GrantH
Well-Known Member
Has anyone done a fermentation chamber with the 2.7 or 1.7 cubic foot fridges that are available? I am wonder if one could be used to keep my 2 carboys where they need to be.
may work for building a son of fermentation chamber. you can find a couple build threads.
I meant when built into a larger insulated box, much like people are doing to their larger ones to hold 4 and 5 carboys.
I think that with this method there is a big chance of "design creep" where people start their build only to realize that with what they spent in lumber, fasteners, insulation, etc., they could have purchased a used chest freezer.
Just throwing it out there....
I can't find the insulation locally, so i'm back to square 1.
So you are able to use the 1.7 mini fridge? I'm thinking I will probably build this and leave the option for the fridge, or I may just build a second one. I am just ready to get things where they need to be temp wise and this is fairly cheap.
I've built three of them and have never come close to the cost of a used chest freezer. Most of the lumber can be scrap material that is dirt cheap at the improvement stores. Fasteners are also dirt cheap at hobby stores. The biggest expense is the insulation - if you don't find it for free somewhere. And the labor. But I enjoy building stuff to make better beer, so it is an investment of time for me.
What about the cost of the mini-fridge?
A recent check on Maine Craigslist came up with a plethora of chest freezers in the $50-100, so I'm going to stick by my original statement that you can't build for what you can buy. Foam insulation is $35-40/sheet, mini-fridge is another $20-30 (used on CL, if you are lucky)...you have to be pretty frugal on the other stuff to come in under $100. Besides, I know you are considering your building labor to be "free" but gas/time to drive to all these different stores for the best deals are an expense also....
All that being said, from the other posts on here it sounds like these DIY chambers can't handle lager ferm. temps....that is another advantage for the plug and play chest freezer option that should be considered.
Finally, I understand the DIY ethos and building stuff for the fun of it, which I do alos...but when the final product is substandard (e.g. can't do lagers) and may end up costing more...you have to ask yourself if the effort is worth it.
I built my fermentation chamber using a 1.8 cubic foot mini fridge I had been using as a bait fridge and some 2" rigid foam insulation I had laying around. I had to splice the pieces together for the sides. I used spray foam to assemble it, caulked the seams then wrapped them with foil tape.
I used closed cell foam tape to seal around the fridge and lid.
Added your standard stc-1000 controller and paint can heater.
I have no trouble getting the temp down low-I cold crash in it all the time.
I slapped it together about a year ago as a quick and easy ferm chamber, and it's been working great. I put a little weight on the top to help seal the lid.
I was using it as a temporary beer fridge when I took these pics.
It's ghetto but it works!
I have one of these small fridges kicking around an would like to build this quick and dirty chamber. Couple of questions. First is the bottom simply rigid foam? And second, how cold can it get? If it can hold an ale ferm temp that would be fine, if it can lager and cold crash, that would be great.
Thanks,
mark
I picked up a partially completed ferm chamber project on CL that included all the materials to finish it for $150. I added casters for easy movement and a Ranco Dual stage I had already. It will hold 5 carboys and holds temp great!
Got an 8 cf chest freezer free from a moving neighbor for my lager ferm chamber. View attachment 210240View attachment 210241
Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew
STC 1000 off eBay for $18. That is the easiest way to control the fermentation temp in the fridge. Go crazy and get an arduino and flash the stc with alphaomega's stc1000+ to get temp profiles. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/stc-1000-a-464348/
Brewers - I'm about to embark on a similar project. Please take a look at my concept drawing (JPEG attached) and provide feedback. Really looking for you to shoot as many holes in the design as possible. I already have the 7 gal fermenter, the 1.8 CF mini fridge (all fridge, no freezer compartment), and the rolling cart. FYI... The summer temps in my garage regularly get into the high 80's degF. Thanks! - Jeff
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