Dual Purpose Fermentation Chamber

[quaboagbrewing]

I currently have a converted 5.0 cu ft chest freezer that I use for lagering and kegs. I use a Johnson a419 controller to maintain temperatures. For all my other fermentation I usually keep the carboys in the dining room (which SWMBO loves by the way). Thinking about constructing a 2nd chamber adjacent/connected to the Chest Freezer and drilling a few holes in the collar to allow for cold air to move from the Freezer to the 2nd chamber. Guessing that I'd probably need some mechanism to open/close the vents between the 2 chambers. In most situations the vent would probably remain closed as the chest freezer is in the basement and I will be more likely trying to warm up the chamber as opposed to cooling it down. Thinking about using one of these for warming up the chamber:

http://www.shopthecoop.com/product/rcheater-150-w.html

we have one of these for our outdoor chicken coop and it's works great so figured would probably be good for this application as well.

will probably replace the a419 with a Ranco Digital Two-Stage Temperature Controller so I can have one controller to control the chest freezer and the heater.

finally thinking about placing a wi-fi thermometer in each chamber to record and monitor the temperatures remotely.

If anyone has built something similar to this I'd love any advice you may have regarding my proposed setup. Thanks.

 

[Smellyglove]

I currently have a converted 5.0 cu ft chest freezer that I use for lagering and kegs. I use a Johnson a419 controller to maintain temperatures. For all my other fermentation I usually keep the carboys in the dining room (which SWMBO loves by the way). Thinking about constructing a 2nd chamber adjacent/connected to the Chest Freezer and drilling a few holes in the collar to allow for cold air to move from the Freezer to the 2nd chamber. Guessing that I'd probably need some mechanism to open/close the vents between the 2 chambers. In most situations the vent would probably remain closed as the chest freezer is in the basement and I will be more likely trying to warm up the chamber as opposed to cooling it down. Thinking about using one of these for warming up the chamber:

http://www.shopthecoop.com/product/rcheater-150-w.html

we have one of these for our outdoor chicken coop and it's works great so figured would probably be good for this application as well.

will probably replace the a419 with a Ranco Digital Two-Stage Temperature Controller so I can have one controller to control the chest freezer and the heater.

finally thinking about placing a wi-fi thermometer in each chamber to record and monitor the temperatures remotely.

If anyone has built something similar to this I'd love any advice you may have regarding my proposed setup. Thanks.

This is a cheaper option for heating and works like a charm

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Home...tation-Pails-Homebrew-AU-Plug/1351889694.html

I have one myself, although when I bought it there was a 5m length option, which I can't see any more, but they are probably still out there if you search.

I've noticed I've gotten more even temps with this comparing to the heater I have in my ale-chamber. With a belt you're applying heat directly to the fermentor, and not the air around it.