PerfectDraft : easy modification to adjust beer temperature HD 1080p

Philips PerfectDraft serves an excellent glass of beer, however, in my opinion the beer is too cold.
The unit serves beer at a fixed 3 degree Celcius. I slightly modified the device in order to be able to adjust the temperature between 3 and 10 degrees Celsius (or 37 and 50 Fahrenheit). The PCB cannot be changed easily, but it is easy to put a potentiometer combined with a switch between the temperature sensor, an NTC, and the PCB. The higher the combined resistance of the potentiometer and the NTC, the higher the resulting beer temperature. A switch is used to short the potmeter to be able to restore original settings but also to read true temperature.
Philips PerfectDraft, prima apparaat maar het bier is naar mijn smaak, zeker in het koudere seizoen te koud. Een potmeter in serie met de NTC geeft de mogelijkheid het apparaat om de tuin te leiden en de temperatuur te verhogen.

[@martinosborne6667]

A very helpful and well explained video, thanks!

[@MarkLouisSmit]

Nice mod 😀 Works like a charm. Take care of using enough wire length to easily take the back cover off later on. The taste is really much better if you can drink your beers at the right temperature, brings out the best especially in the heavier beers.

[@AJApper]

Thx

[@SqueekyBums]

Thanks. It's ridiculous that the temperature isn't controllable from the factory when they intend the pump to serve many ales, all with different ideal temperatures. 🙄

[@kevinjames3714]

Hi, this works fine but there are a few additional bits of information that people may find useful. I'm not an electronics engineer, I just worked this out from doing the mod's: The "hack" fools the readout. so when the mod' is working it will still display a low temperature. There is a really unhelpful time-out/delay on the display, so you have to wait about 5 minutes for any change to show, except if you turn it off and on again. I found the isolation switch to be unnecessary because the standard 10K Ohm potentiometer, as supplied by Amazon, dials all the way back to zero resistance. Therefore when it is set to zero there is no increase in the circuit resistance and the temperature readout and thermostat will be reading the true temperature. Just dial it all the way round to 10KOHM and the system is fooled and will only be cooling to about 7 or 8 degrees C. Hope this helps, good luckk

[@jimgallaher458]

If the display still shows a low temperature, how do you know what temperature of the beer is ?

[@AJApper]

@@jimgallaher458 By using the switch to short the pot (to zero resistance) true temperature is displayed after 5 minutes or so

[@JayGee6996]

Top tip for using shrinking heat shrink is to use a generic hair dryer. Works a treat with zero risk of burning anything and also gives a more professional/uniform finish.

[@georgespolaert4800]

Very simple de vice to create . Thanks a lot. I've tried to replace thé interruptor by a simple push button but the change of display is to long. No matter, I'll change it soon👍👍

[@karlssonvomdach3627]

danke klappt wunderbar super tipp

[@gromoism]

Hi. Thanks for the video :-) I've done the modification on my brand new one perfectdraft.... They must have change the software ! As it works OK the first 15min : I mean switching the temp reading with the switch... but after 10min : temp says like 5° with switch "on" or "off" (while kegs it's really @ 10°) .... If I want to read 10° in front : I open the doors, lift the blue handle, wait 5sec, pull down the blue handle and close the doors. Switch ON says 10°, switch off says 5° (still cooling) . You will face the same result when display will reach 3° either with switch "on" or "off".... Actual keg temp will only be read OK if you do the proc (open-lift-dowm-close- switch on then read)... Hope this is clear ?? Sorry if not :-)

[@WHCAudio]

I need to get one of these and a few perfect draft kegs of Leffe Blond to the USA somehow. Also, you can always just pour the beer and let it sit for 5 min.

[@felipepires8379]

Would be really helpful to know what would be the resistance value for the 3c (target temp). Do you know or have tested to check what would be the final resistance reading at the 3c temperature?

[@AJApper]

I assume it will be around 16K at that temp, but I did not measure it. Momentarily I do not use the device.

[@aldotube88]

Would love to do this but looks far too much above my head

[@55javier55]

Good Morning, Very interesting I guess if I put a resistor between the cords, get the opposite effect bringing the temperature below 3 degrees. Is this correct? Thank you.

[@AJApper]

Correct, if total resistance is lower, beer temperature will be lower.

[@AJApper]

Thank you. Unfortunately it is not possible to show the true temperature constantly on the display, since the device uses the NTC value also for the temperature display. Only by using the switch to shortcut the pot, true temperature is shown after several minutes delay. More sophisticated reverse engineering would be necessary for a better solution. This one is quick and dirty but it works.

[@petercoleman9083]

Hi Alfred. You say a 10K potentiometer. Can you advise if its a Linear one or a Logarithmic one. Regards Patch

[@marcokohler7709]

Hello, I wanted to know if I can also use a 10k potentiometer with a built-in switch for this or does the switch have to be separate

[@marcokohler7709]

Hi 1 question I have built the porous one in between but the temperature cannot be adjusted

[@AJApper]

No, you need a separate switch to short the potentiometer in order to restore original settings and to read true beer temperature. A pot with a built-in switch if switched off interrupts the circuit.

[@jimgallaher458]

I've installed this hack, but when the temperature display is over 3C the fan (and cooler ?) continues to run, is this normal ? Surely the PD machine is factory set to cool to 3C and if you change the NTC resistance it will only make the machine sense a higher temperature and try to cool it ?

[@AJApper]

The combined resistance of the NTC and the potmeter determines the PD's cooling behaviour. If the NTC resistance declines, due to increasing environmental temperature (remember, NTC means negative temperature coefficient, the higher the temperature, the lower the NTC value, also demonstrated in the video) the PD starts cooling until NTC value rises and resembles 3 gr C. But we artificially add an extra resistance, the potmeter, and thus are able to shift the setpoint for starting the cooling to a higher temperature. The PD senses a higher resistance value and thus "thinks" temperature is low enough and cooling is not necessary. This way beer temperature can incline to 7 of 8 degrees before cooling starts.

[@hermanngerhold7572]

nice thx

[@sainthubertfrancois2274]

Bieaudifool

[@calgar10]

Hello, if you put a temp regulator between the two wires of the ntc for read temp on the input and put two resitor on the output of the regulator, one for 3°c one for 10°c, i think that can regul temp with an easy set and display right ? Sorry if me english is bab

[@AJApper]

Sorry, I do not understand what you have in mind. What do you mean by a temp regulator ?

[@petercoleman9083]

@@calgar10 Hi there have you advanced your idea any further on this one

[@petercoleman9083]

@@AJApper Hi Alfred have you further developed your idea or is it as it was. Any advice really appreciated Regards Peter

[@AJApper]

@@petercoleman9083 No, I am quite happy with the easy solution I found. There are probably more sophisticated modifications but I didnot dive into it any deeper.

[@AJApper]

@@calgar10 OK, but it has probably its own sensor and it is not easy to integrate it into this circuit I imagine

[@anthonyshort3437]

Does this work if my temperature is running at room temperature

[@basvanriel1806]

What do you mean? Your beer is not getting cold? Or do you want your beer to be at room temperature? Because this adjustment makes your machine think your beer is at 3°c when its actually not that cold (the temperature depents on how high your resistance is). So you can controle the temperature (3°c-10°c) If you want your beer at room temperature. Just turn your machine off after getting a beer. But this is not good for your beer so your beer will taste like shit within a couple days. If your machine isn't cooling your beer. Call Philips and hope they fix it for you

[@AJApper]

If you just interrupted one of the wires to the NTC and put the pot in between nothing can be wrong. Strange behaviour, I cannot explain it. Did you measure the resistance of NTC plus potmeter? You could also replace the pot with a fixed resistor, say 6.8 K. Beertemp should than be around 7 degrees. Keep in mind the display react very slowly on changing the switch position.

[@jhlb5]

3 connectors on the POT which ones to use. Also will cutting either wire on the pcb plug work or should it be the RH one?

[@snedanator1]

Hi could you give me instructions on how to lower the temperature to 1 or 2 degrees. Thanks

[@marcokohler7709]

Hello, I think the idea is great, I would like to install the parts exactly like you did, can you send me the links to the parts, thank you

[@AJApper]

It is only a 10 K potentiometer and a switch. You can buy them everywhere.

[@limpanskok]

110%

[@richardraymonddewinkel6495]

wat een goede hack

[@AJApper]

RichardRaymond DeWinkel Bedankt !

[@byehi2337]

How to make it below 3 degree celsius? Because my country is very hot!

[@loicskinside4730]

no matter of your country, a beer needs a perfect temperature, like 7 or 8°c for a Kwak, you can bring them down to 3°c for a Leffe

[@mikes7000]

quel intérêt?

[@laurent03150]

effectivement je ne vois pas trop l’intérêt moi je cherche a réparer avec un affichage 88

[@gwennaelquenton4267]

L'intérêt est de changer comme il le souhaite la température de la bière... 3 degré c'est assez froids voir trop

[@mikes7000]

@@gwennaelquenton4267 tu pose ta bière 2 min et hop elle es réchauffe😁

[@gwennaelquenton4267]

@@mikes7000 tout dépend si tu as vite soif ou non 🤣

[@robelmes5016]

Bye bye warranty if you do this.

[@DrBest-dm1vc]

Unnecessary