Frige / Freezer as a warming cabinet

[idg]

My current warming cabinet is an insulated box with two 150w bulbs, controlled by an STC1000. It works well.
I have the chance of a fridge freezer. I would like to convert the fridge part into a warmer/cooler but leave the freezer part as a freezer.
I would add the bulbs and STC1000 as a heat source and maybe switch the mains via a relay for the cooling input.
Has anyone tried this? Is there a better way of doing this without affecting the freezer circuit. I would like to keep the freezer for sterilising frames.
Thanks

 

[masterBK]

Suggest using tube bar heater rather than light bulbs and also incorporating a fan to the circuit

 

[linoleum bonypart]

I got my parts in Amazon and you don't need a fan

 

[Fraise]

I use a small chest freezer I use for both. For warming I have a Stc1000 and a single 40w light bulb.
When I need freezer I just remove light bulb and thermometer and plug it in to mains.

 

[wessexmario]

what temperature will a 40 watt lightbulb get your box up to?

 

[masterBK]

A fan may not be necessary but it does prevent uneven heat distribution within the freezer and speeds up the process (in the same way that a fan oven requires lower temperature settings or less time). A DC fan from a redundant computer (you will need a AC/DC transformer) could be used or use a £12.99 AC fan from Maplins
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/80mm-240v-main-axial-fan-yp46a

The glass surface of light bulbs get very hot (so needs shielding) whereas the surface of a tube heater does not even though they may give out the same amount of heat

 

[Fraise]

what temperature will a 40 watt lightbulb get your box up to?

I set the STC1000 to 45C, it takes half an hour to get up to that temperature. The light bulb is near the bottom with a piece of metal to shield the lining of the freezer.
Anything I am warming is on a 'shelf' above so not getting direct heat from bulb. Thermometer for STC is same level.

 

[wessexmario]

I set the STC1000 to 45C, it takes half an hour to get up to that temperature. The light bulb is near the bottom with a piece of metal to shield the lining of the freezer.
Anything I am warming is on a 'shelf' above so not getting direct heat from bulb. Thermometer for STC is same level.

sounds good, thanks for the info. I have an old freezer so a conversion to a warming cabinet beckons.

 

[pargyle]

Suggest using tube bar heater rather than light bulbs and also incorporating a fan to the circuit

++! - A 12v computer fan with a transformer makes a huge amount of difference and costs next to nothing - tube heaters are £12 on Amazon and so much safer than light bulbs (and I think more efficient). No brainer.

 

[oliver90owner]

One compressor or two on this fridge/freezer?