how do you know what temp it is set at? There is no display shown in the picture. I want to use it to turn a chest freezer into refrigerator. Is there a similar unit that has digital readout and also has the plugs necessary for using the unit without having to wire it up? This would be for an older person and simple operation would be required. Looks like most of these require some wiring in order to get them to function. I need a prewired unit that is ready to plug in and work. Thanks how do you know what temp it is set at? There is no display shown in the picture. I want to use it to turn a chest freezer into refrigerator. Is there a similar unit that has digital readout and... » Read More how do you know what temp it is set at? There is no display shown in the picture. I want to use it to turn a chest freezer into refrigerator. Is there a similar unit that has digital readout and also has the plugs necessary for using the unit without having to wire it up? This would be for an older person and simple operation would be required. Looks like most of these require some wiring in order to get them to function. I need a prewired unit that is ready to plug in and work. Thanks « Show Less
786415
I use a separate thermometer in the freezer to tell me the temperature inside the freezer, then adjust the dial on the external thermometer up or down until I get the temperature I want. There is a dial with a display on the external thermostat - it is not digital.
786416
The dial does have analog markings for temperature; though the picture might not show it. I put an actual thermometer in mine to fine-tune it. Hope that helps.
786417
Where the knob is, there is a display. It is metal and just to the left. It hard to read, but it's there.
786418
This is a ready to use unit. The wire coil is the temp prob. It's a solid ready to use unit
786419
It is adjustable. Perfect for turning a freezer to fridge. I've done it several times.
786420
I put a thermometer in the refrigerator to monitor the temp. It will take several trials to calibrate the dial on the unit. But after you find the correct temperature it will keep that accurately +/-5 degrees.
786421
It has a temp setting on the unit but not digital but a dial its accurate as I did buy a thermometer as well All I did to install was taped the probe to the wall and screwed the controller to the back set the temp and plugged it in
786422
You don't know. You would need to put a thermometer in the freezer/fridge. I bought this and if wouldn't shut off freezer at the temp I set. As a matter of fact it never even worked. POS! I went with the Johnson Controls Digital Thermostat Control Unit 419 and it works like a charm.... And it has a digital reading of the current temp!
1570268
I think that all the answers cover the purpose in brief. Simply, if the external temperature in the garage or storage area drops below the setpoint that would normally turn on the fridge compressor, the fridge will not start and the temperature in the freezer portion can rise to the temperature of the external temperature, i.e., above the freezing point, and well above the recommended storage temperature of the freezer. The device is a little heater coil that imposes an artificially warmer temperature on the refrig temperature controller that "fools" it into thinking that it must turn on to preserve the cooling in both sections of the fridge
594705
Yes! I have two of these. One set monitors my fridge and freezer in the kitchen. The second set monitors my two freezers in the garage. I have both receivers magnetized to my fridge. All four sensors work perfectly. I attached labels to the receivers to remind me which display is monitoring which appliance.Which sensor is monitored by which receiver is controlled by battery insertion order. When you put batteries in a receiver and sensor, they synch up and lock onto each other. Just put the batteries into each sensor one at a time, pausing until you see readings on the receiver for each one. If you put them all in quickly, you won't easily know which sensor is being displayed where. Yes! I have two of these. One set monitors my fridge and freezer in the kitchen. The second set monitors my two freezers in the garage. I have both receivers magnetized to my fridge. All four sensors work perfectly. I attached labels to the receivers to remind me which display is monitoring which appliance.Which sensor is monitored by which receiver is controlled by battery insertion order. When you put batteries in a receiver and sensor, they synch up and lock onto each other. Just put the batteries into each sensor one at a time, pausing until you see readings on the receiver... » Read More Yes! I have two of these. One set monitors my fridge and freezer in the kitchen. The second set monitors my two freezers in the garage. I have both receivers magnetized to my fridge. All four sensors work perfectly. I attached labels to the receivers to remind me which display is monitoring which appliance.Which sensor is monitored by which receiver is controlled by battery insertion order. When you put batteries in a receiver and sensor, they synch up and lock onto each other. Just put the batteries into each sensor one at a time, pausing until you see readings on the receiver for each one. If you put them all in quickly, you won't easily know which sensor is being displayed where. « Show Less
840434
Eric:Like you, I was unable to get a direct read from either of my 2 remote sensors. It, supposedly, will use the readings to "average" the temps, but like you, I would love to see a direct read-out on the face of the stat!Sorry I couldn't help you . . .Mike
1518273
Make sure you pull out the clear plastic strip if there is one hanging out of the battery compartment. That keeps the batteries from being in contact with the unit while shipping. There is a sliding on/off switch on the side. Slide it on. On bottom, choose and set whether you want to read in Celsius or F. On top, choose and set whether you want a temperature beep (temp alert) when it gets to target temp. Left two buttons you set the time in hours and minutes. Right two buttons you adjust up or down your target temp. Bottom button starts or stops unit. Hope this helps, also you can always call kitchenaid help line. : )
1962672
There is no digital temp display. You turn the dial to your desired temp, but there is no display to tell you what the exact temp is.
1113519
You absolutely can control a chest freezer. I have one on a freezer that I built for myself and have done the same thing for another friend. It works great. I have another one that I use for heating and cooling on a 15 gallon conical. They can only handle 10 amps so keep that in mind.
1168925
You press the "set alarm" button (a temperature will appear in the display) then use the arrow buttons to make the display temperature go up or down until it reaches the temperature you want the meat to cook to. Put the probe into the meat, and put the meat (with probe in it) into the oven with the wire coming out of the oven and the display on counter or oven door (it has a magnet so it will stick to the oven door if it's metal). Once the probe is in the meat, the temperature on the display will be the actual temperature of the meat and will gradually increase as it cooks until it reaches the set temperature and the alarm will go off. To shut off the alarm, press the "alarm off" button. You press the "set alarm" button (a temperature will appear in the display) then use the arrow buttons to make the display temperature go up or down until it reaches the temperature you want the meat to cook to. Put the probe into the meat, and put the meat (with probe in it) into the oven with the wire coming out of the oven and the display on counter or oven door (it has a magnet so it will stick to the oven door if it's metal). Once the probe is in the meat, the temperature on the display will be the actual temperature of the meat and will gradually increase as it cooks until... » Read More You press the "set alarm" button (a temperature will appear in the display) then use the arrow buttons to make the display temperature go up or down until it reaches the temperature you want the meat to cook to. Put the probe into the meat, and put the meat (with probe in it) into the oven with the wire coming out of the oven and the display on counter or oven door (it has a magnet so it will stick to the oven door if it's metal). Once the probe is in the meat, the temperature on the display will be the actual temperature of the meat and will gradually increase as it cooks until it reaches the set temperature and the alarm will go off. To shut off the alarm, press the "alarm off" button. « Show Less
1150522
Worked great on ours, we are waiting now for the factory parts to arrive.fridge is in the garage running fine for a week, temp is 30 in fridge and 0 in freezer. Web pros say it's not good to leave it on due to stress on compressor.
1840921
If you are talking about a single refrigerator/freezer unit like those commonly found in a kitchen the answer is no. That is because the J.C. unit plugs into the wall and the refrigerator/freezer appliance plugs into the J.C. unit. The J.C. unit has a probe that measures the temperature in the freezer. Whether or not electricity is allowed through the J.C. unit to the appliance depends on the temperature in the freezer. When the temperature in the appliance rises above that allowed by the setting, electricity is allowed to pass to the appliance which is how the compressor comes on. As the typical refrigerator/freezer only has one single plug you would not be able to use the freezer with the J.C. unit independent of the refrigerator. I hope this helps and best wishes!
688986
it just lets you set an alarm to what ever temp you want to know I don't see a recording of it if I come by later. the best thing on the freezer is a glass of ice cubes in the freezer, it they ever turn to a block your freezer went hot for too long. that's the best and cheapest way I know.
688985
The unit will display the max and min temps it will not record day and times. If you see the max temp on the freezer was 45deg and the present temp is 0 then the items in the freezer were refrozen. The same fill be true forthe fridge. This condition would probably happen during a power outage. Hope this helps.
1704232
I have never seen a way to set the alarm temp besides choosing between fridge and freezer and I have several of these in use. I also find the quality control to be poor as the last two I bought didn't function at all.
1207692
You set the temperature by pressing the top button until the temp starts to change. It will only move up then cycle back down to a lower temperature after you reach the maximum temperature. I had a hard time figuring this out also as the instructions are not clear. If you just hold the button down it will turn the unit on and off, so you have to repeatedly press the button to get it to cycle through the temperature settings. Seems like when the temperature was lower the unit would just flash but once is was in the 70's it would stop flashing. Now that it is set I love the heater, does a great job. You set the temperature by pressing the top button until the temp starts to change. It will only move up then cycle back down to a lower temperature after you reach the maximum temperature. I had a hard time figuring this out also as the instructions are not clear. If you just hold the button down it will turn the unit on and off, so you have to repeatedly press the button to get it to cycle through the temperature settings. Seems like when the temperature was lower the unit would just flash but once is was in the 70's it would stop flashing. Now that it is set I love the heater, does a... » Read More You set the temperature by pressing the top button until the temp starts to change. It will only move up then cycle back down to a lower temperature after you reach the maximum temperature. I had a hard time figuring this out also as the instructions are not clear. If you just hold the button down it will turn the unit on and off, so you have to repeatedly press the button to get it to cycle through the temperature settings. Seems like when the temperature was lower the unit would just flash but once is was in the 70's it would stop flashing. Now that it is set I love the heater, does a great job. « Show Less
399652
This is the wrong device for your needs. It has only one probe so you can't measure 2 temperatures. Also the lowest temperature it is rated for is 14 deg. F. so not suitable for freezer at all. It is really meant for measuring relative humidity.
17257
I'm sorry dear, but I didn't purchase this fridge to experiment with it, I need it to keep my two insulins cool. Why would you need to turn it off? Are you transporting foods? Perhaps you should check out the DC switch and whether there is a transformer adapter you could use in the car. That's only a guess, since I use this for home use (A/C) only. I hope this helps you.
2017833
On a standard refrigerator (like top-freezer models), there is one thermostat for the entire unit. Vents in the freezer section allow cold air to cool the fridge section. You didn't ask, but I would recommend the digital version of this temp controller. The analog controller is fairly inaccurate, in my experience and according to other reviews I have read.