Fermentation Chiller

[tnlandsailor]

I decided to put my chiller to the test this week. I've got a kegger competition coming up and had 4 entries. Problem is, I only have room for 3 kegs in the fridge. As I was contemplating taking over half of the fridge in the kitchen for a week, I decided to put the keg into the chiller with 4 ice jugs, crank it down and see what happened. In a 70 F room, I was able to chill down and hold the chiller at 42 - 45 F for the whole week, swapping out the jugs twice over the last 6 days. That's the same temp as my fridge. Worked great. Now I have 4 chilled kegs. Good thing to remember in a pinch.

The 42 - 45 F range is the practical limit for my chiller. It doesn't sound like much, only a 25 F delta from ambient, but it's only 10 - 13 above freezing which is pretty impressive. I'll bet that if the ambient were a bit higher, say 80 F, I'll bet I could still maintain the 45 F temp, the fan would just cycle more often. Also, it could be the lower limit on the thermostat I'm using. I just slid the lever all the way to the left. I need to check to see how cold it would get if I just left the fan running continuously. Has anyone tried this yet?

By the way, I promised someone here that I would measure the ice jugs I am currently using. I haven't done it yet (obviously). Do you still need the dimensions?

Prosit,

 

[DyerNeedOfBeer]

Sorry for being lazy... I think I remember someone here talking about the right adhesives to use but I'll just ask...

Looks like I'm stuck with using 1" thick sheets instead of 2" due to the small friggin town I live in. Could you please let me know what adhesive you used and how good it worked? I remember toying with this before on another completely seperate ordeal and never finding a good adhesive which would work. I also remember it got quite pricey trying out this with adhesives going for three to six dollars a tube

Thanks...
Neil

 

[BBQBrew]

You can glue two 1" sheets together to get the 2" thickness you need. Just make sure you have could service coverage and you let the glue set for 24hrs.

Liquid Nails makes an adhesive just for foam board. You should be able to find it at your local hardware store or home improvement warehouse. Checkout the link below.

Liquid Nails

You might try contacting DOW and see if there is someone in your area that sells foam board. Check the link below.

DOW Styrofoam

 

[user 574]

Liquid Nails - they sell one specific for styrofoam/polystyrene as well. I just don't know about the 1" stuff. As mentioned, glueing 2 together would be the best idea then but it's just not as firm as the bonifide 2" construction grade. Do the Dow thing. Maybe they can get you answers.

 

[cygnus128]

I just built one of these guys. Seems to be working ok but I have noticed something I wanted to ask about. It seems like the main chamber cools too fast for the thermostat. I will set it for 65 F and it will cool it all the way down to the upper 50s before shutting off. Then it seems to rise too fast for the thermostat as well since it gets into the upper 60s before kicking back on again. Since this seems to keep the average temperature fairly close to 65 (yielding a constant 68 on my fermenter thermometer which is what I am going for) I don't think this is a problem but I was just wondering if anybody had any ideas. Maybe my box isn't sealing well enough? My thermostat is the same one desertBrew used (bimetal) so it's not a movement problem (like you might have with a mercury switch thermometer).

 

[user 574]

If I'm shooting for a target of 68 mine seems to turn on around 71 or so and doesn't turn off until 63. If using the exact one as mine there is a screw you can turn to in/decrease the range. They typically give it some min/max before activation so your furnace/AC isn't constantly turning on & off costing electricity. I know I did tweak mine a bit right away as I wanted it to stay relatively stable.

As you mentioned though, ultimately your 5g of beer isn't fluctuating. FYI - I have the temp strip on my fermenter to get the real temp

 

[cygnus128]

FYI - I have the temp strip on my fermenter to get the real temp

Yeah, that's what I did as well. I will have to look for that screw. Damn, wish I hadn't thrown away the instructions for the thermostat...

 

[user 574]

Yeah, that's what I did as well. I will have to look for that screw. Damn, wish I hadn't thrown away the instructions for the thermostat...

Tug off the cover and on the top-left is some circle thing with a screw in the center. I'm at work so going off the top of my head but pretty sure that was the locale. Which way to turn? 50/50 shot

Or, google that bugger and get the directions. I'd suspect they're online...

 

[DyerNeedOfBeer]

Temperature indicator and controller

May be a bit more than some want to spend but this is really cheap for what it is. If your going to spend 15 on a thermostat and 10 on a thermometer with probe, this isn't too much from that. It may even be able to handle a frigde if you are handy enough to wire up plug ends on a cord since it's SPST contact can handle 16amps. This thing has adjustable hysteresis (the deadband) and temperature settings and it all goes outside the fermentation chiller or your fridge / deep freeze. I just ordered two of them but it will be a while before my ferementation chillers are done.
Hardest part for me is the foam. I have to wait till I get a weekday off from work so I can drive down to Memphis TN to get my foam. BTW ... I found a place that sells the foam in 2", 3" and 4" thicknesses. The price increases proportionally but I think I will base my thickness on the rigidity of the foam. The 2" is probably more than enough for the insulation but if I find it a bit flimsy, I may opt for the thicker stuff.
I have also gotten peltier coolers to power my units. Once again, a bit more money than those who want to save by going with ice jugs but this will eliminate ever having to change out ice. It will also allow me to ferment at ANY reasonable temperature. In a 75f room I am confident that I could get the fermenting beer down to freezing if I cared to. Another nice thing about the peltiers... in the winter, I can reverse two leads and keep my beer WARM!!!

I'm just loving this c#*p O.K. O.K. im a gadget freak!

 

[cygnus128]

Or, google that bugger and get the directions. I'd suspect they're online...

For anybody who has the same thermostat...

http://www.hunterfanhq.com/tools/sales/hunter/preseason/images/owners/41259.pdf

Looks like the little copper dial covering the temp. selector/bimetal part does the trick. I found it to be tough to turn but it conveniently does tell you what direction to turn for a wider temp. range (I turned in the other director). Since it is attached to the temp selector I found it to be helpful to turn the temp selector to its most extreme position (in whatever direction is helpful) and then use a screwdriver or small pair of pliers to turn the copper thingy (I have very short fingernails but if you had some I suspect they would work as well). I am gonna give it a little time and then watch it turn on and off (I have the LED mod installed) and I will report success or failure (since I'm sure you're all dying to know ).

 

[cygnus128]

Making that change has had no noticeable effect. Oh well, was worth a shot. No big deal...as long as the temp. of my beer is constant I don't really care .

 

[Brewtus]

I gave up finding the extruded polystyrene. I called Dow, they sent me to a local distributor called Blue Linx. They told me to go to Lowe's or another local lumber company. Both Lowe's and the other place told me I couldn't buy 1-2 sheets, but had to buy 48 minimum. I also called a place called Insulation Supply Company - sounded like a sure thing. The guy I talked to said he didn't sell it and didn't know where to find it.

By that time my patience was running out. I planned to build over this weekend, so I'm using a polyisocyanurate product http://www.rmaxinc.com/Rmatte-3 04-05.pdf . Picked up at Home Depot for $10 / sheet. I had to glue two 3/4 sheets together, but the R value of each sheet is 5 so should insulate about the same as the 2" polystyrene with R value of 10. I also had some plywood siding lying around that I'm adding for structural strength.

Final gluing of the box today. So far so good.