Converting old school Engel Fridge to thermostat controlled

[weeds]

Given mine works faultlessly I.e. Thermistor still doing its job I wired a thermostat controller thingy inline on the positive cable....there is a thread or two where others have completed a more complex modification...mine can be return to original very easy.

Main reason was my 32L Engel become the food fridge in the camper and we got tired of the fresh fruit and veg and salad getting damaged by the fridge getting to cold. We found we had to adjust the dial between day and night...I.e. set st 2 during the day and maybe 1 at night.

I purchased one of these controllers off eBay...same controllers other ls have used
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/04/962.jpg

I than spliced the controller inline on the positive
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/04/963.jpg

Than than sneaked the thermostat through the fridge where the thermistor runs and mounted it here
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/04/964.jpg

Set the original dial to five and set the thermostat to desired temp, and the controller turn on/off the fridge 2 degrees either side of set temp
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/04/965.jpg

Close up pick of the controller
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/04/966.jpg

[DiscoMick]

Thanks. Interesting.

[Mclaren00]

If you want to change the parameters
Set and down
If they come up e1,e2 etc I can tell you what they are
Main ones are defrost intervals and duration

[weeds]

If you want to change the parameters
Set and down
If they come up e1,e2 etc I can tell you what they are
Main ones are defrost intervals and duration

Er, I'm not quite following

[Mclaren00]

Within the controller they have parameters for cut in and out so u can have it 3,4 degrees difference
Will have a defrost setting
Probe offset etc

[weeds]

Oh, default must be two degree....

I have no idea on the defrost...

I did find the manual online but must admit only read upto setting the temp

Is probe offset fine tuning the actual temp??

[scarry]

Oh, default must be two degree....

I have no idea on the defrost...

I did find the manual online but must admit only read upto setting the temp

Is probe offset fine tuning the actual temp??

The probe off set is if the temperature on the read out is different from actual.You can adjust the offset to bring the temp to read the same as actual.

Very rare this is needed as these controllers are generally very accurate,particularly with a short cable going to the senser.

Differential or hysteresis is the difference between cut in and cut out.

You won't need the defrost or any other parameters,i wouldn't think.

Just make sure the differential is large enough to stop any short cycling of the compresser.

Setpoint is generally cut out temp.(although not always,with some controllers,just to be confusing it is the cut in temp)

[Old Farang]

Differential or hypothesis is the difference between cut in and cut out.

Hmm, not being picky or a smart ass, but I think that you mean: hysteresis

[Mclaren00]

Yer no need for defrost but I might have a standard every 8 hours and for 30 min defrost
Just something to watch

[BigJon]

Thanks for this thread. Now I have just bought two controllers for my cheap ebay dual zone fridge / freezer which has poor controls. It will give me another project to do!

[weeds]

Thanks for this thread. Now I have just bought two controllers for my cheap ebay dual zone fridge / freezer which has poor controls. It will give me another project to do!

It's the best $20 I have spent.

[BigJon]

Finally got around to fitting the controllers I bought to my dual zone fridge.
I have no idea how the dual zone works, but the controllers are doing their thing, keeping the freezer side below zero and the fridge side around 4 degrees.
Now I just need to make a box to mount the fridge on the A frame of the camper trailer.