Don't underestimate the so-called "swamp cooler", but use a true cooler and not a rubbermaid tub or something that is uninsulated. I use one of the 60 qt Ice Cube coolers and keep my carboy in a water bath. I can ferment at just about any temperature I want, and it maintains within a few degrees, even lager fermentations. For lager fermentations, once down to temp, I'll swap out a 2 quart bottle of ice every 12 hours in my cool basement and maintain 50 degrees very well. For ales, a half liter bottle (empty water bottle) of ice, sometimes 2, will maintain low to mid 60's. Just did Yoopers Dead Guy and it held 60 quite nicely. If you do this, a couple of pointers: Fill up the cooler/water bath to the height of the wort/beer in the carboy - gives you good thermal mass. Put a few splashes of bleach in the water bath, this gets nasty if you don't. Put some salt in your frozen water bottles, helps with lower freezing temp and they will then slightly sink in the water bath.
You can get one of these coolers for fairly cheap, much cheaper than a dedicated fridge and temp controller, and you have a fairly decent cooler when it's not used for fermenting. If you have a very regular schedule, swapping out bottles isn't that much of a pain.
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