Ferm chamber feedback

[nosnhojm20]

So I have a free 1-2 cu mini fridge. I was thinking about building an insulated box around it to put a carboy on top of. I was gonna tear the door off and put a fan in to circulate. Essentially build a cabinet where an open fridge would live.

Anyone think this could work? I don't see why not but figured if turn to the
forum for feedback. I'd like to better control my ferm temps and possibly lager, I hope this can handle it as the fridge is older than dirt.

 

[Blauhung]

As long as the box is well insulated and the condenser of the fridge is vented externally, most mini fridges can cope just fine with the heat spit out by beer. I think calculations I've seen put it at around 20-40W for a 5 gallon batch, which works out to ~70-140BTU/hr. From some quick googeling, most dorm fridges are probably in the 200BTU/hour range.... So you are probably good as long as you don't have any really fast ferments or do a larger batch. If you can figure out the rating on the unit that will help you determine your maximum batch size that it will be useful for.

 

[naga77777]

Yes, it should work. There was a very nice thread with pictures, of a guy doing just that.

He build a wooden frame, mounted the fridge guts to it, and I think it was on casters too. Had enough room for a couple of fermenters, and I think he lined the floor with linoleum for easy cleanup.

 

[BSD_Glass]

This is totally doable. My ferm chamber is big enough for (4) 18 gallon HDPE barrel fermenters and fully maintains temp with a 2 cf mini fridge and/or a 60 watt light bulb. I only actively ferment in one barrel at a time ( I brew no more than once a week).

I put a USB (low voltage) fan in the cold plate in the mini fridge and the fan is always running (unless I'm racking in or out of a barrel). The ebay temp controller turn on the fridge or lightbulb when it needs cold or hot.

My box is pretty insulated. Most areas, including the door have at LEAST 3" of dense foam insulation, the floor, roof and back wall have 4+"

Oh yeah, I built a drip pan with drain hose to outside the chamber that catches and disposes of the condensation on the cold plate automatically. I NEVER worry about my chamber or what it is doing. It is sweet and all 4 vessels stay within 2*F of setpoint (the active fermentation pulls it up a degree or two over the rest of the box)

Cheers.

BSD

 

[nosnhojm20]

Thanks everyone! It is collective effort to make better beer. I really like the idea of lining the floor for easy clean up.

BSD, you have some dead sexy set up. I wish I had the space. I've been looking at yours for a while.

Floor space is a premium in my basement, hence the idea of putting the fermenter on top of the fridge in a sealed unit. I'll post pics when this happens. Will probably be an ancient thread when it happens but whatever. Still have to finish the keezer.

 

[watersr]

That's exactly what I did. I took the door off a mini cube fridge and built an insulated box out of 2x2 and 1/2" foam board ( double layer). The box has an opening that mates up to the opening of the mini fridge. Keeps temps in the low 60s in my garage at temps up to 90 degrees. I have noticed on really hot days like today (98) it struggles. I've run it in the house as well and it can hold temp down to 50.

 

[nosnhojm20]

Ah, 50s eh? I was hoping to lager with it. I don't mind that much if it can't, it's a very cheap project for me as I already have the insulation from my keezer build. At least it will help with ale ferment temps.

 

[Hoppopotomus]

I built exactly what you are talking about. Here is a link to my lager chamber, which is a step by step process of how I built both my ale and lager chambers. Here are the finished products in the corner of my brewery....along with a few of my other projects. Scroll down to see ale/lager chambers, which form the L shaped cabinetry in my brewery.

You can start at the beginning of the chamber thread for a step by step process of how I did it. The key is to be well insulated and to decrease cubic volume as much as possible. That is why I filled the entire cavity of the mini-fridge with insulation panels.....to decrease the volume to be cooled in the cabinet. I also installed a 6" inductor fan that blows the cold air directly out of the freezer compartment and a 4" one that returns air from the chamber back to the freezer. I built a temp control panel and wired it such that when the compressor kicks on to cool the chamber, the fans both kick on at the same time.

My unit is well insulated, but the lowest I can take it is down to 6 degrees C. or 42 degrees F. I have tried to go lower and can almost make it to 5 degrees. C., but the compressor just runs non-stop at that point. It works great for the primary for lagers and getting it most of the way there during my temp. step down lagering process. However, to get below 42, I then rack from my secondary into kegs and finish the lagering process in my keezer. I may purchase another chest freeze, build a matching cabinet and place it on the opposite wall in my brewery, so I don't have to tie up space in my keezer for lagering. Hope this information helps and please let me know if you have any questions.

 

[nosnhojm20]

You're the man. I don't think little guy will be able to handle it. However, good excuse to get a chest freezer for a fermentation chamber!