Review - Danby DBC120BLS Mini Refrigerator and How to Make it Colder
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- I purchased this mini fridge to free up space in my main kitchen refrigerator and also ease that constant restocking/running out madness like before. This is a quick review of the Danby 3.3 cu.ft. model and also a how-to DIY mod / hack to make it work at an even lower temperature than the lowest factory setting. All in, the new mini fridge, thermometer, table, paint, and parts to rewire an existing unused 240V outlet to 120v cost me $250 total.
**Please read** If you choose to perform the temp mod you must be sure to keep an eye on the inner rear wall cooling plate for an ice layer which will gradually buildup over time. Unload/thaw/reload as needed so it doesn't get too thick or ever come in direct contact with any cans. I do this about twice a year when the ice averages 1/4" to 1/2" thick. I also block the drain hole on the tray below the plate and use a thick towel to soak up drips from the ice melting so as not to create any exterior spills. If you do not perform this maintenance the ice layer will get too thick, and with cans pushed all the way to the back it will eventually cause them to bulge, then slow leak, and make a mess on the inside.
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You, Sir, are a genius! I was about ready to throw my fridge out the window - couldn’t get it below 14.2C! Drinks would be colder if I left them outside. Thanks to your trick, and 2 screw turns counterclockwise, I have it down to 5C! THANK YOU!!
Go counterclockwise (left) to lower temp and clockwise (right) to raise temp.
Thanks, I only allowed non perishables like sodas and beers that don’t have to be chilled for the past 2 years, looking forward to having a proper temp.
The screw doesn’t seem to thread out, which makes it hard to know how far along it is, but hopefully can dial in soon.
So left for colder and right for warmer temperature?
Thank you for making this video! I knew there had to be a way. Been looking everywhere and finally found your video.
No idea what you did, cause your camera is too blurry!
I’d say you need an eye exam
Thanks for posting this video! I’ve been trying to figure that out for a long time .
Hey thanks for the review very helpful. One question did you scrape off the Danby white logo on the glass? I'm hoping to do this when I get the fridge but don't want to mess it up. If you've done it I'll know it can be done.
Mine was a thick sticker I just peeled it off.
38 degrees is not cold enough, I want my drinks at 34 degrees
Mine stopped keeping things cold. Not that old either. 😢
I like the table idea. Looks like it’s rated at 50 pounds though. The full fridge is probably near 200 pounds when full. How’s the table holding up?
Well, it sure beats bending over :) No issues here with the stability of a fully loaded fridge on top of the table. My pets food/water is practically underneath it, which I wouldn't place it there if I didn't feel it was safe.
DIY Maker Dan I have the -117 version ( DBC117A2BSSDD) which is virtually identical in dimensions. May try this table although doesn’t seem to be $10 anymore. Despite my 117 claiming 34 degrees I had to tweak it anyway. Currently have it on a small appliance dolly.
As long as you are on a flat surface (mines on tile) I think you should be fine. I wouldn't do this if on carpet. I also remember when I assembled the table I used wood glue between the legs and the top along with the standard fasteners supplied for maximum strength.
When did you get the table, I don’t see it on Walmart’s site?
About how far are you turning the screw to cool the fridge? And you’re going counterclockwise? I almost threw my fridge away because it just doesn’t get cold enough thankfully I found this video and it works for me as well.
CCW. There is no simple how far do I turn the screw as it could vary, that is what the thermometer is used to check.
Counterclockwise?
Yes.
@@diymakerdan Roger that
Thank you
I like my can drinks @ 32.4⁰... RIGHT AT FREEZING POINT and beer cans @ 30⁰
Really appreciate your video, my Danby basically same exact model (from the look of it) just wasn't cooling drinks enough to enjoy. That tip hopefully is the cure!
I have a little magic chef that I caulked into a rigid foam board cavity to house a kegerator system. Was only able to get it to 46 degrees. Am trying your trick. Cross your fingers
How long do these take to get cold? Just got one today. Different brand but it's identical. Had it plugged in at 34 degrees for 2-3 hours and it's not really cold yet. Does it usually take a day or so? I have it fully stocked as well.
You're awesome man! This worked perfectly, and I happened to have a Danby fridge!
Where did you leave the temperature knob at low or high before adjust the screw temperature ?
In the middle so you can micro tweak it either way if your room temp fluctuates during the year / seasons.
Hey Dan, I have a TERIM wine cooler... how does it work on that model, if my setup from the back is different..? Please help..
38 degrees is not cold enough for beer though, do you think that this would give you the ability to get down more like 30 degrees?
Yes, that is where I have mine set nowadays, the thermometer confirms it.
@@diymakerdan Dang....I had one of these and gave it away. NOw I have a magic chef, the 10.1 cubic inch one with teh freezer on top. Damn thing closest I can get is around 34 degrees still not cold enough but a lot colder than my Danby the best that thing would do was 40. Same exact thermostat so I feel stupid for upgrading. The Magic Chef has a control board so I can't even tweak that at all.
my blues lights up top just went out does anyone know how to get a replacement?
I ended up screwing the screw out at 3:19, and now it wont go back in.
I just bought this used in excellent shape but the lights are white not blue 😢.
Hey there GREAT REVIEW! but the video when u take the cover of is blurry. So I have the exact same cooler and it keep cooling on and off. I want to have my drinks chill 🥶 temperature all the time. How many clockwise turn on little screw do I make ?
It could vary, but with a thermometer you'll find out exactly how far to adjust it. Mine was only $5. Still used to this day to keep an eye on temps.
It's not a fridge but a beverage cooler
@DIY Maker Dan Hi Dan... thanks for the great video! I am considering this unit for a butler bar that is only 16" in depth. The model Danby DBC117A1BSSDB6 says it's 14.75" deep. Can you please share the dimensions of your unit? In particular, the total depth from back to front? Thank you!
17.5" wide 32.75" tall and 19.75" deep, that's accounting for the bump-out temp adjustment box in the back if the front door was to be flushed in.
@DIY Maker Dan Thank you!!
thanks 2 full turns ccw worked for me now i can but the beer in there.
Glad it helped, thanks for the feedback!
Which way did you turn the screw right or left?
MIKE SMITH left =counter clockwise the opposite way of a second hand on a clock.
Ok THANK YOU FOR THE FAST REPLY..
Really two full turns? What temperature are you getting now?
Great video! Quick question are you able to change the led light color ?
No selector to change color its just blue, LED's would need to be swapped out if another color was desired.
This is a long shot but I never got my key in my box or possibly I missed it threw it away by accident would you mind me getting your key since you not using yours? My son keeps leaving it cracked open and it’s driving me insane! Please help! -frustrated mom
Seriously?
Real Sugar Pepsi 😋
Throwback FTW! Nice spot 👍
I have the same model but without the blue lights. It’s some model number but most be a different version or something. Anyways, it gets too cold and frost builds up on the back. Would I potentially fix the problem by turning it clockwise?
Possibly, if not, raising the operating temp should lengthen the interval of frost build up.
Should the fridge always be running? .. my is . It froze my beers
You probably adjusted it too cold then, this is why I stated using a thermometer is a must.
Thanks you! My Danby wasn't even close to 40 at its coldest. I adjusted the thermostat to make it colder, but the humidity inside is so bad, I get an ice block every couple of days down where it is supposed to drain. After 3 Danby's, one was good and the other 2 were terrible. I won't buy another one.
Great video! Has anyone had to change the interior light on this unit?
Still going good ?
Yes
porque se calienta a los lados
Hey, Great vid, I just got mine delivered and was wondering if the fan should run 24x7 or only when it starts cooling.
Mine only comes on when then compressor kicks in.
Wine is kept at 57, give or take 5deg
Anyone know why it does this when it gets older? I was about to throw my fridge out before I found this review thank you so much, you saved me $300
Maybe the contacts got a little dirty throwing the temp off? Glad to hear it saved you some $$$.
👍 thank you I just did what you said and it worked thanks
Is it clockwise or counter clock
Have you had any problems in the long run?
Only issues thus far is to keep an eye out for ice build up on the back wall and to empty/defrost it periodically. Also, to not push the cans on the middle shelves all the way to the back. If a can comes into contact with that ice build up on the cooling plate it will freeze and cause a slow leak which will create a sticky mess on the inside and likely in the drip tray on the backside too. Other than that it works great and keeps the beverages chilly willy.
Where did you buy the fridge. It’s $297 at Home Depot
A local Farm and Fleet 2 yrs ago for like $220
lol legit 8getting one to hold cans of g fuel in
Hey Dan, thanks for the tip...my temp was at 50 degrees when I first started. My wife had purchased it for a $100.00 from a gift shop and the lady that owned it said she didn’t like the blue lights. Well I found out that wasn’t the case!! Lol
I followed your tip and had to end up turning it counter clockwise 2 turns and now it cools down to 32 degrees and kicks back on at 40 degrees. Thank you!!
I dig those spiffy blue LED's :) but for the price you paid I'd roll with just about any color or none at all. I also updated the description with another important tip in case it goes missed from previous comments.
$100......that's a steal
Does it run loud at first I just set mine up and it’s rly loud
4 hours later still loud
Can food be stored in this fridge after the mod?
Depends on how low you set the temp to.
this is great but my wine fridge has a digital board so this does not help in my case - any recommendations?
Research your make and model and see if someone has done it before. Another thought is obtaining a schematic if possible, there may be a pot on the pcb that can be adjusted.
makes a great Cheese cave out of the box.
Thank you! Mine was reaching 10 Celsius degree at its coldest. After the adjustment (2 turns counterclockwise) it is reaching 2-3, which is perfect for me. And the temperature knob is not even in maximum, so I can easily go further if I want.
Thanks! Just keep an eye on potential icing as mentioned in the description.
Your knob on top....is it in thr middle
I had to do the same screw adjustment. Still not thrilled with the 10 degree play it has before the fridge kicks back on. Now I'm having a problem with ice build up on the back wall of the fridge that thaws and collects water in the drain pan so much that it spills over onto the floor. That's what I was searching for when i came across this video.
It's possible that you may have adjusted the inside temp too cold then. I'd recommend monitoring with a $5 thermometer if you don't already have one. What I can tell you is when I first did this I adjusted mine so it would dip down to the high 20's as that shouldn't present a freezing issue as most cans are already under pressure thus lowering their freezing point compared to normal bottles of water. That was spectacular for the coldest drink ever but would build up a ice layer on the back wall like you mention up to a 1/4" thick. If that ice gets too thick and touches any cans pushed to the very back they will eventually freeze, leak out and cause a big sticky mess. Nowadays I run mine so the average cold temp is about 35 or so. Some ice will still layer on the back wall but nowhere near as bad as before and would take many months for it to be an issue. I just keep an eye on this and if it looks like it needs attention I just simply empty the cans out, leave the door open for a few hours, remove all ice and moisture and restock it. It is a slight inconvenience but that is the price I am willing to pay so that the cans are the coldest they can possibly be. Hope that helps.
Did you ever figure out the problem for ice build up. I have the same problem with not solution found.
Just picked this up from Walmart for $299 CAD. after a lot of back and forth indecision on my part. So the firs tthing I did was give the screw a few turns. DIdn't follow Dan's prescription on how to keep track but after about 2-3 hours, I"m already seeing frost in the back of the fridge (the cooling plate)? I hope the beer and coke are not going to pop.
After 6 months mine is 1" thick and then I unplug and defrost, and put it all back. Running too cold a temp will exacerbate this.
@@diymakerdan Do you find the middle the coldest? I don't have a temp gun to check but the top rack is not that cold. Cool but not cold and the bottom is about a few degrees cooler than the top while the middle seems to be the coldest. Do you keep your fridge stocked at all times because I heard from one other user who said the fridge operates most efficiently when there's less space. Conductive cooling between the drinks I guess. I restrictive airflow is probably why frost builds up.
Not a huge deal, I'll keep playing around with it. Might order another rack.
@@supercooled - The temp thingies are $5 at the local market. I do keep mine well stocked about 60-80 cans on average. The coldest cans are the ones that have been in there for at least a day or towards the back. I make sure to not push them back too far on the lower shelves as if you do get ice buildup and the can touches it will eventually cause a leaker and make a mess. Ask me how I know that :)
DIY Maker Dan our prices usually double on everything you pay down south. Still, might be worth it to save me from cleaning up stinky sweet syrup or having my unit smell like a bar bathroom.
Does your unit get a little wet from the back of the inside
No, mostly an ice layer that builds up slowly on the back wall. This is due to adjusting the temp below factory spec. Every 6 months or so I unload the cans and defrost it fully. The ice buildup could melt and puddle on the bottom and leak out the front if the power is out for an extended period per se.
@@diymakerdan I just plugged mine in yesterday. Notices frost in the back that eventually went away, now it just feels wet in the back and I hear occasional drip noises. I wonder if it is defective. Thank you for the reply.
Great video. I purchased a Danby Kegerator and it was too warm. I searched the web and a lot of suggestion on getting an external temperature control unit or performing a "resistor" mod. This video saved me lots of time and money. I found the internal adjustment. I went the wrong way the first time, but now I have a cold kegerator. I use a digital thermometer that shows humidity and temperature, the nice thing about it is that it shows the min and max so I know my range is good. So far it is 34-39, can pick one up for about $8. Cheers!!!
Sweet! Only thing worse than warm soda is warm beer!
What brand is the thermometer? Thanks
There is any video tutorial to do the internal temperature adjustment ?
I have the same cooler in my vacation cabin. It works great, but had to do the same adjustment because 43° may be good for wine but not for a beer or soda. I adjusted until the coldest it will get it is 33° (approximately). I use the cabin as a vacation rental and didn’t want the occupants to be able to turn the temperature below freezing.
Did you turn screw to the left or the right
Where do you get your sodas from?
The supermarket.
uhm, i cant see jack
Will turning the screw all the way to the max cold setting cause the drinks to freeze and explode? I have a miniture Danby fridge and the cans closest to the "freezer" compartment always blow up if I don't rotate.
Seen this unit on Kijiji and thinking of picking it up. I love cold drinks.
Also someone said you can fit 120 355ml cans? That seems impossible.
Turning the screw too far will make it too cold and yes drinks will freeze and explode. This is why having a thermometer is a must. It only fits 120 cans if they are laying on their sides, and about 25% less capacity if cans are placed upright.
I wonder if i could do the same thing to any other model of the danby mini fridges?? :) i would love to hear your imput. thanks!!
More specifically, Danby Designer 120-Can Beverage Center Refrigerator
Model # DBC93BLSDD
or Danby 2.4 Cu. Ft. Freestanding Beverage Centre (DBC026A1BSSDB)
Sorry, I am only familiar with the model I have. Research the other model #'s to see if anyone has modded them in the same manner.
@@diymakerdan thanks, i appreciate your imput!