Fermentation Fridge vs. Freezer?

[dmbnpj]

I have seen a lot of posts about using chest freezers or upright freezers and converting those to fermentation vessels via some sort of controller. I am wondering why use a freezer instead of fridge since don't refrigerators use less energy and you would still be able to achieve the desired temperature?

In my situation I am interested in installing a fermentation vessel out in my shed but I already have a refrigerator out there. I am concerned about running too much energy out there and popping a breaker with both plugged in?

 

[knightbeer39]

Chest freezer holds more carboys/kegs. You get more horizontal space instead of wasted vertical space.

 

[humann_brewing]

I looked at it as freezers being more efficient. They inherently have more insulation and since you are only running them at fridge or fermentation temps they don't have to use as much energy to maintain that compared to a freezing temp.

 

[dmbnpj]

Chest freezer holds more carboys/kegs. You get more horizontal space instead of wasted vertical space.

But you can only ferment at one temperature in whatever fermentation chamber anyway so my thinking is I will only be fermenting one carboy at a time. And therefore, it is going to be easier to just open the door of a fridge and put the carboy in and pull it out rather than a chest freezer where I will have to lift it out and over. But my major concern is blowing an electrical circuit with 2 units plugged in out in my shed?

 

[3PegBrew]

I've been dieing to ask this question but everytime I log on it slips my mind. Anybody ever have that happen to them? haha

Freezers freeze. Fridges keep cold. If one wanted to get a freezer to ferment in, how do you get it to be higher temp to ferment in?

I'm not sure if I worded that right. Follow me?

 

[Frank99]

I got a 15 cf chest freezer off CL for $100 and it was the best $$ I ever spent. Chest freezers have more insulation and the thing hardly every cycles on as it holds the temps steady. I have the temp gauge (Ranco) threaded right through the drain hole, so no modifications were needed. Freezers can hold any temp you want. Just get a heating element and connect to your dual stage controller if you want it warmer than the ambient temp.

 

[mattd2]

I've been dieing to ask this question but everytime I log on it slips my mind. Anybody ever have that happen to them? haha

Freezers freeze. Fridges keep cold. If one wanted to get a freezer to ferment in, how do you get it to be higher temp to ferment in?

I'm not sure if I worded that right. Follow me?

...converting those to fermentation vessels via some sort of controller...

The controller is usually a love/ranco/ebay brand

 

[dfc]

I've been dieing to ask this question but everytime I log on it slips my mind. Anybody ever have that happen to them? haha

Freezers freeze. Fridges keep cold. If one wanted to get a freezer to ferment in, how do you get it to be higher temp to ferment in?

I'm not sure if I worded that right. Follow me?

I use a thermostat with a probe. A probe goes inside the freezer and the freezer gets plugged into my thermostat. Once the thermostat reads a specific temperature it cuts the power to the freezer.

 

[knightbeer39]

But you can only ferment at one temperature in whatever fermentation chamber anyway so my thinking is I will only be fermenting one carboy at a time. And therefore, it is going to be easier to just open the door of a fridge and put the carboy in and pull it out rather than a chest freezer where I will have to lift it out and over. But my major concern is blowing an electrical circuit with 2 units plugged in out in my shed?

You shouldn't have any circuit blowing issues. Most of the time the thing isn't even running. Mine only kicks on a little now and then to bring it up to temperature.

Where are you going to store all that good keg and bottled beer you are generating? Yes, you are limited to one temperature, but you have vastly more storage capability in a chest freezer. I use two, one fermenation and one keezer, but even when using one I found it far more useful for storing cases of beer along with any carboys and/or kegs.

Your call, I would say it uses less electricity, it is more practical with increased horizontal space for storage, it was a no brainer for me. Either way, brew on my friend!!

 

[knightbeer39]

I've been dieing to ask this question but everytime I log on it slips my mind. Anybody ever have that happen to them? haha

Freezers freeze. Fridges keep cold. If one wanted to get a freezer to ferment in, how do you get it to be higher temp to ferment in?

I'm not sure if I worded that right. Follow me?

Just use one of these babies:

http://morebeer.com/view_product/16663//Analog_Temperature_Controller

The probe goes in the keezer and the keezer plugs into the controller which plugs into your outlet. The controller kicks the freezer on and off to keep it at the dialed in temperature. Works like a charm.

EDIT: I see dfc already addressed this; sorry for the redundant post!

 

[jpc]

You shouldn't have any circuit blowing issues. Most of the time the thing isn't even running. Mine only kicks on a little now and then to bring it up to temperature.

Where are you going to store all that good keg and bottled beer you are generating? Yes, you are limited to one temperature, but you have vastly more storage capability in a chest freezer. I use two, one fermenation and one keezer, but even when using one I found it far more useful for storing cases of beer along with any carboys and/or kegs.

Your call, I would say it uses less electricity, it is more practical with increased horizontal space for storage, it was a no brainer for me. Either way, brew on my friend!!

It all depends on the current draw. I have a freezer and a refrigerator both hooked to the same 15 amp circuit, but each one draws under 5 amps.

The only time I could see a problem is if they both kick on at precisely the same time; motors, when starting, have large draw currents (but for a short duration); this may be enough to kick a breaker (in any case, it could be enough to trigger a GFCI, which is why a refrigerator outlet should not be GFCI-protected).

 

[pava]

I have been meaning to ask this for a while too (yep happens to me too3PegBrew). So I typically do 2 10 gallons brews in a brewday, any thoughts on what size freezer I would need to be able to hold 4 6 gallon carboys at one time. I know they may need slightly different temperatures, but I figure I could probably pick an average temp that would be good for both batches.

 

[lilwiggum]

But you can only ferment at one temperature in whatever fermentation chamber anyway so my thinking is I will only be fermenting one carboy at a time. And therefore, it is going to be easier to just open the door of a fridge and put the carboy in and pull it out rather than a chest freezer where I will have to lift it out and over. But my major concern is blowing an electrical circuit with 2 units plugged in out in my shed?

Maybe you should look at stand-up freezers. I have one and I feel it's the best of both worlds.

 

[jpc]

I have been meaning to ask this for a while too (yep happens to me too3PegBrew). So I typically do 2 10 gallons brews in a brewday, any thoughts on what size freezer I would need to be able to hold 4 6 gallon carboys at one time. I know they may need slightly different temperatures, but I figure I could probably pick an average temp that would be good for both batches.

I have a Kenmore (Frigidaire) freezerless refrigerator that can hold four carboys. I tend to put them in milk crates, and slide the crates into the fridge.