Spike Conical- observations and best practices

[logdrum]

It actually could do ok if you used a heat sink in the glycol bath, and a fan to circulate the air. @Nater pretty much nailed it--generally air isn't enough to chill the glycol mix enough, at least not very fast.

I actually did a glycol chill bath in the upper freezer compartment of my big ferm chamber. It actually worked fairly well, and if it could work in there, it would work in a chest freezer, in fact, probably better. I'm attaching a pic showing how I tried to use a copper tube and an aluminum (DIY) heat sink to enhance heat transfer to the air. It worked, after a fashion.

If I had to do it over again, i'd probably look into a chest freezer. Might not have worked--I'm very space-limited--but it's far cheaper.

View attachment 653610

I went w a glycol chiller because my-purchased new-chest freezer/ferm chamber gave up the ghost after 5 years of use. I'm hoping the glycol chiller lasts longer. I do have to wrap the conical in a sleeping bag for optimal performance-the same one I use on my Spike mash tun.

 

[eric19312]

I do think glycol sounds cool but no shortage of people me included that went the fridge or freezer route. Freezer it seems enables cold crashing at significantly lower temps which may be an advantage.

On the subject I found this post pretty interesting.


https://blichmannengineering.freshdesk.com/support/discussions/topics/5000065537

 

[eric19312]

Look up under the DIY section here for some tips.
I am NOT a sciencey guy, so here it is my layman's terms (and I will be corrected I am sure!)

Basically- you need to remove the heat from the water/glycol mix. Air is not enough to do this- i.e. simply leaving the bath in a freezer there is not enough contact. You need the copper coils of an AC unit (with super duper really really cold coolant running through them) INSIDE the water/glycol bath to exchange the heat.

I have heard guys have gotten it pretty cold tho- like say 40-ish? But IMO the idea is to get as close to 36 as possible to crash.

My cold crash target is just above freezing point of beer. I go to 28.5F.

 

[HB2 HughBHomeBrew]

My cold crash target is just above freezing point of beer. I go to 28.5F.

I'm just getting going with the glycol chiller and TC. Do you switch the in and out on the TC coils when going lower than 40F like the instructions say?

 

[eric19312]

I'm just getting going with the glycol chiller and TC. Do you switch the in and out on the TC coils when going lower than 40F like the instructions say?

I’m in an upright freezer.

Edited to add - conical is in the freezer... no coil no glycol no neoprene jacket.

 

[CodeSection]

I'm just getting going with the glycol chiller and TC. Do you switch the in and out on the TC coils when going lower than 40F like the instructions say?

Yes, I do.

 

[awoitte]

Is anyone with homemade glycol chillers getting their cf/unitanks down to the desired 28-30degF?

 

[eric19312]

Is anyone with homemade glycol chillers getting their cf/unitanks down to the desired 28-30degF?

If @mongoose99 is right, commercial glycol isn’t getting there either.

 

[Blazinlow86]

Is anyone with homemade glycol chillers getting their cf/unitanks down to the desired 28-30degF?

I don't think I've heard of anyone getting down below 34 using any glycol setup but that's definitely cold enough for most purposes as long as your not trying to do really highly carbonated beers finished in the conical. Cheers

 

[eric19312]

I don't think I've heard of anyone getting down below 34 using any glycol setup but that's definitely cold enough for most purposes as long as your not trying to do really highly carbonated beers finished in the conical. Cheers

-2.5 C

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1094/asbcj-62-0075

 

[NeoBrew]

My setup is an aluminum pot filled with glycol in a chest freezer. I can't get to below about 42. That is with just a neoprene jacket on the conical. (I have the SSBrewtech unitank) The heat exchange in the chest freezer is just not efficient enough. It struggles to bring temps down in the conical for crashing.

The other kicker is that the water in the glycol will condense in the chest freezer. Mine is quite a mess at this point. That is a big reason why I'm switching. I'm sure the purpose built chillers are more efficient at getting and keeping the glycol cold. My setup was only ever meant to be a stop gap. I had intended to go with a chiller, but am pretty sure I'm going to spend just a little bit more and get a glass front refrigerator. I have a 7 gallon conical, so lifting is still possible.

 

[eric19312]

Since you can lift it why not put the conical in the chest freezer?

 

[cubsfan16]

I can hit 31.5 with my diy glycol setup. Lowest I have got it was 31f with glycol set to 24f. I usually run it T 34f for 12hrs then 32f for the last 12hrs....happen to be crashing a batch (ambient is 70f)

 

[NeoBrew]

Since you can lift it why not put the conical in the chest freezer?

It won’t fit by a long shot. Way too tall.

 

[eric19312]

It won’t fit by a long shot. Way too tall.

Got it. I realize one of the reasons I picked Spike over SS is Spike gave me choice of whether to buy the chilling coil or not. If I had to get the coil I’m sure I’d build or buy glycol. Actually have been saving a brand new window AC we ended up not using for almost 2 years just to do that.

 

[specialkayme]

Anyone have an idea of what Spike usually does for Black Friday? Dragging my feet a little and feel like this coming week could do the trick.

Cheers! [emoji482]

I contacted Spike to ask. Their response was that they are going to offer a Black Friday deal, but it won't be on their conicals (and they couldn't tell me more than that).

Personally, I chose to sit out and wait to see what it is. End of October last year I was in the market for a custom Spike kettle. I asked if they had any upcoming sales, and they said they couldn't confirm any. All the forum posts indicated that Spike never did Black Friday sales in the past (and posts from Spike even indicating that they offer the lowest pricing they can afford 365 normally which is why they didn't do Black Friday sales), so I figured screw it and ordered a custom kettle early. It shipped on Halloween. Then Spike announced a Black Friday custom kettle discount. I asked Spike if they would make it "retroactive" to orders placed in the past 30 days or something, and they said no. I get Spike's position, but it left me feeling a little bit burned, considering I asked and did the research. Burned enough to wait to see what comes out.

 

[Nate R]

I contacted Spike to ask. Their response was that they are going to offer a Black Friday deal, but it won't be on their conicals (and they couldn't tell me more than that).

Personally, I chose to sit out and wait to see what it is. End of October last year I was in the market for a custom Spike kettle. I asked if they had any upcoming sales, and they said they couldn't confirm any. All the forum posts indicated that Spike never did Black Friday sales in the past (and posts from Spike even indicating that they offer the lowest pricing they can afford 365 normally which is why they didn't do Black Friday sales), so I figured screw it and ordered a custom kettle early. It shipped on Halloween. Then Spike announced a Black Friday custom kettle discount. I asked Spike if they would make it "retroactive" to orders placed in the past 30 days or something, and they said no. I get Spike's position, but it left me feeling a little bit burned, considering I asked and did the research. Burned enough to wait to see what comes out.

Yeah... this is why (i feel, my opinion only) the truly top end brands don't do sales and have map. Like Blichmann. It sucks for the consumer but it also sucks when you look for weeks/months for "the best deal", pull the trigger, then it goes even cheaper later.

What is it- a week left? Might as well wait.

 

[hezagenius]

Anyone with a CF15 fermenting in an upright freezer? If so, what model freezer are you using? I want to get a future proof freezer in case I decide to upgrade past the CF5.

 

[cubsfan16]

Yeah... this is why (i feel, my opinion only) the truly top end brands don't do sales and have map. Like Blichmann. It sucks for the consumer but it also sucks when you look for weeks/months for "the best deal", pull the trigger, then it goes even cheaper later.

What is it- a week left? Might as well wait.

I heard from what I would consider a reliable source that their Black Friday is featuring the Flex....at least on the fermenter side of their products. We shall see I suppose.

 

[CodeSection]

Anyone with a CF15 fermenting in an upright freezer? If so, what model freezer are you using? I want to get a future proof freezer in case I decide to upgrade past the CF5.

Wow. That would be a big jump possibly going from a CF5 to a CF15! What would cause that much of a change?

 

[Nate R]

I heard from what I would consider a reliable source that their Black Friday is featuring the Flex....at least on the fermenter side of their products. We shall see I suppose.

Interesting... i wonder if the Flex did not take off as planned? I think by the time you get to that level... why not go full conical?

 

[Blazinlow86]

Anyone with a CF15 fermenting in an upright freezer? If so, what model freezer are you using? I want to get a future proof freezer in case I decide to upgrade past the CF5.

I'll check my model number when I get home. I'm pretty sure I posted it here somewhere previous but can't find it. Mine a Danby. That being said I think there all the same size more or less which is the same as a kitchen fridge. Mine has a slope in the bottom therefore required a shelf which reduces the headroom but it's not a issue for myself. Also mine is actually a fridge with no freezer portion that I bypassed the internal thermostat to allows me to get down as low as 14f. Bought it from a brewclub member for 50$. Cheers

 

[hezagenius]

Wow. That would be a big jump possibly going from a CF5 to a CF15! What would cause that much of a change?

Not saying I'll ever do it, but who knows. But I don't want to have to replace an upright freezer if I do upgrade. Like Spike says, buy once, cry once.

 

[cubsfan16]

Interesting... i wonder if the Flex did not take off as planned? I think by the time you get to that level... why not go full conical?

Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. They put a lot of marketing into the flex.

My opinion, those shopping fermenters in the Flex and especially Flex Plus price range will just go with a conical.

 

[hezagenius]

@Blazinlow86
It's hard finding those tall freezerless fridges. I've looked high and low for one.

 

[NeoBrew]

@Blazinlow86
It's hard finding those tall freezerless fridges. I've looked high and low for one.

They are called "All Refrigerators". https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=all+refrigerator

 

[eric19312]

Anyone with a CF15 fermenting in an upright freezer? If so, what model freezer are you using? I want to get a future proof freezer in case I decide to upgrade past the CF5.

Yes I’ve got CF15 in Frigidaire 20.2 frost free freezer.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/frigid...upright-freezer-white/8943667.p?skuId=8943667
I bought this one, think it was closer to $600 when I got it, kenmore sells same unit you can shop around. Electrolux makes both Frigidaire and Kenmore.

 

[hezagenius]

Yes I’ve got CF15 in Frigidaire 20.2 frost free freezer.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/frigid...upright-freezer-white/8943667.p?skuId=8943667
I bought this one, think it was closer to $600 when I got it, kenmore sells same unit you can shop around. Electrolux makes both Frigidaire and Kenmore.

Do the shelves in the door interfere at all? I've see some people cut them out because of clearance issues.

 

[eric19312]

Do the shelves in the door interfere at all? I've see some people cut them out because of clearance issues.

They don’t but I removed them anyway.

 

[Blazinlow86]

@Blazinlow86
It's hard finding those tall freezerless fridges. I've looked high and low for one.

I would keep your eyes on Craigslist. There's usually at least a few for under 200 in my area. Cheers