Thoughts on the FTSs chiller

[booth74]

https://www.ssbrewtech.com/collections/ftss/products/ftss-temp-control-for-brew-bucket-14-gal

I need temp control bad, I used to use a chest freezer but the 14 gallon won't fit in mine, an upright freezer on craigslist is usually right around this price point so I am exploring this. It has been out for a while I want to hear if anyone has had it for a while and how it has held up. I plan on going the cooler route, and may end up getting the heating pad too. My other questions for owners of this are; have you been able to maintain lager fermentation temps, can you cold crash, and how does the cooler route work overall. Thanks in advance, I may not have posted this in the right place!

 

[burtom]

Hi Booth, you would also need a glycol chiller to provide the cooling. https://www.ssbrewtech.com/products/glycol-chiller-1-5hp

 

[booth74]

Ya I know you can use glycol but I'm planning on a freezer with 2 liters of frozen water.

 

[kevin58]

I have the FTSs chiller and it works fine. I use a small picnic cooler for the water and pump. I use 2 liter soda bottles filled with water and frozen too keep the water cold. You will have to be diligent in swapping these out to maintain a steady temperature. In that regard it is much like using a swamp cooler... it works, but you have to tend it constantly.

 

[Jim R]

The one downside I considered was that it is connected to the lid which means you always have to have a full fermenter. You couldn't do a smaller batch with it. I then debated drilling holes and mounting it on the side to get it lower.

 

[Keith81]

They do sell extensions separately that lower the coils for smaller batches.

I have the FTSS for my 7 gallon Brew Bucket using a 48 quart cooler and frozen gallon jugs. How well the cooler set up will work depends on the ambient temperature where the fermenter is located, mine is in a 70 F basement. I can maintain ale temps easily and can crash down to about 45 F but it takes about 2 days and swapping out jugs twice a day. I don't do lagers or attempt to hold it at 45 F, I just drop it down before transferring to a keg.

 

[pvpeacock]

I have two 7 gallon conicals both with FTS2 cooling and heating units. They do a great job holding the conicals at whatever temperature you want (within reason). I used to swap out frozen water bottles in a cooler full of water. I would have to swap them out 3 times a day during peak fermentation. I recently bought a glycol chiller and now it is just set and forget.

 

[Rob2010SS]

I'm assuming you're wanting to avoid spending the money on the glycol chiller. Have you considered the DIY glycol chiller using an old window AC unit?

 

[booth74]

I'm assuming you're wanting to avoid spending the money on the glycol chiller. Have you considered the DIY glycol chiller using an old window AC unit?

I'm the least handy person, I may end up getting a glycol set up but not right away

 

[Rob2010SS]

I'm the least handy person, I may end up getting a glycol set up but not right away

Yeah, I hear you. I was going to go the DIY glycol setup buy with a 10 month old son, hard to find time. So we bought one. Plus, same deal, not the most handy person. Good luck