warms up slower, it just has more degrees to warm up.
And if it is a frost free unit, it has a heat cycle to melt the ice that forms after many many hours of use.
finding a thermostat that will let you accomplish what you want may be a trick.
But again, this is just speculation on my part, there are some pretty sharp people on this forum, there may be a cheap fast and easy answer, and a link to go with it. Who knows.
But my bigest concern here, is if you wont trust it with meat or food, would you consider trusting it with your favorite adult type beverage??
Not me, I don't care what it costs, when I get home, that Budwieser better be cold!!!!!!
Behold this creature who types like a man!!!! He is willing to take a chance with his beer!!!! How interesting.
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Turn a freezer into a refrigerator
I think the designs are totally different. Most freezers have cooling coils distributed throughout the appliance, like maybe each shelf has one. I think a refrigerator uses the freezer coils to chill the refer box with insulation or airspace to deter freezing, and not separate coils for the refer section. Have you every seen a refrigerator that didn’t have some sort of freezer compartment?
I can think of two options:
1) Put it on a timer so that it runs say 15 or 20 minutes out of each hour, and do a trial and error experiment to get the temp right. Or,
2) Put it in the front yard, you might have to get an old Buick to keep it company, but you may live too far north for this option.
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Turn a freezer into a refrigerator
The only diff between a freezer and a fridge is the thermostats and where the coils are located.
In a fridge, the coils are located around the freezer compartment and there's a blower to blow some of the cold air to the fridge part. When the fridge gets to the desired set point, the thermostat cuts the compressor off. The only way to make the freezer colder, without making the fridge colder is by changing the amount of air forced into the fridge compartment.
In a freezer, the coils are located around the sides of the unit. This is done so there want be any hot spots. When the freezer gets to the desired set point, the compressor cuts off.
If you want your "freezer turned fridge" not to freeze some things you'd have to be careful about sitting things too close to the sides, where it is the coldest.
Billy
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Turn a freezer into a refrigerator
Thanks guys, Billy: I think I will try your idea of putting a thermostat from a fridge in there. Theoretically that should work the same as putting a timer on there like Mark suggested...since the idea is to simply keep the air around 40 degrees.
MRETHICS: I too am very concerned when it comes to keeping adult style beverages cold but fortunately I reach in there frequently enough that I would be immediately aware that somthing had gone terribly wrong and quickly come up with either an alternative cooling source or drink all of the beer!
That particular decision would need to be made at the time of the emergency and most likely some training would need to be done in advance so as to be completely prepared.
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Turn a freezer into a refrigerator
Wine making supply houses sell a thermostat that is plugged into the wall and the refrigerator or freezer is plugged into it. A thermostat bulb (on a wire connected to the power plug portion) is then placed into the freezer. A dial on the unit is used to set whatever temperature you want. I don't recall the exact temps that can be selected but I believe it would work okay. I think the one I have costs about $50.
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Turn a freezer into a refrigerator
MESSAGE TO Doug K from PA:
Sounds like you got the info you needed. And we al learnd a little something.......Life is good!!!!
P.S.
I check this board several times a day, so if(and God Forbid) you found yourself in the situation where emergency consumption rules apply, you know where to get a hold of me.
I would willingly donate my time to the cause!!!
(And they say I ain't a team player)
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Turn a freezer into a refrigerator
Here is a link to the controller I referred to earlier. http://www.ebrew.com/advanced_brewing/advanced_equipment.htm#TEM-EZ
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Turn a freezer into a refrigerator
Thanks Logan, that looks like a pretty slick system...plus it would give me an excuse to try brewing my own beer.
MRETHICS, your willingness to help others on this site is amazing, if problems arise I will certainly feel better knowing your are there as a back up.
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