My DIY Fermentation Chamber - Page 4

boredatwork · 05-21-2009, 09:23 PM

Here is the thread by Yuir about his attempts at thermoelectric:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/diy-thermoelectric-temperature-control-27524/

Last I checked it didn't work out too well. I had actually thought of using one of those car coolers, but after reading Yuri post I think there are two clear reasons why it wouldn't work. First, they are just not power enough. That is the main reason. Second, I think they need really good secondary cooling. Just based on the way they work, you are not getting anything for free. You end up with a cold side, but also a very hot side. So you need a way to effectively remove the heat produced by the thermoelectric very efficiently. I think the difference of a SOF chamber is that it uses ice - so you are getting cold at without the side effect of the hot. And if you use a freezer/fridge, their cooling is far more efficient (as well as the insulation mechanism).

So I think the conclusion is that thermoelectric is just not good.

adx · 05-21-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikonis

Actually, yea... that may be better... instead of pulling "hot" air in... just let it sit in the cooler air.

It won't just sit there. In that small of a volume one of those fans is more then enough to make a nice little air current in that box. Sometime too much convection is a bad thing.

ikonis · 05-22-2009, 04:15 AM

Finally... the last 2 pics...
Sorry for grainy pic, shot with my Blackberry (Digicam battery = dead)

2 carboys with room to spare....

Frozen boxes

Those are just blue (not UV) LED fans... shouldnt worry about being lightstruck should I?

if so... i can just clip the led's off

They were just the only ones I had laying around.

**DeathBrewer** · 05-22-2009, 04:24 AM

I don't think you have to worry about it.

Already in use! Nice work.

Ridemywideglide · 05-22-2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikonis

Finally... the last 2 pics...
Sorry for grainy pic, shot with my Blackberry (Digicam battery = dead)

2 carboys with room to spare....

Frozen boxes

Those are just blue (not UV) LED fans... shouldnt worry about being lightstruck should I?

if so... i can just clip the led's off

They were just the only ones I had laying around.

Blackberry??? That's the problem.. All your beer will come out better if you toss that thing in the toilet..

Seriously tho. I think you'd be better served removing 3 of those fans, leaving 1 pulling from cold chamber and closing off the other holes.. I'd put it at the lowest point you can as well. Your not trying to blast freeze the other chamber, just gently circulate the chilled air.

ikonis · 05-22-2009, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ridemywideglide

Blackberry??? That's the problem.. All your beer will come out better if you toss that thing in the toilet..

Seriously tho. I think you'd be better served removing 3 of those fans, leaving 1 pulling from cold chamber and closing off the other holes.. I'd put it at the lowest point you can as well. Your not trying to blast freeze the other chamber, just gently circulate the chilled air.

Well... with ambient temps so high in my house... its not blast freezing the air....

The carboy temp stickers say theyre sitting at a nice 70.....

I'll try it out for those 2 carboys then see how that goes.....

since I just used a starter in that better bottle... its already bubbling away... amazingly fast fermentation in my experience....

THANKS for the advice though.... just... well..... have to try it as is... I'm sure you understand.

Edit... and if i do.... ill put a nice perforated screen on the two "hot" pullers.... since ive pretty well sealed off the two chambers from each other good idear? (Wow... thats the cream draught talking)