fermentation chamber build suggestions??

[David20Hersch]

I just bought a small chest freezer thats gonna be my fermentation chamber and wanted to know what would be the wisest choice when it comes to internal design.

1) I am going to build a wooden support where the dip is to support the fermenter. Is this small freezer space adequate enough to deal with 5 gallons of wort?

2) What kind of heating element would I use in this small space. I think that a light bulb type heater would be alright but maybe a fermwrap would be better, to heat more evenly (i am hoping to use the lightbulb!!) ???

3) ways to beat the condensation????

 

[normonster]

I've found that I don't need a heater at all.

I think the most important hing you can incorporate is a fan to move the air. Next time around I'm going to use a fridge because at lower temps it is really easy to freeze your beer. If I set temp at 35 the condenser turns off and then the temp continues to drop to 32 or so...coupled with the temp difference between top and bottom that has lead to a couple cornys with an ice block at the bottom.
Now I stick with 40....then again I'm using for conditioning and serving so maybe you won't have that issue at ferm temps.

My $00.02

 

[thekraken]

What are you using to control the temperature? What ever you using answers to questions 2 and 3 can be found in the BrewPi thread: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=466106

For your first question: Can you close the fridge lid after you place an airlock on that bucket? If so I think it'd be just about perfect. (Take this into account when you design your wood support frame.)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005Q1APZS/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H0XFCS/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[MadHomebrewer]

Nvm, looked at the picture again. Picture was misleading on depth.

 

[Gibberoni]

David, that space is perfect for 5 gallons, or a 6 gallon carboy. Make sure you have room for a container and a blowoff tube when you make the collar. This is about the same size freezer as I use for my system, and I needed a 6" collar to fit a 6 gallon carboy.

I highly suggest that you look at building your own BrewPi (link in above post), or buying one from the brewpi site. It is great. I have been using my home built one for the last 4 beers, and I never drift over a half degree F.

Don't worry about heating. The yeasties eating all those yummy sugars will produce heat, and the freezer will always try to level out with the temp in the room it is in. If you get something like a BrewPi, it will learn how much it needs to cool, without overshooting. I ramp my beers to the max yeast temp (depending on style) before I cold crash, and I never have an issue getting to 70+ without a heater. Granted, the average temp here these last 2 weeks has been in the 100's...

 

[william_shakes_beer]

I have a 5cf chest freezer that I turned into a ferm chamber by adding a temp controller. Brew belt around the top of the bucket for heat, the chest freezer for cooling. Sensor is duct taped to a double layer of reflectiv and strapped to the edge of the bucket near the bottom with a looooong velcro strap. The temp controller is a Control Products TC-9102D-HV Dual Stage High Voltage Digital Temperature Controller. It and a jbox containing a duplex reseptacle are secured to a small piece of plywood which hangs from a metal strap over the side of the freezer. No adjustments to the freezer necessary, I can take the controller and move it to another freezer in 4 seconds. If I were doing it again I'd get a freezer large enough for 2 fermenters.

 

[David20Hersch]

thanks for all the awesome replies!
I have a stc 1000 on the way!!!

 

[thaibrewer]

hi all i have just started home brewing with a few friends here in thailand because its so bl**dy hot it can be hard to keep the beer at the right temp . i have just got hold of a stc-1000 and a fridge . the advice i need is can i use the stc 1000 on a fridge with an ice box and if so how to do this.. thanks for reading sorry for a fermentation chamber.

 

[MattyIce]

You will get plenty of condensation at ferm temps. Some folks buy devices/materials to put inside to control it...I just dry and clean between batches. I know I would love to get back to a fridge ferm chamber for this very reason.

That said, it is hard to argue with just how space-efficient your setup is...very cool!

 

[DrunkleJon]

I just bought a small chest freezer thats gonna be my fermentation chamber and wanted to know what would be the wisest choice when it comes to internal design.

1) I am going to build a wooden support where the dip is to support the fermenter. Is this small freezer space adequate enough to deal with 5 gallons of wort?

2) What kind of heating element would I use in this small space. I think that a light bulb type heater would be alright but maybe a fermwrap would be better, to heat more evenly (i am hoping to use the lightbulb!!) ???

3) ways to beat the condensation????

I agree with most of the above. Go ahead and build your support, maybe throw a small fan under it to . The freezer will be more than sufficient for the task.

You should not need a heater, but people have had had luck with seedling mats, reptile heaters, and stuff like the brew belt.

Condensation. The Eva Dry units are nice. And reusable. Kitty Litter crystals in an old sock work too.