Convert a fridge?

[orlenz]

I live in southern cali, and in the summer it gets really hot, I have to keep the air conditioner on in my den to keep the temps down, right now I have 120 qt Igloo cooler, and 4 desktop humi's, I want a permanent easy way for more storage.
I have been looking at the wine coolers, but anything big enough for my needs are pretty pricey, I'm thinking about getting a used cheap refrigerator, and converting it into a big cooler for my smokes, I was thinking I can gut the compressor and other stuff it comes with and just add a couple peltier junctions, and a ranco temp controller to keep it at a constant 68 degrees, and a couple pounds of kitty litter to control the humidity, also add a couple small fans inside for circulation,
anybody ever hear of anybody doing this? I'm pretty handy and can do the mod in a day, I can also get the parts pretty cheap online, it seems like a cheap way to have a lot of stable storage, am I missing something?

 

[MichiganM]

I've seen people house large collections inside refrigerators, but I don't think any of them were converted with Peltier. I believe they were just not capable of cooling, and more of just a large storage unit...they didn't use the compressor's cooling function.

I wish you much luck, and I hope you post pictures and updates if you decide to venture down that path. Good luck to you.

 

[jmatkins]

I have not heard of any one doing this, but if you do please post pics.

 

[tobby4]

didnt somebody do this???

hmmm.. i will look for a little bit

 

[Wasch_24]

I think Kingston may have done it or considered it.

 

[Wasch_24]

Ahhh, he posted about a chest freezer.

http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=8189

 

[tobby4]

ah.. i knew somebody would remember it

 

[knife]

Here's a beautiful fridgeador, but there's no cooling in there.

I lived in SoCal, and I think the peltiers will work better the closer you live to the water. If you're full on in the desert, it'll be rough. The peltiers can only cool to a certain level below ambient air (as opposed to an absolute temp), so they may not be strong enough if the box is in a garage. It'll work fine if the fridge's in the house.

 

[Boppa-Wasch]

Damn! that's nice!

 

[orlenz]

After reading the replies and thinking this out, I'm sure it would work, as long as I can get the peltiers at a good price it will be worth it, looks like I have a new project, I'm going to start collecting the required parts, when I get started on it I'll start a thread for anybody that wants to follow along.

 

[CWS]

Wow that frig is a beaut. A lot of work.

 

[jmatkins]

That is an awsome set up.:bigeyes:

 

[Wasch_24]

Very cool!

 

[caudio51]

Wow, that fridge is very nice. Lot of stock too!

 

[AZsteelman]

Orlando, I think you're on to something...good luck...

 

[Kingston]

Ahhh, he posted about a chest freezer.

http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=8189

Runs like a champ!

After reading the replies and thinking this out, I'm sure it would work, as long as I can get the peltiers at a good price it will be worth it, looks like I have a new project, I'm going to start collecting the required parts, when I get started on it I'll start a thread for anybody that wants to follow along.

Try ebay, there's plenty of chips around.