Tempmate!

[AidanMatthews]

Hey guys,

i really want to get my new tempmate wired up...

So far from what i have seen on forums is that it goes inside a jiffy box and then 3 "pwr cords" are used
to wire up the power for the unit, the power supply for the fridge and power supply for the heater...

Does anyone know a good electrician to do this for me as im not touching it...

i also dont want to try my luck with an electrician that can wire it up but has no idea what it is nor its intended purpose.

Has anyone had one wired up? do you still have the blokes contact details?

[timmy]

If you give the instructions to any qualified sparky they should be able to figure it out.

[warra48]

I wired my own, and I'm the first to admit that anything electrical is outside my many other handyman skills. I've tiled bathrooms, laid quarry tiles in a family room, replaced a ceiling in a sunroom with all my own plastering, installed skylights, insulated a roof, repainted 3 houses inside and out, built a brick bbq, and built a huge timber deck on self laid brick piles etc etc, but I've never touched anything electrical other than wiring my tempmate. If I can do it, so can you.
However, I do give the disclaimer that if you at all lack any confidence in doing it yourself, or are at all afraid of frying yourself, then by all means get a sparkie to check it over. Better safe than sorry is always a good rule to follow.

I used the diagrams in this thread. It's really quite easy to do, and mine's now worked for over 2 years with no problems at all.

http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum// ... ntry367165

[drsmurto]

Join the BrewAdelaide forum - Link

There are several people who are good at wiring up fridgemates/tempmates etc.

I had mine wired up by one of the boys as i get hurt everytime i pick up a hammer so forked if i was going to mess with 240V

[billybushcook]

I wired mine too, it is not hard with a basic understanding of electronics, just do not leave any exposed terminals (even earths)

There is only one power line coming in.
Then the two relays just interupt the supply (tee'd into the main supply) for both cooling & heating by opening or closing the circuit via the active (brown wire)
The blue (Nuetral) & Green/white (Earth) is always connected as per this diagram.

But if in doubt just copy this diagram & give it to someone who can do it for you.



P.s
Don,t waste your money on an expensive "Jiffy Box"......Use a Tupperware container or plastic lunch box

Mick.

[shammo]

i bought a jiffy box the other day from from jaycar cost $4.50 much cheaper than tupperware, plus a neat finish

[AidanMatthews]

Ok so i bit the bullet and wired it up myself.

I researched and researched and became confident i could do it.

With the terminal block i can still see the edges of the copper as it disapears into the terminal block,i might do that again to prevent any arcs.

But all terminals on the unit side is very neat.

I closed my eyes and turned it on by itself, Still got power, im not dead, no lights flickered.

Checked the heat and cooling switches by turning temp up and down and listening for the click.
All good.

Plugged fridge in and heat pad, testing now.

Im sitting here listening and smelling, ill leave it going for a few hours and then check case again for any melting/fire etc hahahhaa.

[AidanMatthews]

2nd question

How do you guys have your temp sensor set up.

Taped to the side of fermenter with a bit of foam to insulate from cold air of fridge.?

Or do you have it inside the fermentor somehow.

[timmy]

Just inside the fridge is fine. The temps will equalise.

No point dropping the sensor in the brew and running the risk of infection....

[barls]

mine in a stubby of water works real well at setting the temp.

[warra48]

Mine is inside some styrofoam held against the side of the fermenter with the rubber band from the lid of the fermenter.
Any of the methods posted so far will work, so choose your favourite for yourself.

[AidanMatthews]

Thanks all,

Did some reading and i decided to tape the probe to side of fermentor and then tape or strap a piece of form to it, that way its taking the temp from the fermentor wall/wort. The fridge and heatpad will adjust everything else accordingly tokeep that temp where it should be.