I'm looking to take the next step in upgrading my equipment. I've been using a large cooler filled with water and using ice to regulate the temperature while fermenting 5G batches in 6.5G glass carboys. I can definitely see the advantages to using a fridge or freezer and not having to mess around with water baths / ice etc. - pretty much set it and forget it kind of thing. I have already purchased a 120V thermostat ... so I just need a fridge or freezer.
So here is my thinking. I want a 15 CU FT chest type freezer. I figure that way I should be able to have two carboys in there at once if need be along with a couple of corneys. The downside is having to lift full carboys into the freezer ... and I think that's not a big problem for me. I've been looking on Craigs List for a few weeks now, I see upright fridges galore, quite a few upright freezers and a lot of the smaller 5 to 7 CU FT chest freezers - but no 15CU FT chest freezers.
I can buy a new one for about $400, but I'd prefer to pick up one cheap if I can. So my questions are: Is my logic sound - is a chest freezer the way to go or are there reasons that a fridge would work out better? Are there any problems with either option as far as running them at 60F to 70F?
Tx.
So here is my thinking. I want a 15 CU FT chest type freezer. I figure that way I should be able to have two carboys in there at once if need be along with a couple of corneys. The downside is having to lift full carboys into the freezer ... and I think that's not a big problem for me. I've been looking on Craigs List for a few weeks now, I see upright fridges galore, quite a few upright freezers and a lot of the smaller 5 to 7 CU FT chest freezers - but no 15CU FT chest freezers.
I can buy a new one for about $400, but I'd prefer to pick up one cheap if I can. So my questions are: Is my logic sound - is a chest freezer the way to go or are there reasons that a fridge would work out better? Are there any problems with either option as far as running them at 60F to 70F?
Tx.