Inkbird digital thermostat "up and running" - Deep freezer to refrigerator conversion (hack)

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This new Inkbird thermostat is now installed and running. I used silicone, RTV adhesive, and even some "Shoe Goo" to hold the thermostat in place. I also used my Dremel with a cutting head to make the cut-out for it. Turned out pretty good. May need to put a bead on the top. Here is a DIY install of a Inkbird Dual Stage Digital Temperature Controller Fahrenheit Thermostat (with Sensor). It is available on Amazon for $13-16:
www.amazon.com...
I really neat part of this "hack" is that the deep freezer can still be used as a deep freezer...just tap down the temperature to 15 deg or so.
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[@offgridinthepacificnorthwe3210]

Nice job Chris. I have the same controller on a 5 1/2 cubic ft. In refrigerator mode is uses 220 watt hours a day. It is as efficient as possible. I added a 1" Styrofoam sheet to the lid too. It keeps our eggs refrigerated for almost no load on our solar system. We also use it for the vegetables from our garden to keep them fresh until we can them. I also have a 8 1/2 cubic ft with a digital controller hack. On both of them I pulled the old thermostat thermocouple out of the vertical tube that goes up into the freezer/refrigerator and inserted the new thermistor up onto the tube. It seems to work well. When we were off grid with a 600 watt array we used the 5 1/2 ft for a refrigerator. The only draw back in our wet climate is we had to wipe the moisture out of the fridge every couple days. Now being used for eggs it does not get opened very often so not moisture build up. My 1st solar project was the chest freezer hack, 2 deep cycle batteries, a 1100 watt modified sine inverter and a 200 watt Renogy kit. We had a refrigerator and lights in the house! That was my 1st grid down back up. That's what got me into solar in the first place. Sorry about the long comment brother. Let us know what the P3 says after 24 hours.

[@ChrisDIYerOklahoma]

220 watt/hours a day? Holy Moses...that is incredible. If I remember, my old black 2.4 cu ft Frigidaire used about 1 - 1.5 kWh *overnight* Ouch. I will let everyone know how this 24 hr test goes.

[@offgridinthepacificnorthwe3210]

Mark Osborne Well I hear you on that, it's just that my wife is an old homesteader from way back. She does like not having an electric bill. That said as soon as we installed the last solar upgrade she went out and bought a new refrigerator that uses 1kh a day. Then she went out and bought a front load washer and dryer that are frequency driven (freqe drive) motors that are super efficient. She use to ask "how much solar would it take to... ?"now she just smiles.

[@paperwork1125]

In the system you were using with the 200 watts of panels, you said you had 2 deep cycle batteries. What batteries did you use? I am just starting out and hoping you used marine deep cycle and it was able to power the fridge.. Let me know. Thanks.

[@NotJustBBQLLC]

Chris DIYer did you ever post that kilowatt usage?

[@designpaulf]

Now I'm thirsty! I can't wait to see if you're planning on some other kinds of mods. I've got a freezer similar to yours I bought at Lowe's a couple years back. I bought it to sell ice cream bars out of at my non existent hobby shop.

[@Frankyyodi]

welll its amazing 0.29KW

[@vmartir131]

What are your on and off temps to set it at?

[@josephg8818]

Is it possible to plug a wine cooler into a external thermostat like just the power cord

[@paperwork1125]

Hey there! What model number is the inkbird thermostat? Your amazon link no longer works.

[@ChrisDIYerOklahoma]

Thanks...good catch. Here is an updated link: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0152LYY0I/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@utubemouse]

Thank you

[@juliemorris9438]

Hello I have come across your video on converting a freezer in to a fridge I have a freezer I bought that 2 days ago and I already had a very similar (older model) thermostat controller I wired it up like you have on your video. And I got it to run my freezer ok. I have the stat set to 5c but I put the sensor where the original old one went but I was finding the freezer was going 5c and shutting off like its meant to but the temp kept dropping to around - numbers but the inside the freezer there was no ice build up at all. I did try the sensor attached to the wall in the freezer and that’s giving me readings of around 0.0 but it does in time creep back up to what i set 5c. I was wondering if you might be able to help in any way get it more stable. I am testing the fridge empty not sure if that would make any difference

[@jayashok174]

What kind of tape are you using inside to cover the sensor..

[@mark_osborne]

enjoying this

[@ChrisDIYerOklahoma]

Ditto...it works better than expected.

[@oldtimeengineer26]

Nice job well done

[@ChrisDIYerOklahoma]

Thanks...really was a fun little project.