Homemade Ferm Chamber

**HopHead73** · 02-05-2012, 02:51 AM

Just got my new temperature controlled fermentation chamber up and running. Wanted to see what everyone thought and if anyone had any thoughts on it.

I took a 60qt Igloo cooler and made a platform to raise the carboy so it can sit evenly and installed a Jager 50watt aquarium heater.

Then I took insulation foam and shaped it to fit snuggly on the cooler acting as a new lid and cut out an opening for the top of the carboy and then gorilla glued it together.

And finally I filled with 5 gallons of water and used a thermowell with a Johnson Digital Temp Controller which the aquarium heater is hooked up to. Since its winter the aquarium heater will keep the temp from dropping and in the warmer seasons I can just add frozen water bottles to drop the temp.

It's only been up and running 4 hours and seems to be working well with a Founder's Breakfast Stout Clone in there.
Anyone have any suggestions for upgrading this system?

kh54s10 · 02-05-2012, 02:57 AM

That is nice. For me, my swamp cooler is in my den where I spend most of my time so I have to cool even now in February. It is easier now though than it was mid summer.

SamBrewer · 02-05-2012, 12:30 PM

nice! I'm using this solution for every belgian beers I make!
You also need an aquarium pump! you have to create some water movements to uniform the temperature and also to reach the temperature you want. otherwise you'll notice by using a termometer that the water temp is some degrees below the set temp on the aquarium heater

**HopHead73** · 02-05-2012, 04:06 PM

I was definitely thinking about adding an aquarium pump.
It is only 5 gallons of water and seems to be working well though, I'll have to give it more time and see if it is needed.
Also, the temperature controller that is hooked up to the aquarium heater is in a thermowell so the temperature that it is reading is the core temperature of the beer and not the surrounding water in the cooler. so the heater is only turned on when core temp drops and not the water temp.

SamBrewer · 02-06-2012, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HopHead73

I was definitely thinking about adding an aquarium pump.
It is only 5 gallons of water and seems to be working well though, I'll have to give it more time and see if it is needed.
Also, the temperature controller that is hooked up to the aquarium heater is in a thermowell so the temperature that it is reading is the core temperature of the beer and not the surrounding water in the cooler. so the heater is only turned on when core temp drops and not the water temp.

that's the best solution to have control of the real fermentation temperature. good job