A Catastophic Failure

[Rsquared]

So I went stumbling through the door of my local..........................................................

WAIT!
STRIKE THAT!
WRONG STORY. to be told at another time.

So I had a catastrophic failure at HQ. My beer fridge suffered an unauthorized death. I arrived at the aforementioned HQ, only to be surprised as I reached into the (supposed) chilled micro environment, and pulled out a European style room-temperature adult beverage. That, here in the states, is known as an ABSOLUTE No-Go. I mean, that's completely unacceptable. So me, being the inquisitive young (relatively) lad that I am, proceeded to tear the thing apart in a (just less than) unmitigated fury. I mean, come on.............warm beer just isn't an option.

So, using the troubleshooting skills that I've honed over a couple years of learning how things turn on and off in this world. My investigation led me to a faulty thermostat as the culprit to this horrific finding. I can't imagine why a beer fridge that's 25 years old would have it's thermostat go tit's up. I may just have to author a nasty memo to the manufacture as a result of this.

Anyway. I ordered a replacement stat from an online source that I've used for parts throughout the years. Only to have the replacement stat be of the wrong variety. It's like it had a completely different temperature range that it would try and maintain. Ain't it a bitch when a 20 dollar part doesn't work properly? So me being the controls nerd that some of you know me to be, (remember me re-wiring my washer/dryer combo), I threw my hands in the air in frustration and declared that I'd "Take Care Of It". Which I have.

I don't need no stinking mechanical thermostat to keep my beer fridge cool. I've upgraded the whole thing. I snatched one of the many controllers that I use off of the work truck, a simple relay and a CT (to monitor compressor status of course), a temperature probe, and a little bit of Panduit (wire trough) to keep it somewhat clean looking. Hell, after some baseline thermostat type of programming , I even put in some temperature tracking just so I could watch the highs and lows. 

And yes. I've attached it to my home network. So now I can pull up the beer fridge from any computer in the house. This is what technology was made for!

Here endith the sermon.

Now.........LET THE BEER BE SERVED!

Up close.

Screen cap of a summary page I have built into the software.

[Matt.Cross]

Wow, what a ride! I think I need a cigarette now...

[Magwa]

Well Look at you go mister! just finished a new 9 shilling scotch ale made two cases waiting for first taste in another week got to keep em cold!

[98Z5V]

Holy SHEEIITT, Brother!!!      You just don't know "quit," do ya?!...   

[Cunuckgaucho]

The one person we don't need to worry about when there is an uprising of the machines.

 

[98Z5V]

.

Edited March 23 by 98Z5V

[DNP]

Like the washer and dryer, this needs a light system.  I mean, something to notify you at (entry door of your choice). As you slide out of the work truck and stroll, (shuffle at your age probably) to the interior of your castle - you can be notified right at the door that you’ll need to turn around and head back into town to pick up something cold.  I’ve always wondered - if it tastes like piss when warm, aren’t you just drinking chilled piss?

[Magwa]

Indeed that is true DNP, I just tried my first bottle of this years batch and I must say it is a panty dropper must be 9 to 10 % just right I do not like to drink lots of beers so I make em strong so I can drink two and be walking like a bowling pin..... everyone else has to drink a six pack or two.....me get drunk early and avoid the rush!

[Rsquared]

On 4/2/2026 at 6:51 AM, DNP said:

Like the washer and dryer, this needs a light system.  I mean, something to notify you at (entry door of your choice). As you slide out of the work truck and stroll, (shuffle at your age probably) to the interior of your castle - you can be notified right at the door that you’ll need to turn around and head back into town to pick up something cold.  I’ve always wondered - if it tastes like piss when warm, aren’t you just drinking chilled piss?

Wise Guy!

[DNP]

[shepp]

Day late and a dollar short all you needed was a ranco stat lol.
 

I took my frigde like that when I up graded to my big boy beer fridge and put a +20° to +60° stat in it to keep my barrel aged beer at 46°. 
 

The big boy beer fridge 

[98Z5V]

I have a pretty badass commercial beer fridge that needs some attention - it shorts, shuts off, blows a house panel breaker.  It's gotta be simple - but I don't know refrigeration electric.  Maybe @Rsquared can check it out this Fall...  Just tell me what to do bro, and I'll fix it.  I just don't know why it's doing what it's doing...  

Edited yesterday at 03:28 AM by 98Z5V

[Shadetree]

Hey, don't mind me here.  I just like reading things that I know nothing about.  The best I can do is sending my condolences for warm beer and hope for better days.  I know a lot of things, but with refrigeration, I call the man or hit the classifieds for a new gem.

[shepp]

On 7/22/2026 at 10:27 PM, 98Z5V said:

I have a pretty badass commercial beer fridge that needs some attention - it shorts, shuts off, blows a house panel breaker.  It's gotta be simple - but I don't know refrigeration electric.  Maybe @Rsquared can check it out this Fall...  Just tell me what to do bro, and I'll fix it.  I just don't know why it's doing what it's doing...  

99% it’s the compressor 

[shepp]

On 7/23/2026 at 7:01 PM, shepp said:

99% it’s the compressor 

You can take the wires off, Should read continuity between windings and open to ground on each winding 

[98Z5V]

It's something for the little light in the front top of the glass door - the interior light.  I reset the house circuit breaker, went inside, plugged that thing into the wall, and saw a spark up there by that light wiring...   

[Rsquared]

Like any other diagnostic. Keep disconnecting $hit until it stops blowing the breaker. Then start re-connecting $hit! 

Or, like Shepp said, you can always throw a meter on it and ring it out. 

Not quite as exciting as blowing the breaker every time. Not as many potential sparks and arcs that way.

[shepp]

On 7/23/2026 at 9:17 PM, 98Z5V said:

It's something for the little light in the front top of the glass door - the interior light.  I reset the house circuit breaker, went inside, plugged that thing into the wall, and saw a spark up there by that light wiring...   

that’s the other 1% lol