Wiring a Fridgemate

Timmsy · Post by **Timmsy** » Tuesday Nov 07, 2006 12:07 pm

I have recieved a fridgemate and am going to wire the thing on the weekend. Any tips on how to do this?? Buy reading the instructions it is basically runs between your power line to the fridge. I mighjt try and get a mate to wire it up for me. I hate wiring even tho i can play with car stuff no worries.

breadnbutter · Post by **breadnbutter** » Tuesday Nov 07, 2006 12:28 pm

G'day,

I've not done it but remember reading a thread on exactly that on these pages, just do a search.

Cheers

reg · Post by **reg** » Tuesday Nov 07, 2006 6:12 pm

It is very easy to wire just make sure that you use blue point connectors for the joints.
Put in a box if you can to keep any moisture out, If you cant put it into a box then just wrap the connectors in some electrical tape.
Basically the same as 12V just double check everything and make sure you use the right connectors and you should be OK

jd · Post by jd » Tuesday Nov 07, 2006 6:59 pm

Have a look here - http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/forum/vi ... php?t=3538 - you will find a photo I posted in there and plenty of discussion on the subject.

r.magnay · Post by **r.magnay** » Tuesday Nov 07, 2006 8:42 pm

Nice knowing you Timmsy!!............ get a bloody sparky to do it, I was just discussing this very subject this morning, a couple of years ago a nine year old girl got fried in the next town (That's five hundred klicks away but still) it appears that someone wired a pump on an evap cooler and didn't know what they were doing, it worked fine but it wasn't safe, I often wonder how many death traps are sitting out there when I read about people wiring up their own gear on this site, for the sake of saving a few bucks, if you look around you will probably find a sparky to check it for you for a couple of samples of your brew. Not only can it be very dangerous, it is also illegal, if you have a fire and it is traced back to uncertified wiring............no insurance, if someone gets killed, a bit of time on the inside I would suggest, it is not worth rooting around with, and as for comparing it with car wiring..........yeah right! Consider yourself warned!

OldBugman · Post by **OldBugman** » Tuesday Nov 07, 2006 9:17 pm

a good such story is the one about the man fixing the washing machine for his wife.. forgets to connect up the earth wire... washing problem and wife fixed in one foul swoop.

goq11k_76 · Post by **goq11k_76** » Tuesday Nov 07, 2006 11:59 pm

get a large plastic box from an electrical supply shop (approx 20cm x 10cm), it will have screws to hold it all together

and 2 plastic/rubber clamp type thingys to secure the incoming and outcoming wires, they will know what they are called, I cant remember off the top of my head

and get a connecter that will take 5 wires

join as per instructions

cut a hole for the digital readout into the elctrical box and sweet as, secure with velcro tabs onto top of fridge, easy as

if ya need more help PM me and I can show pics of my setup, took 1 hour and no electrician

cheers
brendan

Biggles · Post by **Biggles** » Wednesday Nov 08, 2006 5:56 am

I went and asked a sparky to check my wiring job for me. He wanted $60 to look and told me he would chuck out the wiring I'd done, re-do it so he knew it was safe and then charge me for the new wires, plugs and box he used. So if you're planning on getting a sparky involved at all, Id go check with him before you do anything.

reg · Post by **reg** » Wednesday Nov 08, 2006 9:56 am

r.magnay,
what you are saying is basically true, however because it is an extension lead and not fixed wiring then you do not need it to be certified with a certificate you only need it to be tested and tagged.
I said that it was basically like 12V wiring as it is...I know this as I am a qualified sparky giving a guy, fellow brewer, some basic sound advice.
But as you stated you should if you do not have any wiring experience then get a sparky to do it.

If there are any brewers out there in the western suburbs of Melbourne that would like any help with there wiring of a fridgemaster then just contact me
mgrundy@bigpond.net.au
For some brews, advice or parts we may be able to arrange something

atropine · Post by **atropine** » Wednesday Nov 08, 2006 12:55 pm

reg wrote:r.magnay,
what you are saying is basically true, however because it is an extension lead and not fixed wiring then you do not need it to be certified with a certificate you only need it to be tested and tagged.

I just dont' know why the cheap bastard that sells these kits won't get someone certified in the area to connect the damn cables for the safety of everyone in the hobby. If he's worried about being sued he can put a tag on them saying they have not been certified as electrically safe. I've noticed most OP shops have tags like that on 240v equipment they sell.

I think it' s much safer for the one trained person to do multiple jobs than selling them as kits knowing too well most people with no certification and no experience will do the job themselves. And when we're talking about Huge chunks of conductive steel (ie fridges) I don't' think it's a good thing.

Crowash · Post by **Crowash** » Wednesday Nov 08, 2006 1:03 pm

I agree atropine, I'd rather pay an extra $40 and have the damn thing come in a box and know it's safe. I have enough trouble wiring up my stereo at home let alone playing with mains voltage.

Is there money to be made from a certified technician wiring these things up for people?

rwh · Post by **rwh** » Wednesday Nov 08, 2006 1:34 pm

If you have a problem with wiring it yourself, simply purchase a temperature controller that doesn't require any wiring. I notice that Grain and Grape have one for $115, which sounds about right: Fridgemate: $50, box and wires: $10, assembly: $65. The feeling that you've wasted $65, but can sleep well at night: priceless.

I'll take the fridgemate, thanks. I did enough of an electrical engineering degree to feel qualified to wire the damned thing up, and I'll take the risk of burning down my house.

breadnbutter · Post by **breadnbutter** » Wednesday Nov 08, 2006 1:43 pm

One alternative is to buy the fridge thermostat from grain and grape. It is complete - plug your fridge line into the thermostat, plug the thermostat into the wall and dial up your temp. It's $115 but maybe worth it? I'm certainly considering it, only thing is, it, like the fridgemate is only designed for cooling below ambient so if in winter you're below your ideal brew temp you need a heater thermostat as well - another $115.

Cheers

rwh · Post by **rwh** » Wednesday Nov 08, 2006 1:53 pm

Er, the fridgemate has two modes, heating and cooling. Dunno about the Grain and Grape one.

breadnbutter · Post by **breadnbutter** » Wednesday Nov 08, 2006 2:57 pm

Ooooo

then that's the one I want! I certainly don't mind getting a sparky to set it up, all up it's going to be around $115 anyway and I get both! I'm enlightened again great sage

atropine · Post by **atropine** » Wednesday Nov 08, 2006 4:27 pm

I was thinking if that fridgemate guy provided the $3 extension cords which are to be cut in half and wired in, and then hired an electrician for an hours labour, then maybe it would cost $100 for that labour and the electrician could do 20 fridgemates.

The excess cost involved is $5 per unit of labour component and $3 for the extension cord. This cheap prick is risking people's lives over a measly $8. I"m sure he could sell them at $59.95 plug in and you're away just as easily as he sells these kits and tells you to do it yourself.

rwh · Post by **rwh** » Wednesday Nov 08, 2006 4:29 pm

Then don't buy one.

lethaldog · Post by **lethaldog** » Wednesday Nov 08, 2006 4:31 pm

There seems to be alot of hype about wiring one of these things but they are really simple and i am no leccy, although i have a mate who is and he said he would not have done anything different from me if he had done it himself, use a bit of common sense and it will be fine..

Anyone ever heard about death by fridgemate..... I know i havent

r.magnay · Post by **r.magnay** » Wednesday Nov 08, 2006 6:17 pm

No lethal I havn't either, but, I have been in the industry for 35 years and have seen some pretty bloody average stuff. now no one has been killed by any of the stuff I have seen, but plenty of people do get killed by things just as simple as these things. Now I have never seen one of these fridgemates and they sound pretty simple, keep in mind that the simple things can still be deadly, I saw a bloke who had wired his own extention cord carry the old metal clad drill up onto a roof once, lucky for him he did not earth himself out, but when he put the drill down on the iron roof there was a shower of sparks and it blew the fuse. If he had put his hand on the roof to get off the ladder, he could just as easily been dead meat! He was climbing the ladder with 240V in contact with his hand!
Now in light of the fact that these fridgemates are fitted into an extention cord, you should be able to take it to a registered appliance tester/sparky and have it tested and tagged for ten bucks or less. I often read posts about these things and many people sound as if they are not aware of the dangers, as I said earlier everything may be working fine, but one normally minor fault can create a lethal situation pretty bloody simply. Far be it from me to preach to you blokes, but I would hate to think your mates might have to clean up your beer at your own wake!

lethaldog · Post by **lethaldog** » Wednesday Nov 08, 2006 6:48 pm

Mate i do respect what you are saying and i am a tradesman so i do know the risks involved with anything like this but as i said, they are a very simple procedure and are sold with very easy to understand instructions, im sure if people used just a little common sense and took thier time then it should be fine, i have also seen alot of average stuff in the industry and it usually involves complete morons who dont have enough self respect to do anything properly let alone something that could preserve/save thier lives, i dont accuse anyone here of being that stupid and i have to say that in my whole career i have only come across 1-2 that are, these units are designed to be extra easy and i compare it to hooking up a car stereo, just follow the dirrections given to the letter and everything will be peachy, in saying that if you dont have the nouse or confidence to do it then yes, i strongly recommend getting someone else to do it for you but 99% of people i know could hook up one of these with thier eyes closed...

Cheers
Leigh