Starting a Fridge Build

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corbylove

Fire Starter
Original poster
Aug 22, 2014
37
10
Chesterfield Michigan
Hello all,

     I am starting a fridge build here in the next couple days and I have a question about my PID controller. Now I made my controller for my wood buring offset smoker that I hooked a fan to stoke the fire and all that yada yada. Now I am going to be using a dual burner electric burner one for heat and one for wood chips, I guess my question is when it shuts the burners on and off at the temps I set how does that work for the wood chips?

Thanks
 
'place the chips on the element in a pan when about half way to set temp. They should start to burn by the time it hits the set house temp. Once the temp is reached though the pid will cycle the elements and should keep the wood shouldering.

The other option is using an amzn smoker or an external smoke source like the smoke daddy's unit.

Depending on the lid you make or plug 'n' play you buy The output to maintain house temps drops as needed. If you are using the pid to control a ssr them it will mainland full power everytime the element cycles on

I you buy the ready out of the box the current is dropped to the element the closer it getd to the set house temp, once that is reached the current with adjust to maintain the sent temp as efficiently as possible. This reduces temp fluctuations to within +- 1/2 degree.

I use the dual 1800w controller from. Auberins. It's perfect and offers control options you can't build yourself for less. I've priced it. Not worth the build. They work out of the box perfectly.
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=381. Worth every penny. I have even removed them from their case and mounted in a new box attached to the smoker for a conversion I did for a restaraunt. They use it every day and it works great.
 
Ok so I have a heating element from my old, old Brinkmann vertical smoker that I'm going to use in the fridge.

I went to a local muffler shop and got a nice piece of 3" pipe that I'm going to use for my smokestack.

I've been reading allot on here about other people's build, and now I'm kinda getting a little nervous. I'm making my own cold smoke generator venturi effect canister so that will be my smoke source.

I guess my questions are; the pipe I got for smokestack is vent at a 90 degree so I was thinking of putting it out the top back of the fridge as opposed to the top!?

I want to do about three 2" holes for fresh air vents, should I put those on the same side as I put the CSG or opposite, or back?

Thanks for any guidance.

Corby.
 
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The first 2 pics are of the outside look pretty decent it still ran I had to defrost the icebox had a giant amount of ice in it.

I guess my questions are more about the 3rd and 4th pics. I heave seen and read numerous videos and post about the trim around the door needing to be replaced because it is plastic, well I stuck a magnet to it in different spots and it stuck and it had rust spots in some places on the trim. Is it metal and could it stay instead of taking it off and putting flashing or whatever in its place?
 
Oh man, first i want to appologize for the horrendous mistypes in my previous post, either i answered your questions or confused you so bad that nomine wants ti go back to it.. lol

Good looking fridge. If its metal and powder or enamel xoaredmthen it should be fine. You'll know when you take it apart and get the trim pieces out, looks like metal from the pics,
 
.

I guess my questions are; the pipe I got for smokestack is vent at a 90 degree so I was thinking of putting it out the top back of the fridge as opposed to the top!?
That works, i have been going out the top of the liner then out the back betwern the shell and liner. I like out the back and straight up too, it prevents tar a moisture from dripping on food.



I want to do about three 2" holes for fresh air vents, should I put those on the same side as I put the CSG or opposite, or back?
Your CSG will also be air intake, you shouldnt need that much air intake anyway. 2-3" intske with a 1" CSG intake will be plenty matched with 3"exhaudt. Put your damper on the exhaust to control air flow
 
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.

I guess my questions are; the pipe I got for smokestack is vent at a 90 degree so I was thinking of putting it out the top back of the fridge as opposed to the top!?
That works, i have been going out the top of the liner then out the back betwern the shell and liner. I like out the back and straight up too, it prevents tar a moisture from dripping on food.



I want to do about three 2" holes for fresh air vents, should I put those on the same side as I put the CSG or opposite, or back?
Your CSG will also be air intake, you shouldnt need that much air intake anyway. 2-3" intske with a 1" CSG intake will be plenty matched with 3"exhaudt. Put your damper on the exhaust to control air flow

:biggrin: Thumbs Up
I appreciate it. I cant really start any work on it til i get paid August 3rd. Being on Social Security sux for trying to get my beautiful smoker finished let alone started.
 
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To reskin the door with steel I see people say something about seeing making a X and shimming the door to make it true. I don't understand that, sorry.
 
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Ok so I'm finally going to be starting the tear down phase tomorrow.

Question I have concerns about is the fresh air intake holes. Would 3 1" holes with the ball cock valve be enough or too much? And should the holes be on the opposite side of the fridge as the cold smoke generator?

Thx
Corby
 
So I got some more work done on the fridge thus week and I have a couple of question.

The holes left behind by the fridge track holders are big where can I get stainless steel screws that big, I've checked Menards, Home Depot, and Lowe's with no luck.

My second question I'd do I have to remove the plastic that goes around the door latch that goes inside the door?

Thanks
 
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