STC 1000 PROBLEMS

[Razzer35]

So I haven't got the faintest idea what I am doing. I want to learn. After a few failed attempts at brewing I decided to go all in. I have bought a cheap second hand fridge and an STC 1000. I am under the impression (probably wrongly) that I can use the STC 1000 to apply either heat or cold to a confined space in my case an unplugged fridge which will be in a cold garage. My intention is to have a constant temp of 18-20*C to aid the fermentation process.
Can anyone help tell me if this is true and if I am on the right course.
If so how on earth do I wire this thing not being a spark.
If not what advice can you give me. Can't keep the brew indoors, the garage is my only option.

 

[PD]

here ya go

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=17872

you need a working fridge and a 1 foot tubular heater

both are wired into the stc... and the stc goes to the mains.

Shimple eh.

 

[hairybiker]

Yeah CHECK then CHECK again your OWN stc1000's wiring as they do differ.
You can wire them to single sockets to plug the heater/fridge into then you don't need to do any mods to the fridge bar setting the thermostat to MIN.

 

[Cononthebarber]

I followed the guide in THIS video which was well explained and easy to follow :thumb:

 

[Razzer35]

Cheers guys. My neighbour is a spark and he is wiring it for me. He's gonna use the brew belt as the heat source. I'll let you know how that goes when I lay down my brew.

 

[Runwell-Steve]

Here's a simple wiring diagram, but I'm sure if your neighbour is a spark he will be able to understand the instructions that come with it.

 

[winelight]

Most people do it the mains socket way, but your neighbour may prefer to do it the way round I did it, which is to make the STC part of the fridge, in effect, by wiring it where the thermostat would normally go. He then needs an extra connector block for the heater live terminal. That way just seemed easier to me, you don't need mains sockets, you have to disconnect the thermostat anyway, and on my fridge I had to replace the mains cable as it wasn't long enough!

 

[PD]

I've never incorporated sockets. I settled for a smaller project box and wired the heater and fridge directly into the stc with choc block connectors.
Just means the stc has to move with the fridge... :)

 

[hairybiker]

I didn't bother with sockets either, my fridge had a duff thermostat, so removing that gave me a 4 wire cable (mains, + feed to compressor) so I just extended that to the stc1000, and by using the earth cable I only have one cable (+the thermo) coming from the stc1000. I then used the Yellow/green for heat and the black for cool with only the L&N being connected to the stc1000 end. Made for a tidy build, only a 5 way block (L/N/E + heat & cool live feeds) down at the compressor end, and a 4way mains cable up to the stc1000. Covered the yellow/green LIVE end with some black heat shrink so it isn't mistaken for an earth.

 

[Cononthebarber]

Here's a simple wiring diagram, but I'm sure if your neighbour is a spark he will be able to understand the instructions that come with it.

Just to note that my STC came with a different diagram with some of the sockets in a different order so check this diagram against the one supplied with your STC to make sure they match up :thumb:

 

[winelight]

I didn't bother with sockets either, my fridge had a duff thermostat, so removing that gave me a 4 wire cable (mains, + feed to compressor) so I just extended that to the stc1000, and by using the earth cable I only have one cable (+the thermo) coming from the stc1000. I then used the Yellow/green for heat and the black for cool with only the L&N being connected to the stc1000 end. Made for a tidy build, only a 5 way block (L/N/E + heat & cool live feeds) down at the compressor end, and a 4way mains cable up to the stc1000. Covered the yellow/green LIVE end with some black heat shrink so it isn't mistaken for an earth.

Sounds very similar to mine! I used 2x 2 way cables because that's what I had around rather than 4 way. I used the existing connection block on the compressor which had a couple of spare terminals and added a single-way chocolate block for the live for the heater. Or something like that. I would take a picture, but I'd never get the protective cover back on!

 

[morethanworts]

My STC 10000 box is fine, but if I did it again, I would probably run two 'breakout cables' out the back, like short extension leads with single sockets in them, rather than have to incorporate the sockets in the project box.

 

[winelight]

Whichever way you do it, gotta love a brewfridge. I wouldn't be without it now.

 

[Razzer35]

Guys thanks for all your help. STC 1000 hooked up to brew belt which is sitting at the base of the FV. Currently just laid down St Peters IPA. Temp looking good at 20. Fingers crossed. During amateur hour and in my excitement I didn't take a big enough sample for the hygrometer to float. You live and learn. :drunk: :

 

[winelight]

I always take too much... so there is some to taste :