Fermentation Chamber question (no fridge extension box?)

Beer0clock · Feb 23, 2016

I know there are 100 posts on fermentation chambers already, but I have a very specific question. Is it possible to just buy a "cooling element", similar to how you can buy a "heating element" (ie acquarium heater, lightbulb, etc), and stick that in an insulated box?

It seems like almost every fermentation chamber I see is a wooden, insulated box built around the door of a mini-fridge. This seems ugly and a big waste of space.

I use those 5-6 gallon plastic buckets for fermentation, and I want a chamber thats basically as small as possible and fits one of those buckets, plus a bit of room for air circulation or whatever. Problem is, the largest mini-fridges are just a bit too small to fit one of these fermentation buckets unfortunately. Very annoying.

But it seems rediculous to have to build a big wooden box around the door of a mini fridge just because the fridge was 2 inches too small. Theres got to be a better way.

I would really like to just build a wooden box thats the perfect size, and stick in a "cooling element" and a heating element, and let my STC-1000 control the temperature.

Has anyone done something like that before? I really dont want to have to create a Frankenstein fridge for this.

broadbill · Feb 23, 2016

The better way is a chest or upright freezer controlled by a temp controller, but you seem intent on building something.

IslandLizard · Feb 23, 2016

I'm not sure I even want to answer this. Do you know how a refrigerator works? Look up some diagram online. There are 3 main parts, compressor, condensor, and evaporator. They exist of or are connected by thin walled (copper) tubes that form a closed system containing a refrigerant, which is a gas in one part of the system and a liquid in another.

Sure you could design and build an insulated chamber of the right size. Install the compressor, condensor, evaporator, and the tubing between them. You can used pilfered parts from other refrigeration systems. Braze all the joints, then vacuum and charge with a refrigerant. Basically you've built another fridge or freezer.

The only plug and play cooling elements even remotely similar to plug-in heaters are Peltier elements, but their capacity, working range, and efficiency is typically small. Price is relatively high.

IslandLizard · Feb 23, 2016

You could design and build a fermenting chamber and mount an air conditioner in one of the walls. Some people have done that. With keen placement you could even hang the AC unit on an outside wall. Or use a small room or closet with an AC. Good insulation will keep your electric bill down.

flhb · Feb 24, 2016

Sounds like a Son of Fermentation Chiller betters suits your demands. Small and compact and can use an STC-1000 to control the temp.

fun4stuff · Feb 24, 2016

Beer0clock said:
I know there are 100 posts on fermentation chambers already, but I have a very specific question. Is it possible to just buy a "cooling element", similar to how you can buy a "heating element" (ie acquarium heater, lightbulb, etc), and stick that in an insulated box?

It seems like almost every fermentation chamber I see is a wooden, insulated box built around the door of a mini-fridge. This seems ugly and a big waste of space.

I use those 5-6 gallon plastic buckets for fermentation, and I want a chamber thats basically as small as possible and fits one of those buckets, plus a bit of room for air circulation or whatever. Problem is, the largest mini-fridges are just a bit too small to fit one of these fermentation buckets unfortunately. Very annoying.

But it seems rediculous to have to build a big wooden box around the door of a mini fridge just because the fridge was 2 inches too small. Theres got to be a better way.

I would really like to just build a wooden box thats the perfect size, and stick in a "cooling element" and a heating element, and let my STC-1000 control the temperature.

Has anyone done something like that before? I really dont want to have to create a Frankenstein fridge for this.