fermentation fridge Questions

[Perk]

I have been searching threads for awhile and cant seem to find my answers. So here goes. I have a fridge with freezer on top. I want to turn this into a fermentation fridge that will cool and heat . I would like to use a love dual temp control. So my questions are will the freezer still work or will it just be a storage space? One output of the control will just turn the fridge on and off by plugging it in to the temp control outlet correct? The other out put would turn the space heater light bulb or brew belt on off? Would these both work at the same time I.E if it gets too cold the heat will turn on and vice versa? What about the gas being released from the air lock does that need vented somehow? Where is the best place/price to get the love temp control? Sorry abouth the long post just trying to do this right and have my costs figured out. Thanks PERK

 

[Hammy71]

Shew, thats alot, lol. Anywho, I use an old fridge for my fermentation chamber. I have a dual stage Ranco temperature controller (works the same as a dual love I guess). The freezer part of the fridge is pretty much useless. I don't even bother to store much in it. It gets a little condensation in it sometimes and lord knows if anything is growing in it. Yes, one part of the dual controller will operate the fridge and the other should operate some sort of heat source ( I use a fermwrap along the back of the fridge to keep the ambient temp up in the chamber). So, if I have a beer I want to ferment at 68 degrees in the spring or fall when the temperature in my basement fluctuates drastically, I will set the fridge to 69 and the heater to 67 degrees. If it gets to hot the fridge comes on and brings the temp down to 69. If it gets to cold, the heater comes on. No worries about venting the CO2. There isn't enough expelled by the beer to explode or be a heath hazard.

 

[Rbeckett]

I bought the STC-1000 PID controller for about 23 bucks on Ebay. It shipped directly from china and still arrived in 10 days. I added a coffee can heater and use the fridge for cooling and it works just fine. If you set the heat and cool temp within range they will never need to run at the same time. One or the other will be on or both will be off if your in range. I try to shoot for the lower end of the yeasts range and allow as long as it takes for the gravity to settle at a stable reading before racking to secondary or bottling. I dont cold crash or anything special, just let it sit undisturbed and proceed with next step when ready. Never had an issue but I am still a noob (less than a year is a noob, no matter what) and dont have a lot of batches for experience.
Bob

 

[Perk]

Thanks for the responses just want to make sure i am doing this right. I just saw the super long post on the stc1000 and am going to order one of those. You just cant beat the price. I have not been able to brew in the summer because i cant hold my ferm temps so I am going to use a old fridge I have. Gotta brew in the summer i need homebrew all year long. Once again thanks everyone. PERK

 

[Coohang]

Just a thought - if anyone is interested in a dual controller - check out rebel brewer. That have one for around 90 bones. Just picked one up last week- its working great in my fermentation chamber...

 

[kapbrew13]

Last post on here. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/fermentation-chamber-build-progress-250779/index7.html
My fridge had a freezer on top. Never finished the heating part.
I would probably set cold higher when I anticipate using the heater in the colder months.