Ok, I am doing my first lager, for those who read my previous thread about creating this system you'll know how it came about If anyone wants details for the 2 parts I used I will give them. Total price $75.00 shipped.... Pretty fair I think, it will allow me to lager probably 10 carboys at once if I built the right size tub. This is setup OUTSIDE in my barn, where the temperature is below 52 degrees from Mid October - April, giving me 6-7 months of mostly free lagering! Anyway, here is the setup...
This consists of a cooler, with the carboy submersed. There is a digital temp controller $40.00 plugged into a 250 watt fish tank heater $25.00. It holts the temp at 53-54 degrees.
Cool. You should be able to use that all winter with the heater circuit in place. A nice alternative to an energy hog freezer. Is the probe just in the water against the carboy wall?
You have me thinking...
I could build a controller for about $15. And I have the aquarium heater. Not digital or anything fancy, but it's a thought.
__________________ RDWHAHB
Every little thing is gonna be alright.
Cool. You should be able to use that all winter with the heater circuit in place. A nice alternative to an energy hog freezer. Is the probe just in the water against the carboy wall?
You have me thinking...
I could build a controller for about $15. And I have the aquarium heater. Not digital or anything fancy, but it's a thought.
The temperature reader part is submersed in the water against the wall of the cooler, although now i'm thinking it should go against the carboy, probably not much of a difference... it is on the opposite side of the cooler where the heater is. Seems to be working great! The best thing about this is, it can handle 800 watts of heaters, so if I plug a power strip and build a big tub, no "fridge" can compete with me, AND I believe the direct contact of the water provides a more consistant overall temperature for the fermenting wort!
You could replace the $40 temp controller with a cheap $15 furnace thermostat from the hardware store since you are just controlling a heating element with it. You would sacrifice the fancy display, but it would cut your costs down considerably.
In fact, an overall cheaper solution might have been to get a big-ass styrofoam cooler (cheap cheap cheap) and use the cheap furnace thermo and a light-bulb. That might come in at about $25 to $30.
__________________ Ground Fault Brewing Co. Proud member of the GRABASS Brewing Disorganization
Here's another use for your brewery control panel.
I'm not replacing anything! But maybe someone else will lol... Also, the equipment I bought is made especially for being around WET places. Its UL listed specifically for that. So, to be on the safer side i'd still choose to spend the extra 30-40 dollars. But you are right, you could wire a thermostat in pretty cost effectively.
We're not suggesting you replace anything, Mike. I'm just a cheap a$$ so I'm talking about what I may do. Your equipment is better and safer than my bargain basement ideas. Cheers to you for the idea bud!
__________________ RDWHAHB
Every little thing is gonna be alright.
Yea, I didnt take it that way, maybe my response led to believe I did, sometimes things are lost in translation. Anyway, IF you DO end up producing a cheap version of this lager system I would love to see it!
Still thinking of a cheaper solution (because it's fun, NOT because I think you need to change anything).....
I have a similar set-up for my fermentation fridge. I have a regular temp controller for kicking the fridge on and off. However, in the winter it gets colder than my desired temps in the garage, so I have a furnace thermostat controlling a 60W lightbulb that is inside the fridge. The compressor and bulb work together to keep the temp right, regardless of the temp of the garage itself.
Anyway... I wonder if you could get a totally busted fridge for free from a junk yard or from a "in search of" post on craigslist? That would make a very big and well insluated box, and you can drop a few bucks to get the thermostat and a lightbulb for $20.
ONE PROBLEM WITH A FURNACE THERMOSTAT
They may not let you set them low enough for lagers. I think the one in my brewfridge only goes down to 60°F. I don't know if that's 'standard' or not.
__________________ Ground Fault Brewing Co. Proud member of the GRABASS Brewing Disorganization
Here's another use for your brewery control panel.
My "Mostly natural" Lagering setup - with pics...
If anyone wants details for the 2 parts I used I will give them. Total price $75.00 shipped.... Pretty fair I think, it will allow me to lager probably 10 carboys at once if I built the right size tub. This is setup OUTSIDE in my barn, where the temperature is below 52 degrees from Mid October - April, giving me 6-7 months of mostly free lagering! Anyway, here is the setup...
Linear Mode
