Ferm chamber effeciency.

[Cazamodo]

Just completed my mish-mash ferm chamber.

Its a chest freezer modified to lay on its side, with an extended foam housing made up of a lot of different offcuts of 100mm (about 4") insulation board. All the joins are covered n insulation tape, and the only gaps in the whole thing are around the door panel of boad, which i plan to seal when i come to ferment my beers, fermenting at least two at a time.

To test it, I have a 5 gal bucket of 26*C water sitting in t, with my temp controller set at 17*C. The freezer s on, I also have two small computer fans that im hoping are enough to circulate the air. Problem is ts been in over an hour now and I havent seen much if a drop of temperature (my probes in the water in the bucket).

How long do your ferm chambers take to reach an equal temp inside and out of temperature?

Also, will the smallest gaps around my door and such have a big impact on the insulation of my chamber?

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

I might be wrong, but I was under the impression that refrigeration compressors need to be situated in the upright position to function properly.

Like I said I am not certain, but that was my understanding.

 

[Cazamodo]

They do indeed, and as I like a challenge, my compressor is upright , just the freezer is on its side.

 

[Cazamodo]

Just an update on this. The air temp in my ferm chamber was 3ound 14*9 so I just need better probe placement

 

[bucfanmike]

yea its probably just the delay from the waters thermal mass to catch. For testing purposes just put your probe hanging in the air.

 

[rshortt]

Cazamodo, got any pics of this build?

 

[Cazamodo]

Heres some pics of it, I'll warn you its not pretty but (fingers crossed) it gets the job done.
I also have VERY limited space, it was even hard to take the pics and get everything in. Also explains while as I sadly have nothing fermenting, my empty bottles are stored in it haha.

Heres a scrabby view of inside, you can see the chest freezer and ferm chamber attatched to it.

Closer look at the freezer powering this. I have a couple of old fans hang down, crudely, but not sure how much help they are at circulating the air.

And finally with the 'door' placed on. Still trying how to seal the door when fermenting.

(didnt realise how blurry this was but can generally make out whats going on lol)


Pics resized

 

[Cazamodo]

Sorry for huge pics, edit coming!

Resized the pics, you can see its one hell of a mess haha, but once Ive cleaned up for the next brewday it should be in business.

I have a worry, that if i set a fermenter in the actual freezer, will it cool much faster/more than ones sat in the extended ferm chamber? As the now bottom of the freezer tends to ice up when in use.

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

Why did you choose to lay it down horizontally rather than have it stand tall vertically?

Seems like you could have optimized the height by standing it like an upright freezer?

 

[Cazamodo]

As its laid down I can fit one fermentor in the freezer itself, and two in the chamber, which is plenty for me. It also helps on the space issue (I have a load of crap sitting on the ferm chamber) so would essentially loose another shelf.