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Gadget Freak Case #118: Spying on Your Freezer

By Design News Staff -- Design News, April 6, 2008

William Grill wanted to make sure his freezer didn’t cut out and ruin his frozen food. He was concerned that when he traveled, his food could defrost and re-freeze — thus compromising his frozen steaks — without his knowledge. So, he developed a gadget that measures freezer temperatures, keeps a history of variance and sends an alarm if freezer temperatures rise above a set range. The gadget is built around a small controller, an alarm and a temperature sensor. While temperature monitors are common, Grill’s device remembers temperature variance and displays the length of time the freezer rises above the set temp. The gadget is relatively small and costs less than a couple of steaks bought on sale and stored in the freezer.

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Amt Part Description

1 AA Battery 729-5173
1 Battery Holder 839-3059
1 Momontary 676-5056
1 50K Ω R Single Turn Pot 754-1238
2 470K Ω R CF1/4 832-1825
1 820 Ω R CF1/4 832-0343
1 82K Ω CF1/4 832-0703
1 LED 782-0030
1 Controller 383-0284
1 Black 2.75 x 4.6 Enclosure 278-0571
1 PiezoAlarm 623-2024
1 .1sq Perf Board/as needed, Copper Clad both sides with solderable pads 977-0088
Additional parts required:
1 Temp Detector
1 Wire
Get build instructions and complete parts list
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