Build Your Own Walk-In Cooler with this DIY CoolBot Alternative

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You do not need a CoolBot to cool your walk-in cooler with an air conditioner. You just need to understand the functions of the CoolBot and replace those functions with a few much cheaper off-the-shelf parts. With this knowledge you can save hundreds of dollars and still build your own walk-in cooler to effectively store your own vegetables and any other products that require cold storage.
CHAPTERS
0:42 CoolBot Functions
2:52 Alternative Supplies
4:30 Installation
14:00 Next Steps
INKBIRD SETTINGS
• The Inkbird that powers the lightbulb should be set to the desired room temperature.
• The lightbulb should be plugged into the "Cooling" port of the Inkbird.
• The cooling differential (cd) setting on the Inkbird is what you adjust to control how much variability there is in the room's temperature. For example, if you set the differential to 1ºC and the control temperature to 4ºC, the lightbulb will power on at 4ºC and remain on until the room has cooled down to 3ºC (a differential of 1ºC). We use a cooling differential of 0.5ºC for both Inkbirds.
• The Inkbird with its sensor in the AC fins should be set as cold as possible without allowing ice buildup on the fins. This will be in the -2ºC to 0ºC range.
• Plug the lightbulb's Inkbird into the cooling outlet of this fin Inkbird.
• The heating differential (hd) settings on both Inkbirds are irrelevant because we are only using the cooling outlets.
DIY COOLBOT SUPPLIES
• List of AC units compatible with this method: www.storeitcold.com/build-it/...
• Inkbird Temperature Controller: amzn.to/3afu6dg
• Light Socket Plug: amzn.to/3uXg0XF
• 5.5W LED Spotlight: amzn.to/3agtnZv
• 4.5W LED Spotlight: amzn.to/3AooPe6
• Light Socket Adaptor for GU-10 Bulb: amzn.to/3ljTNQt
• Aluminum Foil Tape: amzn.to/3ILYUEb
COOLBOT DISCOUNT
• Save $25 on a CoolBot Purchase: storeitcold.referralrock.com/...
LEARN MORE
⇨ Subscribe to this channel: / @vegetableacademy
⇨ Watch my free interactive workshop: www.vegetableacademy.com/yt-f...
⇨ Join our growing community: www.vegetableacademy.com/grow...
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23 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 357

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

Join me in person at the 2024 Homestead Festival near Nashville, TN on June 7 & 8 where I'll be teaching a session on Mastering Cold Storage. Get 20% off your festival passes with the coupon code REGIER20 for regular admission and REGIER20PLUS for regular admission plus. Here's a link to the festival: www.hardisonmill.com/thehomesteadfestival

@samscoalfiredpizza8152 2 года назад

I have built a 44 foot walkin. Using it as a freezer. Will this work where I can get it to freeze. Coolbots can’t be used as a freezer

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

@@samscoalfiredpizza8152 The Inkbird controllers work at below freezing temperatures. However, I can't speak to how well a window air conditioner would work to create freezing temperatures for you.

@PeterSedesse 5 месяцев назад

basically a $400 coolbot down to $80 in parts. And honestly, the work to set them up is about the same. Great video

@quengafarm Год назад

Perfect. I once converted a chest freezer to a kegerator using a temp controller like this. I've been looking for an alternative to the Coolbot, knowing of these things, but not understanding how the Coolbot fully worked! Easy setup, can't wait to build our walk in for next season!

@oby-1607 Год назад

Excellent. I currently use a CoolBot but am needing another cooler and this is awesome. Thank you.

@amagyebi 2 года назад

I am very pleased watching you video, it's been long since I had the conviction that a home A/C can be turned into a cooling unit for veggies. Thanks for this video.

@dgilchrist6361 2 года назад

This video was by far the best one I found for the AC set up. Mine is working great in the first 24 hrs with only a single Inkbird unit. I just had to adjust the location of the temperature prob vertically at the bottom of my AC’s fins and adjust the temperature a few times to dial everything in. It’s holding a steady 41 degree temp without freezing up. I’ll probably take it down one or two more degrees in the coming week. And I’m using a really old, dirty 5,000 BTU window AC. Update - one week in and absolutely love this system. The single Inkbird has worked great with the probe positioned vertically against the fins, centered and about 1/2' up from the bottom. I used a short piece of electric fence wire in a u shape inserted into the fins to hold it in place. So glad I came across this video while researching cooling options.

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

Nice. I think you could accomplish almost the same level of control with one Inkbird. I am running ours right now with just the one probe in the fins and it's doing alright. One difference is that the air conditioner turns on a bit later, because the fins warm up a little more slowly than the air in the cooler. The air conditioner also seems to be cycling on and off more frequently because as soon as the fin temperature drops substantially to cool the air, the Inkbird cuts power to the lightbulb and turns of the air conditioner. I imagine this would be more of a problem in the hottest part of the year when the air conditioner needs to be running more often. This would mean that the fins would usually be at a lower temperature than the room air so the ideal temperature setting on the Inkbird might not be the room temperature you are shooting for. Setting the Inkbird might require some experimentation and adjustments throughout the season depending on your climate. Have fun fine tuning your setup. If you can't dial it in, you always know that you can add another Inkbird for the best precision.

@Nosnek4721368 2 года назад

@dgilchrist6361 if you're only using a single Inkbird unit, what do you have connected to the Ac temperature probe?

@pdkkyle2002 6 месяцев назад

How big is your bid walkin?

@mw595899 2 года назад

Lifesaver. This saved me hundreds of dollars. I already had everything I needed for it. Thank you

@RPG-oh1yf Год назад

Awesome video! This is the first video that clearly describes how the 2 functions are accomplished to cool the room below the minimum thermostat setting and to provide a defrost cycle to prevent ice build up on the cooling fins. 👍

@jonathanberry5388 Год назад

Just finished insulating and wiring this system in a walk-in built from scratch. Works perfectly. Thanks for the awesome hack and video!

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

That's great to hear! Enjoy.

@jaychrist4437 2 года назад

This is by far the best hack guide thanks! Currently installing my 25000 btu LG in my flower cooler after my old industrial compressor kicked the bucket. Didn't want to spend 8K+ (Canadian) so your guide was a lifesaver thanks!

@rossmackenzie7993 Год назад

How does it keep the compressor from overheating and burning the place down?

@chriscarr9595 Год назад

Best video on this, BY FAR! I just got my 6x8x10 cooler built and every video I had come across, up to this point, just seemed to make things so much more confusing. Your video explains everything (except for which plugs (heating/cooling) you use on the inkbirds for which purpose....but I found the answer under the comments) very well. Thank you! I just have gotten my inkbirds delivered and going to run electric to the cooler this weekend, so hopefully, I'll have everything up and running next week! Thanks, again!

@jaredregier Год назад

You're welcome. Have fun finishing the build.

@dianarestrepo7593 2 года назад

Coolbot alternative for Dummies. Such thorough explanation. TY!

@shedigsdirtblog5879 7 месяцев назад

Thank you so much for this video and detailed information. I converted a closet into a walk in cooler for my dahlia tubers. I purchased the humidity controller as well so I can run a humidifier.

@coldfinger459sub0 5 месяцев назад

Super cool The more time and money that you spend on making the room, absolutely airtight, including electrical outlets, and if there’s any piping from electrical outlets that the opening inside, the pipe is sealed with some sort of putty to stop airflow and extremely airtight sealed gaskets around the door . Double the doors, and even insulate the doors.. Better insulation on the floors and the walls and the ceiling The less money you will spend on electricity And the smaller the air-conditioning unit can be . Consuming less electricity

@GuimaTeix Год назад

Thanks Mr. Tout est bien expliqué, très pédagogique et une vidéo bien faite de bout en bout. Merci

@emilychaves722 2 года назад

We are building our cooler now. Thanks for sharing this valuable info!!

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

Awesome! Have fun with your project and let me know if you run into any questions with this setup.

@brankenflowery8416 2 года назад

I priced out all the items needed for this homemade version of a cool bot. I used Amazon and I live in Arkansas. The total price with tax is $109.98. Just saying it saves so much money. I am going to use this method to make a walk-in cooler for my flowers. I cannot afford a cool bot.

@wesscarey4475 2 года назад

Hi Branken! $250. cheaper, I get it!!!!!

@NickiSchmicki Год назад

I’d love to see how you build out your space for the flowers! I’m thinking of doing the same thing right now and doing preliminary research.

@tdb4297 Год назад

Dude . No damn Celsius!!! Farenheit man!

@wittyfpv Год назад

Arduino, relay board, a couple thermo couples, a couple sacrificial power cords and a few lines of code is all that's needed. $15 max

@chrisharrison3245 Год назад

@@wittyfpv show us how please

@avidsledder 10 месяцев назад

Fantastic video and so well explained step by step. Best instructional video I’ve watched in a long time!

@gislainekengne2902 2 года назад

Thanks so much for this video. It made me advance so much in my school research work.

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

You're welcome. I'm glad it helped you.

@williambronson2935 9 месяцев назад

Amazing, so well explained !

@Apodacahomestead 3 месяца назад

Great information! I just built a walk-in cooler and this is going to fix my coil freezing problem!

@Candeelaryuh Год назад

Great explanation.

@RoomiesGarage Год назад

This video was great, the best one I found

@MrBiofuelmoz 2 года назад

excellent presentation

@maddog45auto66 Год назад

Thank you so much for sharing your videos you're very helpful.

@mdh6977 Год назад

Thanks for this!!

@maryalionis2204 Год назад

Thank! This looks like just the right approach for making a tomato room, just bringing down the AC to 55 F.

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

Definitely. That is a great application and the warmer temperature for tomatoes will make things a little easier on the air conditioner.

@danieldionne8543 8 месяцев назад

merci énormément pour pour cette formation bien clair , bien expliqué et traduite aussi , merci pour ton temps et ta générosité

@yourstruly9448 2 года назад

Awesome 👍 Thanks so much!!!

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

You're welcome. I'm glad you found this helpful.

@willisiam9346 Год назад

Thanks for sharing.

@hopechannelcat5462 5 месяцев назад

nicely done!!! thanks for the info

@kyletyson8129 Год назад

Great video very helpful

@luisj.serrano5821 2 года назад

This is great!

@StillwatersFarm Год назад

Ok, I'm sold. I need a walk-in for my just-licensed winery, and I think this will do the trick. Building out a 6'x10' space inside the winery to meet regulations. This will hopefully help me battle super high August temps in West Tennessee so that I can begin fermenting our white grapes at the appropriate temperature. Thank you for such an excellent and thorough explanation! I'm on to Amazon to make my order, then to the lumber store to purchase my lumber and insulation panels.

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

You're welcome. Have fun with your build! Since you're just about to buy materials as well, remember that investments in insulation will pay you pack in the long run. This will be especially important in Tennessee summers. Let me know how it goes.

@StillwatersFarm Год назад

@@VegetableAcademy will do. Planning on regular batt insulation in the wall, as that's what is in the other 3 walls I'll be incorporating, then foam boards on top of that for a total R-value of around R-25 to start, then go from there. Fingers crossed 🤞!

@StillwatersFarm Год назад

@@VegetableAcademy one final question--the window that I have to place the a/c unit in has a max opening of 16" in height, which will only accommodate a 12,000 BTU unit. Will this be sufficient to cool without failure?

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

@@StillwatersFarm That sounds like a good plan.

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

@@StillwatersFarm Use this CoolBot sizing calculator to answer that question. staging1.storeitcold.com/build-it/ac-calculator/. You can enter the dimensions of your cooler space there to get a recommended AC size. I believe the walls are assumed to be R20 for this calculator.

@heathermacdonald6404 Год назад

Thanks! This is on the wish list.

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

Great! There's a much more in-depth lesson on building a cold storage space on the Seed to Table Supplements page here: www.vegetableacademy.com/supplements. You'll likely also find that useful if you haven't found it already.

@SunInTheBeeches Год назад

Love this hack, thank you so much. I wanted to build a cooler for my meat curing.

@kitrussell9358 Год назад

Very cool. Going to try it . thanks will let you know .

@DustinApple 2 года назад

I built one 6yrs ago on my channel. Just did a 6yr review. Money well spent.

@bryanluff8040 7 дней назад

Awesome show

@fannysells560 Год назад

Thank you!!

@denislosieroutdoors Год назад

This was a great video there eh! I will be building one of these for my homestead want to hang harvested meat to store before butchering, thanks for sharing you explained it very well...

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

I'm glad you found it helpful. Have fun with your build.

@dr9759 Год назад

We already bought a coolbot for my ice hash cooler (legal in CA). Come to find out we need another A/C unit to reach the temps we would like. I bought all the parts and will be using this instead of buying another coolbot! Thanks for saving me 320$! Ill update this post with the results and my findings once its set up next monday.

@snakeprairie Год назад

How'd it go?

@dr9759 Год назад

@@snakeprairie It went great! We are now able to get down to 35 degrees inside the trailer without the unit icing up! running 1 month no issues at all now :)! Definitely recommend over a coolbot!

@mikekittrell9059 8 месяцев назад

@@dr9759what are your setting for the unit probe going to the A/C and the A/C probe attached to the light?

@Epiphalactic Год назад

You can buy the modules themselves without the case and cords coming in, dual stage or single stage. You gotta provide the wires as such. Can get them in 110 -220 as well as in 12v that controls a relay for 110-220v. And depending on where you go you can get them dirt cheap. Run them to outlets and flush mount them, even outside the room so you don't have to enter the room to adjust things. You could also run an Arduino with a program and a couple relay boards, and set it precisely to do certain things. Turn on light when over x temp. Turn off the light when a different probe hits x temp, and even do a third or fourth to measure different parts of the room or fins. But I'd prefer to get in and pull out the electronics and wire it up to a PID or Arduino with pid, and a couple of proves to measure room temp, as well as make sure the fins aren't icing up. Arduino and the modules are dirt cheap to buy, even dirtier cheap to build. Cut out the entire light system, and just turn on and off the compressor based on temps you see. Many options here and the more techy you are, the cheaper it can be.

@Jacob-sc9dh 2 года назад

The best system i ever see good video thanks a lot

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

You're welcome. I am glad this helped you.

@cirelefebure5485 2 года назад

thank you, sir.

@markkallstrom5672 Год назад

Kallstrom Sweet corn in Ephrata Wa. uses a Colbolt 0n 10 bins of corn ,and temp can go down to 41 degrees in a 20 ft insulated cargo container and we love it .

@snowsurfer187 4 месяца назад

Great video. I use this system to cool our cooler at Burning Man. Our theme camp gifts about 5000 lbs of organic fruits and vegetables during the burn, We have a retired semi refer trailer. we use to store our camp infrastructure. We walled off a 10' x 12' area in the front of the trailer, With a stand up room ac we can keep the temps below 40f easily. We went with a single hose stand up ac because it does not draw in air from the outside as it is very dusty on playa.

@mikekittrell9059 7 месяцев назад

First off I want to thank you for the video. Here's what I came up with using your step by step instructions. My cooler 7Hx8Lx7W with 5" thick cooler panels. Built inside a 30' shipping container with a roof. I'm located in South Georgia. Go Georgia Southern Eagles! 1. I purchased a 10000 BTU Toshiba A/C and the exact materials listed in your video. Ok, I built this cooler to hold deer meat prior to processing. I want to keep the temperature between 36 & 38 dergrees. Here's my issue. I've only been able to keep the temperature between 40 & 45 degrees consistant for several days. My units keeps freezing up. I've set my controllers to 36, 37 & 38 degrees for room temp. and 29 - 34 degrees for fin temp. The lowest temp i've got in a 96 hour test run was 39 degrees and that was on Friday morning when the outside temp was 47 degrees. Now, I know that the outside temp. plays a roll. However, I have a co-worked that has the same setup I do and he has used a the same Coolbot for 11 years straight with no issues while maintaining a 36-38 degree temp. So, here's my assessmetnt. I think your method will work fine with the inkbirds for folks in the south who just want to keep veggies cool. From my experience, It's just to warm in the South for a meat cooler at the beginning of deer season. May work great when the temperatures in the south get cooler, say late November. So, I just wanted to let folks know about my experience in the deep south. Thanks

@johna4719 2 месяца назад

humidity

@Jameszr2Mc Месяц назад

Sounds like you just need a slightly bigger ac unit

@user-pn3kx5rs5h 10 месяцев назад

Your setup worked great for my 8x8 cool room, My 15k AC maintains 2-4 Dec C even in eco mode. The only issue I have it with the Inkbird WiFi. The final layer of foam board I used has a tin foil coating which is blocking the signal.

@Wanhope2 3 месяца назад

Did you resolve that? Curious if just running Ethernet cable to a little repeater (that can operate at low temps, probably an outdoor extender)

@Rymorin4 Год назад

thank you so much this is a really great guide easy like and sub

@drodriguez394 Год назад

Really great video though. only 3 issues i see with this set up as well as the coolbot. 1) im not sure what time of the year this box is being used, but there is no head pressure control for the colder months. you may or may not find you need this. 2) i see a potential for short cycling if for some reason youre bouncing around 1.5 c which could kill your compressor. 3) newer ac units use flammable refrigerants, such as R32. by doing all of these modifications youre changing the UE listing and assuming liability in the event there's a leak in refrigerant and it ignites. but again i really do like how you considered defrost. smarter guy than most.

@danp207 2 года назад

This whole project took me about 20 minutes to complete. I can confirm that it works as intended. You don't need to be an HVAC tech or all that handy really as long as you have the right items. The 4W bulbs highest temperature was around 99 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. One thing to keep in mind is the length of the temperature sensor on the air conditioner. The one on my AC barely has any wiggle room. I am going to have to set the bulb piece very close to the AC. With that in mind it was still reading 99 to 100. Thank you so much.

@RicardoRodriguez-bx1fu 8 месяцев назад

How do you find the controllers in Amazon?

@zworgzworg5321 2 года назад

Consider a power resistor in place of the led bulb. More reliable than a led device that can fail. Thanks for the video.

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

I like that idea but lack the know-how. Could you please share an example of the type of resistor you would choose and describe how you would hook it up to be activated by one of these Inkbird controllers?

@ChrystianGuy 11 месяцев назад

Very cool and instructive. I have some concerns about the bulb eventually die and fail though.

@alconard6177 Год назад

This should work great on mini split will give a go

@Rftyree84 Год назад

I have just started to build my own as well. I am using a small ardiuno uno to build the system.

@gavintooley 26 дней назад

How'd the ardiuno uno go?

@jab376 2 года назад

Thanks

@jamesdodson9417 Год назад

I do have a coolbot and I’m really happy with its performance but I will invest in this to just have on hand for back up

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

...or set this up and sell your CoolBot for some extra cash. That's what I did.

@Deaner3D 2 года назад

what a tragedy - my family's farm already threw down on a $$$ coolbot before I could intervene. I just don't see how coolbot can justify their price for something you STILL have to DIY hook up to an A/C unit. Thanks for the helpful video explanation.

@vtecmissle 10 месяцев назад

coolbot defrosts with a heating element, has bluetooth and is more reliable. Excellent customer service, the guy has fixed for free units years old.

@lostmoose7352 Год назад

Smart !

@Timothythebrewer Год назад

Great video! Can you provide information on where to source the cold room build out materials?

@PappyJag1 2 года назад

thank you for this info., can you show how you plug everything in or if you can draw something out. Thank you for your time

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

The first Inkbird (the one with its sensor in the fins) is plugged into a wall outlet as a constant power source. The second Inkbird (the one with its sensor on the lightbulb) is plugged into the cooling outlet of the first Inkbird. The lightbulb is plugged into the cooling outlet of the second Inkbird. The air conditioner is plugged into the wall outlet as a constant power source.

@atmajaadi 2 года назад

thanks

@f.r.4281 8 месяцев назад

I installed a resistor parallel to the AC room temperature probe. Costs less than $1. It makes the AC think its warmer than it is. This also allows the AC to make use of its inverter technology, saving power and giving a very stable temperature - somehting the Coolbot doesn't do either. I only need to go to 10°C, so freezing up the fins isn't an issue, I just need to keep the fam running at max.

@browntownorganics2172 2 года назад

The best coolbot hack video on RU-vid! I’m building my cooler now and will be using the inkbird. Any recommendations on a WiFi temperature monitor? Thanks!

@user-sk3qe3ol7d 4 месяца назад

I use Govee WiFi temp and humidity monitor. Three green houses and basement

@fredmanamtam587 3 месяца назад

Great information. How about humudity control? I hope to incorporate it too.

@irishned6464 2 года назад

Great Video, excellent explanation and tutorial.

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

Thanks Ned.

@Rick-uu4iu 2 года назад

Great video. I saw several on RU-vid but I settled on your version. I got the same equipment and it seems to be working good so far. Can you tell me if your electric bill increased much and do you think the life of the AC is reduced any because it is working harder and longer. Thanks

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

I wish I could tell you exactly how much power our air conditioner uses each year, but I don't have the monitors to track that sort of thing in detail. I didn't notice a significant rise in our electric bills. Our system has been working for 8 years now and the AC has shown no signs of letting up. I wouldn't say that it is necessarily working harder in this scenario because normally, when installed in window, it would be responsible for cooling a much larger space. The amount that it needs to run will depend on the size of your cold room and how well it has been insulated. Check the CoolBot sizing recommendations if you have any doubts about the power of your AC. We followed those recommendations and it's worked out really well. I believe that they expect you to have R20 walls for this sizing calculator to be accurate. www.storeitcold.com/build-it/ac-calculator/

@Rick-uu4iu 2 года назад

@@VegetableAcademy thank you so much for your quick reply. I really appreciate all of your help.

@alconard6177 Год назад

this should work great on mini split

@CMZneu 2 года назад

Great video! One thing though, but in my country it's much cheaper to buy one arduino and two temperature sensors than an inkbird, could this be the case for the US also?

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

It may very well be cheaper to program an arduino to perform the same task with two temperature sensors. I don't have any arduino experience, but it still sounds like a fun project despite that. If you've got the skills to make that happen go for it, and please share how you made it work. The solution described here is a simple system anyone can assemble with off the shelf parts and no programming skills.

@kennyherinckx9829 Год назад

Awesome information, thank you! How long does the AC have to stay powered off for the fins to defrost?

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

We are not controlling power to the AC. It is always plugged into its own outlet. When frost is detected on the fins, the power to the light bulb is turned off, which allows the AC temperature sensor to cool down. When this happens the AC thinks the room is cold enough so the compressor turns off and the fan keeps going to defrost the fins. If all power was cut to the AC for the purpose of defrosting the fins, that process would take a lot more time because there would be little air flow.

@kennyherinckx9829 Год назад

@@VegetableAcademy Ok so the AC just thinks it is going through a normal on/off cycle and the fins that were nearing a freeze up have time to rewarm before cycling back on.

@markakerman Год назад

Thanks for the great video. I am about to set my cooler up with this method. I was hoping to keep my inkbirds on the outside as my cooler is inside a large shop. The problem is the cord from the inkbird is too short for the light bulb plug in the go through the 6inch wall. Do you know if you could use a short extension for this? Hope this makes sense!

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

Yeah. An extension cord for the light bulb shouldn't be a problem since the wattage is so low.

@markakerman Год назад

@@VegetableAcademy Thanks for the reply. Keep up the great work 👍

@Foxxxxx96 9 месяцев назад

amazing! does this also work on a split AC?

@davideley1976 6 месяцев назад

Great Video !!! Have you considered an ac fin comb to straightened the bent fins on the evaporator coil and condenser coil (if needed) for better air flow through the ac unit and better cooling efficiency?

@randyclement2429 Год назад

Thanks very much I'm building at walk-in cooler as we speak what are the settings for the temperature readers you said in the classes you have classes thanks

@drodriguez394 Год назад

good build i think you might be confused on cleaning the coils. the indoor coil (evaporator) yes you could clean with a brush. the air is drawn from the outside in through the coil in the duct then back out the top. all the dirt is on the outside of the evaporator. the outdoor coil (condenser coil) you wont be able to clean so easily. the air is drawn from the sides of the case and pushed through the coil inside out. all the dirt is on the inside of the case on the condenser. youll have to A. Take it apart to clean or B hose from the outside in with water.

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

Yes. For the exterior coil, it's definitely most effective to take the whole cover off and give it a good rinse with a spray gun.

@theghostofsw6276 Год назад

I remember having to blow those out with compressed air, when I worked in a warehouse. The units were on top of our walk in coolers.

@mohamadkanj8439 Год назад

How would it would with a digital screen? Would you disconnect the “screen” and do the above with the two ink birds or would you simple just turn it to the slowest cooling setting?

@radamson1 9 месяцев назад

Great video but what size a/c do you need for a cooler?

@cchickering 2 года назад

What temperature is ideal for storing onions? I've also heard that potatoes and onions need precise humidity to keep for long periods of time, do you control that as well? Do you run a fan for airflow?

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

Onions are best stored at 0ºC, but keeping our cold room that cold takes a lot more energy and a good storage onion will still last the winter just fine at 4ºC. Onions store best at less than 70% humidity and potatoes store best at 80-90% humidity. We maintain a higher humidity around our potatoes with woven sacks to limit air flow. The air conditioner fan provides all the air flow we need inside our cooler. Many more details about long term storage conditions and methods are covered in Module 7 of the Seed to Table course. www.vegetableacademy.com/course

@jamesanderson2568 10 месяцев назад

Great video, thank you. I ordered the bulb that you linked and it says 50w. I hooked the sender to it and it instantly melted. I'm going to find a less wattage bulb and try again but I hope the brand new ac unit isn't garbage because the sensor is melted. Your bulb says 50w and 4w, why is that?

@jgrover85 2 года назад

I just built that setup that you have described, and in doing so I had a question. It appears in this setup, the room temperature sensor that activates the AC compressor is actually in the fins of the AC unit itself, correct? This would be referring to the Inkbird on the right.

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

Both temperature sensors contribute to the activation of the AC compressor. The controller on the right has its sensor in the fins. If the temperature of the fins is above freezing, it gives power to the second controller on the left. The sensor of the second controller is detecting the room air temperature and whenever this temperature is below the desired setting, the controller gives power to the light bulb. Then the light bulb heats up the AC's temperature probe in a few seconds so that it's internal controller turns on the unit.

@MikeSiemens88 Год назад

Even though the LED is very low wattage I'd be inclined to find an alternative, similar to what Coolbot uses, a resistor of some kind. Perhaps even a traditional filament bulb. Heat is an enemy to semi conductor which is what a LED is. Covering it in any way will tend to shorten it's life & in the case of a larger bulb become a fire hazard. Seems to work for you though, so what do I know haha. Another thing with LED bulbs, most are fitted with a heatsink base. That might be a better place to tack the sensor rather than blocking the light itself by taping it over.

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

Thanks for the ideas.

@annapulvermacher2073 Год назад

+1 to this, having worked in LED lighting mfg. LEDs dislike heat and LED lights are generally designed to run as coolly as possible. Still an excellent video, and I love the simplicity of this setup.

@homebuddha Год назад

@@VegetableAcademy your ideas and videos are genius, Jared. I wonder would metal mesh gauze help substitute the tape? It would hold the sensor in place on the bulb stronger than aluminium foil would without blocking out the light?

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

@@homebuddha I use foil tape for this purpose. It looks like aluminum foil, but it's actually sticks in place quite well. The metal mesh gauze you are thinking of might serve the same purpose.

@groundcontrol6876 Год назад

@OP Remember we're talking about a refrigerator here, not massively high temps. Just needs to be hot enough to trigger the compressor to run. The passive cooling from being in a fridge should be more than enough to compensate for any "overheating" of the diode, if any. Hell, my pocket LED flashlight is so bright that the light itself can burn your skin or clothes if you put it right in front for just a few seconds. If you leave it on long enough on turbo, (a few minutes) the body of the light (which acts as a heat sink) will get hot enough to burn you if you hold the tip too long. It has active temperature regulation though, which drops the output of the LED precisely to protect it from too much heat. Still, it sustains high output for long periods of time, takes the high temps and the LED doesn't fail. That's a class leading, ultra high output LED chip on a tactical flashlight though, not a regular, low power bulb like the one he's using so I'm sure it'll be just fine and nowhere near a fire hazard.

@chriscrossman4464 Год назад

Not all AC units work with coolbot or ink bird controllers I tried a manual AC unit did not work I bought a digital one it works great this video is awesome just thought I would add that

@mohamadkanj8439 Год назад

I just bought a digital so fingers crossed

@bandmasterjf 2 года назад

Looks like using your set up is a no brainer. I'm building a shed with 5" thick metal SIPs, basically commercial walk in cooler panels. Planing in building a 4x8' walk in cooler inside with the panels on all 6 sides. Think this should work well?

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

That sounds great. The 5" SIPs will give you a tight, well insulated room to start with. I would be hesitant to use a width as narrow as 4 feet just from an ease of use perspective, but I don't know anything about your limitations or how you intend to use your cooler.

@julieforget3420 6 дней назад

I love your video. We did hook up our AC just like yours but it seems to not be functioning well. Can you show picture of your inkbirds settings?

@mentalarson Год назад

Do you have suggestions for a mini split controller? I'm building a home and was planning on a CoolBot, but I love your idea. I'd rather not cut a large hole in the side of the building...but it would be dirt cheap and simple to use a window unit.

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

Sorry, I don't have any experience with setting up a mini split system in this way, but I totally understand not wanting to cut a hole in your wall. This is what CoolBot has to say about mini splits: storeitcold.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Mini-Split-Installation-2019-7A.pdf Since we are located in a cold climate and are predominantly heating our home, our air conditioner was installed on an interior wall of our walk-in cooler so the heat is pumped back into the basement of our home. This worked really well for years, but now that we've insulated our basement really well, it can get uncomfortably warm in the summer time. Therefore, I have recently upgraded our walk-in cooler system. The room is now cooled with a Sanden C02 air to water heat pump. It pulls heat out of the cooler space and adds it to our hot water heater. Now instead of pumping excess heat from the cooler into our basement, the heat is used to make our domestic hot water. It works amazingly well! I will make a video about this new system eventually. I'm telling you this because if you are working on a new build, you have the perfect opportunity to integrate systems like this. The Sanden is a lot more expensive than a window air conditioner, but it has also replaced our water heater, made our home more comfortable, and saved us a significant amount of energy each month.

@mentalarson Год назад

@@VegetableAcademy I will dive into the Sanden C02 air to water heat pump today. Thank you for sharing that. Our house will be off grid/solar so all options for optimizing the performance are on the table.

@mentalarson Год назад

@@VegetableAcademy The Sanden's appear to be spendy, but the ROI includes the trade for a water heater+mini split cooler and Coolbot. Do you think we might be able to get similar results by placing a normal heat pump water heater inside the walk-in cooler?

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

@@mentalarson I looked into this too and kept coming back to the Sanden. They are pricey and they are better. The C02 refrigerant gives you a much better efficiency at lower temperatures compared to a typical heat pump water heater. Check out this detailed comparison of the Sanden and Rheem heat pump water heaters: energy350.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/CO2-Integrated-Heat-Pump-Water-Heater-Performance-Report-FINAL.pdf. The graph on page 2 shows how the Sanden would be twice as efficient as the Rheem when they are pulling heat from 4ºC air, such as in a walk-in cooler. If we used a heat pump water heater in our cooler, we would also have a loss of efficiency due to the fact that our hot water tank would have to be positioned in the cold room, where it would passively be losing heat back into the room all the time.

@larryroiger9272 Год назад

I have a 6x9 by 6' high room and a 6,200 btu AC. I tried tricking it with a ranco etc but not having much luck. Do you think my AC unit is big enough? And is there a way to do it with a ranco etc or should I send it back. And thanks for your video

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

CoolBot has a couple of resources to hep you with these questions. One is their AC sizing calculator, and the other is a list of compatible AC units. You can find them both here: staging1.storeitcold.com/build-it/ac-selection/

@user-ku7vj7dq1z 9 месяцев назад

Could you share your temperature settings for each inkbird

@CecileGreen Месяц назад

Thanks for this instruction, very helpful. I'm wondering if I could modify a portable air conditioner and have it be effective? The cold room I have is only 72 sf and supposedly only needs a 1500 BTU airconditioner, but I can't find an AC that small on the market though the portable ones come the closest. Thoughts?

@user-nr7ks5vp4c 5 месяцев назад

Hello, thanks for the great video. We are based in France and it's difficult to find window ACs here. Is the same set-up also possible with split unit?

@sebrondo9198 2 года назад

What is your setup for the wintertime? I also live in canada and i cant see myself using this in the winter. You must have a parralel system for winter.

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

In the winter, cold air can be drawn into the room to cool the air down to the desired temperature. I have two 4 inch vents on the exterior wall, one for exhaust and one for intake. Both vents have a small fan and backdraft damper. The same Inkbird controller turns the fans on when the temperature is above 4ºC and off when the temperature is below 4ºC. Despite having that option though, I actually left the air conditioner system on this winter, because in our case the air conditioner is installed on an interior wall so it is pumping the heat it draws from the cooler back into our basement space. Since we always want more heat in our house in the winter, this could be an overall more efficient way to cool the cold room compared to pulling in more cold air from the outside. That's because if we pull cold outside air into the cooler, we are also increasing the heating load of our basement. I wish I had some exact numbers to compare the two options but the answer to that depends on a few other factors too. Anyway, I am about to ditch both systems with an upgrade I am working on right now, which will use an air to water heat pump in the cooler to extract heat as needed and use that heat to warm up our domestic hot water tank. This will allow us to make better use of all the heat extracted from the cooler in all seasons of the year.

@corinneyeager 20 дней назад

Thank you‼️THANK YOU ❣️❣️❣️ ⁉️What about a walk in freezer...any thoughts❓❓

@dougrobinson2265 2 года назад

What temp does it get down to? I am wanting to keep beer in one. How long does it take to cool down?

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

When our cooler has been turned off for a while and the temperature gets up to 10ºC / 50ºF, I would estimate that it gets back down to our set temperature of 4ºC within 1-2hours. However, that totally depends on the volume of air and stored goods contained within the cooler. We keep our cooler at 4ºC for the best combination of storage effectiveness and energy efficiency. Lower temperatures can be achieved but with ever increasing energy usage. I wouldn't use this system below 1 or 2ºC because I would anticipate there being a big problem with frost build up on the fins. The fins can operate below freezing, but as soon as they are that cold, the moisture in the air freezes on the fins, eventually preventing air flow.

@ShiftbyJazzmynn 2 года назад

How does this work with your homes heating and cooling system? I want to do this but don’t have a basement but have a utility closet I want to use. How can I ensure the rest of the home is cooked/heated properly?

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

It operates independently from our home's heating and cooling system right now. Since we are generally needing to heat our home throughout the year, the air conditioner is installed on an interior wall of our basement so that it dumps its heat into the basement air. That's about to change though. We are setting up a new system right now that will dump the heat into our hot water tank instead, keeping our home cooler and making more efficient use of the energy we use to cool this room. You can see what we are planning here: www.vegetableacademy.com/post/heating-water-with-our-walk-in-cooler

@gorillahumpr Год назад

Would there be a way to use just one? Mount the probe to the back and use the heat setting to trip the light bulb circuit?

@VegetableAcademy Год назад

I don't think I understand exactly what you're proposing, but if you can figure out how to accomplish all of the same control functions with one Inkbird, go for it. I just don't yet see how that would be possible.

@goosenotmaverick1156 11 месяцев назад

Has anyone checked to see if the thermo sensing part is resistance based and which direction it will go in when warming/cooling? In some aspects you could likely put a resistor in if you had the resistance table for the thermister, and alter that to create the difference in temp readout needed without an extra heat source?

@grantb5399 2 года назад

What temperature setting is the first one set at(how cold before the fins start to frost)?

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

The exact answer to this will depend on your cooler humidity and how much your air conditioner has to run to keep your room cool. Our first controller is usually set at 1ºC. I adjusted the setting down to -1ºC for the last couple of days because of your question, but even though that temperature is below freezing, no ice build up was caused. The reason is that the air conditioner needs to run much less right now in fall when our outdoor temperatures are colder. I don't think I could get away with a temperature setting like that in the heat of summer when the air conditioner is working more constantly to keep the room cold. That's when we need to fine tune the settings to prevent ice build up. This is easy though. If ice starts to form, the temperature setting of this probe (the one in the fins) can just be adjusted a bit higher. Alternatively, if the air conditioner is cycling on and off too much, the temperature setting can be lowered a bit, as long as there is no sign of ice build up.

@ForensicHistorian 2 года назад

Hello, great information. It has helped a lot. However I still can't quite get my Gree to work right. I believe I have it wired the same way as you but when I plug it all in and let it go it will initially go down to target temp but then the AC turns off and the temp then slowly rises to the lowest default temp of the AC itself (17 degrees centigrade). It will eventually turn back on and plunge the temps but the cycle continues. I can't help but think its something Im doing wrong . Is there maybe something to do with the programming, like the compressor delay, or differential? I appreciate any suggestions.

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

Check the list of compatible air conditioners on this page to make sure your model is there. www.storeitcold.com/build-it/ac-selection/ You may have a secondary sensor in your air conditioner that you'll need to address.

@ForensicHistorian 2 года назад

@@VegetableAcademy @Vegetable Academy thank you for the quick response I really appreciate that very much. Our model is a Gree and is on the list of accepted AC's. However it says Australia and New Zealand only. Im not entirely sure what that means. There is an asterisk regarding that model too in that it has a limited on cycle built in from the factory. Could either of these be the issue?

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

@@ForensicHistorian Yes, I would look into that further or switch to a different air conditioner model on the list that doesn't require any unique modifications.

@natedog69420 Год назад

@@ForensicHistorian did you try a higher wattage bulb? could be not getting hot enough to trigger the system

@jonathanwilliams1974 10 месяцев назад

This is excellent! Apparently 46 Coolbot employees didn't like this video though :)

@samnora2 2 года назад

Thanks for the video . I used it to build my meat cooler. I have all of the unit completed but I need a little more info. Can you tell us what were the exact settings on the controllers? Since I intend to use the cooler for meat my settings will be lower then for veggies. Also which sockets are you plugging into on the controllers? I can't tell by the video and you don't explain that. Thank you.

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

Good questions. The controller (A) with its probe in the open air is set for 4ºC / 39ºF with a differential of 1ºC. The light bulb is plugged into its "cooling" outlet so that power is cut off when the room is too cool. The controller (B) with its probe in the air conditioner fins is set for 1ºC / 34ºF with a differential of 0.5ºC. Lastly, controller A is plugged into the "cooling" outlet of controller B. This cuts the power to controller A and its lightbulb whenever the fins drop too low in temperature, preventing ice build up.

@samnora2 2 года назад

@@VegetableAcademy Thanks for the reply! Update: I applied your instructions and so far I can only get the cooler down to 44F. I need to be close to 35F for meat storage though. I am not sure if adding more insulation to the walls will help or not. Thanks again for your help!

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

@@samnora2 You're welcome. These instructions will allow you to replace the functions of the CoolBot, but you still need to make sure your air conditioner is properly sized and your room is well insulated. Aim for at least R25 insulation value in your walls, floor, and ceiling. Our cooler works fine, but I still wish we had added more insulation. CoolBot has a quick calculator that can help you select the right size of air conditioner for your space. You can find that here: www.storeitcold.com/build-it/ac-calculator/. This page doesn't mention the R value used for the calculations, but it is safe to assume it was R25 since CoolBot lists that as the industry standard.

@samnora2 2 года назад

@@VegetableAcademy My walk in is 4 ft by 4 ft by 8ft tall. I put a 5k btu ac in it and the walls and ceiling are insulated to approx R21. The coolbot web site says I should use a 6k btu ac for the area with a target temp of 38f. It seems I am short on the insulation and the btu's. Right now I can only get the temp down to 41f. I built it on a concrete pad and I didn't insulate the floor yet. I am hoping when I insulate the concrete floor I can get the temp down the last 3 degrees. Thanks again for the help!

@VegetableAcademy 2 года назад

@@samnora2 If your floor isn't insulated yet, that certainly explains a significant part of your trouble. Concrete is a great conductor so it will be wicking in a lot of heat through the floor. When you cover that with R20 as well, I think you'll see a big difference.