2 tier, 2 zone fermentation chamber build (AKA Racer X)

[Mtn_Brewer]

The floors of the chambers are made of solid sheets of linoleum flooring with the edges and corners sealed with caulk. This is the paint I used inside the fermenter:

http://m.homedepot.com/p/BEHR-Premi...e-Semi-Gloss-Enamel-Exterior-585001/100550162

It has held up perfectly without any issues. I've had some overflows and spills but there haven't been any problems with mold or breakdown. It has held up to prolonged lagering at sub-40 degree and Belgian ale fermentation at 80+ degrees without a problem.

I used one of these humidifiers at first:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H0XFD2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I eventually stopped using it because I found that it wasn't needed.

 

[Mtn_Brewer]

I've heard of issues with dampness and mold. Any problems here? It's been a few years. Curious how this is holding up.

I should add that I live in Colorado and it's pretty dry here. If you live in a more humid place, you may want to install a dehumidifier rod. I sourced this one but didn't need it. I like that it comes in different lengths, depending on the chamber size.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/11...humidifier-rod-with-detachable-plug-110v-gold

 

[dskadberg]

Nice build man! I'm hoping to build a fermenter myself, it wouldn't be climate controlled, yet, because I'm just in an apartment. Whenever I manage to move someplace with a garage I'll definitely add some sort of climate control. For now, I'll probably just make Ales and ferment at the apartment temp. of about 70 deg.

Really nice work though!

 

[Mtn_Brewer]

Update 2017

The fermenter has been heavily used and has performed well through Summer and Winter in my garage that has no temperature control. The bathroom fan that cycles cold air from the bottom chamber to the upper chamber gave out this week. The fan/motor are fine but the attachment was with thin metal that split. I wish I had made a panel on the side to access the fan to replace it easier. I decided that rather than cut into the side, I would try to work from the inside. I took out the old fan, cut a larger hole in the mounting metal and attached a high output AC computer fan. It is not as powerful as the bathroom fan but a lot quieter and it seems to be working pretty well. If it can't keep up with Summer temps, then I will cut into the side and replace the unit with another bathroom fan.

Overall, I'm super happy with this project. The consistency has been excellent and the minor hiccups have been manageable with a little engineering and a casual afternoon (beer in hand).

 

[Catalina Lopes]

[QUOTE = "Mtn_Brewer, post: 4727558, member: 133737"] OK, hora de publicar. Eu entendi essa compilação da compilação da Zacc:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/2-zone-fermentation-chamber-build-344775/

Utilizei um congelador de caixa e um aquecedor de ventilador controlado com um controlador de temperatura Ranco por algum tempo. Isso funciona bem, mas eu faço muita lágrimas e foi meio doloroso ter que coordenar todas as minhas cervejas. Ter um fermentador com 2 zonas foi a resposta óbvia. Eu usei a idéia da Zacc para o projeto básico e, em seguida, surgiu algumas inovações. Eu decidi que queria que todo fosse tão internalizado quanto possível, incluindo os elementos de aquecimento e resfriamento. Eu também queria que fosse grande o suficiente para não sentir a necessidade de atualizar no futuro previsível. Passei muito tempo projetando-o em um caderno espiral, que precisa de esboço-up? Eu configurei isso para que eu coloquei 6 garrafas em cada câmara e ainda possa fazer painel com 4 x 8 folhas de madeira compensada.

OK, então aqui está a compilação ... [/ QUOTE]
Show

 

[Mtn_Brewer]

2020 update:

The Good:

The replacement circulation fan has worked great, even during heat waves in the Summer.

The Bad:

After almost 8 years of heavy use, one of the temp controllers finally gave out. It is an Auber SYL-4342 relay contactor. With power turned on, it looks like this and switches on everything connected to it. It's interesting that it failed into an activation state. I ordered a new unit from Auber. Anyone else have a similar experience?

 

[Transamguy77]

This is such a cool idea, I’m going to borrow it with some changes, hopefully it’ll come together over the next few months.

 

[Mtn_Brewer]

Somebody contacted me about the missing photos. I guess they timed out I will add back some of the original photos for reference.

 

[Mtn_Brewer]

Here are the rest. They are a bit out of order.

 

[Mtn_Brewer]

OK, time to post up. I got the idea for this build from Zacc's build:

2 Zone Fermentation Chamber Build

I've used a chest freezer and fan heater controlled with a Ranco temp controller for awhile. It works OK but I brew a lot of lagers and it was kind of a pain to have to coordinate all of my brews Having a fermenter with 2 zones was the obvious answer. I used Zacc's idea for the basic design and then came up with some innovations. I decided that I wanted everything to be as internalized as possible, including the heating and cooling elements. I also wanted it to be large enough that I wouldn't feel the need to upgrade in the forseeable future. I spent a lot of time designing it in a spiral notebook, who needs sketch-up? I configured it so that I can fit 6 carboys into each chamber and still be able to panel it with 4 x 8 sheets of plywood.

OK, so here's the build...

View attachment 91045

 

[Mtn_Brewer]

I finally have the set up I've always wanted. The fermenter is still going strong and can hold 2 ten gallon batches in the lower lager chamber and 2 ten gallon batches in the upper ale chamber at 45 and 65 degrees, respectively. I bought a Midea 76" 21 cu ft refrigerator/freezer to use for cold crashing/lagering and keg storage (model MRU21F2AWW). I built my own shelves from 3/4 plywood. I can fit four 5 or 6 gal carboys on the top or three on the bottom. Both shelves can hold 6 corny kegs. On refrigerator mode, it holds at 40 degrees on the coldest setting. If I ever felt the need to go lower, I could buy a temp controller to use on freezer mode. I kept the bottom drawers to hold a CO2 tank for carbonating kegs or ingredients for the next batch. This is an overall more efficient set up and will expand the life of the AC unit on my fermenter.