Charlottesville Area Masters of Real Ale

Hey All-
I know some of you use analog controllers for kegerators, freezers and refrigerators. Do you like them? I've got a digital that heats and cools but I'm going to be buying a few more controllers so that I've got everything properly regulated. Anyway, the analog will probably suffice just fine for my lagering chest and kegerator while I can use the digital for my beloved saisons. More Beer is having a sale and the analog is going for about $40 each. Analog reviews? Suggestions?

I have the boring old Johnson Controls Refrigerator Thermostat and it has worked just fine for me.

Once you remove the ability to heat and cool, I don't see any advantage to the digital ones unless you have cash burning a hoel in your pocket.

Good thoughts Jamey. I'll probably shell out the $80 for two analogs to monitor the freezer and the kegerator and save the digital for saison heating. Wyeast's upcoming Private Collection offering is all about Saison and Biere de Garde. Yum.

You might want to save the money on the controller by the kegerator and do a little experiment.  Most kegorators have a thermostat control on the back.  However, it is not optimal in that they rarely show real temperatures, rather a range from hot to cold, sometimes denoted by numbers (this makes them less libel should they display actual temperatures and not match exactly).  So, put your thermometer in the fridge and figure out what temperature it is.  Then, adjust the thermostat to get to your desired temerature, using the thermometer as a guide.  When you get there, mark the actual temp on the fridge's thermostat using a sharpie, and there you go.

The external temperature controlers are great for controling the fridge's temperature at ranges the built in thermostat cannot go (like 68 degrees for fermenting a british bitter).  So, save yourself some money and make more beer!

That is an interesting idea, Tom.  It might work and, worst case scenario, you go out and buy what you were planning to buy anyway.

I'd allow a few degrees for fermentation heat, as well.

I had a similar idea and tried to "figure out" my kegerator's cooling mentality. It turns out that my fridge wants to operate at a cushy 48F or at sub-polar conditions around 30F. Slightly annoying to say the least. I was either flooded with condensation or frozen solid. The controller is the way to go--at least in my situation. I'd rather buy other stuff but its reassuring to know that after all that hard brewing work the finished product isn't at the whim of my fickle fridge.