New Fridge Build

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coffee_junkie

Master of the Pit
Original poster
OTBS Member
Feb 17, 2009
1,144
18
Helena, MT
Sorry no pics yet, I just have some simple questions about setup.
1. Do I need an intake damper at the bottom of the fridge?
2. I have seen where sombody had added a rheostat to a hotplate for temp control, can somebody remember where that post is, I have searched and came up empty?
3. My fridge has a large open space undernieth where the compressor used to be. My plan is to cut a square hole in the bottom of the fridge. have a steel box made to drop in. the bottom of the box will hold the heating element. I plan on having a drip pan about 3" above the bottom of the fridge. Will that work as my heat deflector also?
4. I am going to use a smoke daddy for a smoke generator, can that penetrate anywhere around the bottom of the fridge? Above or below the drip pan?
 
Hey there Coffee. LOL, yeah we'll help ya out. I seen this earlier and meant to bump it when most of the crew here gets home from work. I'm doing a fridge as well, only mine in charcoal so I can't offer advice on the rheostat or the smoke generator. I would only throw caution to the heating element, making sure your drip tray is large enough so no dripping work their way into the box you have your heating element it. We don't want a fire.
 
Hey coffee, I'm on my second conversion so some experience with them. I don't have all the answers, but I'll pass on what my thoughts are for what they are worth.

Everything I've seen and read about freezer conversions say you should have one. My thought is it is needed for better temp control when you don't use a thermo control. I don't have one and don't think it is needed. However if you get vast temp differences inside, it may help to even them out.

[/quote]2. I have seen where sombody had added a rheostat to a hotplate for temp control, can somebody remember where that post is, I have searched and came up empty? [/quote]

Most thermo controls are a rheostat of some type, but are you referring to a household dimmer switch? They are not rated for enough watts for any kind of useful hotplate or element. In fact I think it would be a potential source of great resistance and reduce your ability to reach temps, as well as a safety concern. Stick with a PID type controller, or a something like what Allied-Kenco sells.

[/quote]3. My fridge has a large open space undernieth where the compressor used to be. My plan is to cut a square hole in the bottom of the fridge. have a steel box made to drop in. the bottom of the box will hold the heating element. I plan on having a drip pan about 3" above the bottom of the fridge. Will that work as my heat deflector also?[/quote]

Getting your element low like that is a great idea. The drip pan will serve as a deflector to a degree, but I worry that that short distance will crate burning of drippings, which adds a nasty smoke to the smoker. A better deflector is angled or curved and perforated. It will radiate heat outward then reflect off of sides better. A flat pan will just heat and radiate upward.


[/quote]4. I am going to use a smoke daddy for a smoke generator, can that penetrate anywhere around the bottom of the fridge? Above or below the drip pan?[/quote]

Yeah, this should work fine, just leave yourself enough room to remove and attatch the gen. without too much trouble, and not crowd yourself. Heres a few pics of my heat deflector, drip pans, and thermo controller.
de92bea0_vbattach23827.jpg

436de464_vbattach23828.jpg

57b7eb16_vbattach23829.jpg
 
1. I put a 4" one on mine.

2. A rheostat ain't gonna handle that load, yer gonna need a thermostat fer that, ya can get em perty resonable on ebay. I used a alto sham wamer controler fer low temp an a oven thermo fer high temp control. Both will handle the wattage.

3. Should be alright, just make sure there's plenty a room around it so heat don't build up.

4. I put mine above the drip pan.








Kinda hard ta see the damper but it's in the bottom a the door in the middle.
 
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