Fermentation Chamber, Fan Needed?

I'm planning to build a fermentation chamber from a mini-fridge, very similar to this setup: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/another-fermentation-chamber-build-253949/

So is a supplemental fan truly necessary? I realize that it will help air circulation but is it a must have?

I ask because I intend to buy a Johnson controls to minimize wiring hassle. And if I also need to hook up a fan, that will require addl wiring.

Thanks in advance.

 

i think a fan is absolutely necessary. if you look at a chest freezer, you've got cooling coils in the entire space. with an expanded mini fridge, you just have a tiny section of cooling coils. you have to move that cool air into your box.

 

Yes - a fan is necessary - I started out with a small computer fan that I wired up - wasn't enough (my chamber is a fairly big one though - able to fit 6 carboys). After having the freezer plate ice over and become completely ineffective- I defrosted and tossed a small desk fan in there - solved all my problems. Wiring can be straight forward too - just put a multi-plug on the controller, plug the fridge in and plug the fan in. Both will cycle.

 

Makes sense. Thanks all

 

Was wondering how/what you use to power the computer fan?

 

An old cell phone charger. Nip the cell phone plug off, strip the wires and wire nut them to the fan wires.

 

Radio Shack has 120v.Computer type fans. I use one and it works good.

 

No fan in mine. Use to have one but it died and I never replaced it. Still making great beer...

 

Does it matter where you mount the fan? Because I planned on mounting am 80mm fan to the collar in upper right hand corner.

 

Anywhere. Just so it moves the air.