Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Vitrofrigo thermometer mod
Forum Index -> Vanagon Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
jackbombay
Samba Member


Joined: October 19, 2007
Posts: 2723
Location: Eastern Idaho
jackbombay is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:07 am    Post subject: Vitrofrigo thermometer mod Reply with quote

I've had my VF for about 8 months now, it is quite nice, but the temp control is not as accurate as I'd like, I had a thermometer in the fridge for a while, but then you let the cold out everytime you check the temp.

So here is what I did.

I took a ~6" long probe thermometer from the hardware store and drilled a hole through the top of the door at an angle into the inside of the fridge and dropped the thermometer in.

Finished product,

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Inside shot,

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


And here you can see where the hole comes out inside the fridge,

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.



I actually drilled the hole in the top edge of the door and then drilled a hole on the inside of the door then drilled back through from the top and out the inside hole. There was actually almost nothing between the 2 holes so it is easy to "connect the dots" with a long drill bit.

I initially made a jig to get the correct angle for the drill and intended to drill all the way through from the top but the bit didn't want to go through the inside plastic at such an angle. You can see the small relief in the plastic inside the fridge, its perfect for a spot to drill through.
_________________

Gas struts to pop your top easily!

Pop Top strut kits now available for late Bay window Westies Smile


Samba ad here.


DIY artificial rain gutters (ARGs)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
glutamodo Premium Member
The Android


Joined: July 13, 2004
Posts: 26297
Location: Douglas, WY
glutamodo is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

LOL, well, it looks pretty well done, and it works.

Me, I think I'd just had used a wired remote-read digital indoor/outdoor thermometer, they are pretty cheap, their cords are pretty thin and shouldn't have affected the door seal much, if any. (or you could have cut the probe's wire, ran it through a drilled hole, then caulked it, then resoldered and taped the wires) Glue a strong magnet to the back of one and you have some flexibility as to where you mount it. I've used them like that on my bugs for years, with the outside probe through the passenger ventwing. Here's an old worn out one that I retired from car service after I messed the cord up by mistake. I later fixed it and sometimes use it now to check my kitchen freezer's temperature:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
jackbombay
Samba Member


Joined: October 19, 2007
Posts: 2723
Location: Eastern Idaho
jackbombay is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

glutamodo wrote:
it looks pretty well done, and it works.


It was cheaper than an electronic one, and it will never need batteries, and I can slide it out and use it for cooking. Also the hole is really a non issue because there will never be a time when I won't want to know the interior temp of the fridge so the thermometer will just about always be in there.
_________________

Gas struts to pop your top easily!

Pop Top strut kits now available for late Bay window Westies Smile


Samba ad here.


DIY artificial rain gutters (ARGs)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
Alaric.H
Samba Member


Joined: March 28, 2009
Posts: 2529
Location: Sandy Springs GA
Alaric.H is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are you sure the drill did not slip one day and you said I
know what I can do with that hole.


Yes but I can fix my english.


Last edited by Alaric.H on Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:48 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
jackbombay
Samba Member


Joined: October 19, 2007
Posts: 2723
Location: Eastern Idaho
jackbombay is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Alaric.H wrote:
Are you sure the drill did not slip with a drill one day and said I
know what I can do with that.


I can say that my drilling isn't even 1/4 as bad as your english.
_________________

Gas struts to pop your top easily!

Pop Top strut kits now available for late Bay window Westies Smile


Samba ad here.


DIY artificial rain gutters (ARGs)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
glutamodo Premium Member
The Android


Joined: July 13, 2004
Posts: 26297
Location: Douglas, WY
glutamodo is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jackbombay wrote:

It was cheaper than an electronic one, and it will never need batteries, and I can slide it out and use it for cooking.


Yeah, that's certainly true! Very Happy Although the battery thing, not a big deal, I get at least a year of life out of the batteries in my thermometers.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
PDXWesty
Samba Member


Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6235
Location: Portland OR
PDXWesty is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would probably use one of these and not drill though my fridge.

http://www.amazon.com/Taylor-1471-Digital-Thermome...amp;sr=1-4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
jackbombay
Samba Member


Joined: October 19, 2007
Posts: 2723
Location: Eastern Idaho
jackbombay is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My entire van is worth somewhere between 5 and 10 buck now that there is a 1/8" hole in the fridge. Wink

Well, truth be told I was actually drilling a hole in my tire and the gas tank so I could change the air in my exhaust system and the drill slipped and I put a hole in the fridge...
_________________

Gas struts to pop your top easily!

Pop Top strut kits now available for late Bay window Westies Smile


Samba ad here.


DIY artificial rain gutters (ARGs)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
1621
Samba Member


Joined: May 15, 2006
Posts: 2174

1621 is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Does the thermometer get in the way of putting things on the shelf? It looks as if it may interfere. Would putting a couple dabs of silicone in the holes help seal it up?
_________________
'85 Westy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
jackbombay
Samba Member


Joined: October 19, 2007
Posts: 2723
Location: Eastern Idaho
jackbombay is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1621 wrote:
Does the thermometer get in the way of putting things on the shelf?


Only slightly, its about 1/2" from the end of the shelf.

1621 wrote:
Would putting a couple dabs of silicone in the holes help seal it up?


Yea, there's not much space around the thermometer probe though, I'll probably wrap a bit of tape around the the top end of the thermometer so it fits snug in the top edge of the door.
_________________

Gas struts to pop your top easily!

Pop Top strut kits now available for late Bay window Westies Smile


Samba ad here.


DIY artificial rain gutters (ARGs)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
climberjohn
Samba Member


Joined: January 11, 2005
Posts: 1840
Location: Portland Orygun
climberjohn is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jack,

This is a clever idea. Thanks for the post and nice pictures.
_________________
'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Vanagon All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.