McKenzieTap
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I am looking for device that will over ride the internal thermostat of a window a/c to allow it to get to 37 degrees to create a cold room for kegs that is NOT a CoolBot. Any suggestions?
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Device to over-ride a window air conditioner thermostat for a cold room.
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Its pretty common to hard-wire the compressor motor to the power cord to circumvent the thermostat.
Then plug the cord into a temp controller and Bob's yer uncle.
Then plug the cord into a temp controller and Bob's yer uncle.
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McKenzieTap
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Ya- we got a CoolBot last year for our first rig and it was just $119- shocked to see they are now $349! We need 4 of them! Ugh! Does the InkBird do the same thing?
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McKenzieTap
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Im looking for something that is NOT a CoolBot- too expensive as I need 5 of them.
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I don't know how much a coolbot is but I have used one of these since 2009 and it does what it is supposed to for me.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E7NYY8/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
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Why do you need 5 controllers? Also, how big is your chamber and what size AC unit are you putting in there? Make sure all that stuff is carefully planned out before you start buying materials or modifying things you can't return.
If they are all in the same room couldn’t you just plug them all in to a surge protector and then plug the surge protector in to an inkbird or Johnson controls thermostat? Maybe you should just invest in a mini split air conditioner. It would save you money on your electric bill and get better efficiency than 5 window units.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/MRCOOL-...at-Pump-230-Volt-60-Hz-A-24-HP-230A/301582980
With one of these and some good insulation you can turn any room in to a walk in freezer. It’s the same thing gas stations use for their “beer caves” if you have ever seen one.
With one of these and some good insulation you can turn any room in to a walk in freezer. It’s the same thing gas stations use for their “beer caves” if you have ever seen one.
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McKenzieTap
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What do you use it for? We are wanting to make a cold room for cold keg storage for a beer trailer.
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McKenzieTap
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lol- if we cant afford a $349 CoolBot, we sure as heck cant afford 6 of those! lol
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McKenzieTap
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We need 5 of them because we are building 5 beer trailers. We already have the CoolBot on the trailer that is my profile pic.. But we are building 5 more.
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McKenzieTap
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oh - each cnaber is different sizes- 4x8, 4x6, 4x7 and 6x4. We use 6000BTU a/cs.
ancientmariner52
Well-Known Member
If you have an analog a/c (knobs, no digital display, no remote) you can set it to max cool and plug it into an inkbird or other controller. If it's digital, you have to get into the internal wiring. The problem is, when the digital control looses power, that is, when the add-on control turns the compressor off, most models have to be restarted manually when power returns.
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We use ours on one of these heaters and haven't had any problems: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001WJ5TE/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
I haven't tried to use it with an A/C.
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McKenzieTap
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Thank you but that has a lowest setting of 45 degrees. I need to get to the sweet 36 to 37 constant.
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McKenzieTap
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You sent me a link to a home heater....?
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Here is another option, get the 308 inkbird, wire something that make heat, like a small Christmas tree lightbulb, into the cold out of the inkbird. Then tape the bulb to the temp sensor on the ac unit. Set the fan on the AC unit to always on, so it does not freeze up. When you need cold the bulb will make the ac temp sensor think that it is 90, and it will run. When the temp reached the set temp on the inkbird the bulb will shut off and the compressor will shut off as the temp sensor cools.
This will take two temp controllers. One with a small light bulb taped to the ac temp probe. This controllers temp prob will measure the ambient air temp. One with its temp prob shoved in to ac cool and set to 32. This one should trip when the coil freezes over and will the turn off the light bulb on the first controller. Eventually the water will condensate and your temp should drop quickly. This is how the cool bot works.
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You asked me what I used the temp controller for and I sent you a link to it.
sk1hunter
New Member
Hi have tried this. I'm very curious if it works
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