I finally got around to getting a chest freezer for fermentation control (Frigidaire 9 cu. ft.). It's big enough to easily hold two carboys and a blowoff jug with a couple cases of bottles on the compressor hump, and no collar needed. Now I need a controller. For my immediate needs, probably any controller would work - I've heard about Ranco, Johnson, and Love. But I'm thinking about getting a dual output controller for the future. Right now, I'm just brewing ales and bottling, but somewhere down the road, I may want to start kegging, at which point I would need a keezer and still need an ale fermentation chamber. Here's an idea I had, which I would like some feedback on (it'll be several months at least before I am ready to implement this).
1. Build a collar for the freezer
2. Use the freezer for kegs and maybe also lagering, so it'll now be too cold for fermenting ales.
3. Build a separate insulated box with a removabel lid to sit next to the freezer for ale fermenting.
4. Use the cold air from the freezer to cool the ale fermenting box - either using the transmission radiator method with a tank of non-toxic antifreeze (or even plain water with something added to kill mold and bacteria?) or more simply, just run a couple of two or three inch diameter tubes (well insulated) thru the collar with a fan which kicks on when the temperature in the box gets too high, to pull cold (30's) air into the insulated box to maintain temp in the 60's. Does either of these methods sound feasible?
Would a Love or other 2 output controller be able to control both the power to the freezer to maintain temps in the 30's and also control the pump and/or fan to keep box temps in the 60's?
Note - the freezer is in my kitchen - would probably stay there even if I added the box (no SWMBO to worry about ). The garage just gets too hot in the summer (over 100 degrees sometimes). Cold ambient temps will not be a problem.
Any recommendations on brand of controller?
1. Build a collar for the freezer
2. Use the freezer for kegs and maybe also lagering, so it'll now be too cold for fermenting ales.
3. Build a separate insulated box with a removabel lid to sit next to the freezer for ale fermenting.
4. Use the cold air from the freezer to cool the ale fermenting box - either using the transmission radiator method with a tank of non-toxic antifreeze (or even plain water with something added to kill mold and bacteria?) or more simply, just run a couple of two or three inch diameter tubes (well insulated) thru the collar with a fan which kicks on when the temperature in the box gets too high, to pull cold (30's) air into the insulated box to maintain temp in the 60's. Does either of these methods sound feasible?
Would a Love or other 2 output controller be able to control both the power to the freezer to maintain temps in the 30's and also control the pump and/or fan to keep box temps in the 60's?
Note - the freezer is in my kitchen - would probably stay there even if I added the box (no SWMBO to worry about ). The garage just gets too hot in the summer (over 100 degrees sometimes). Cold ambient temps will not be a problem.
Any recommendations on brand of controller?