Title should be Fermonster Hack.
I wanted to be able to do closed transfers from my Fermonsters to keg. I was also able to prevent suck back when cold crashing (I do not buy into the S style airlock as a viable fix. You may not be sucking sanitizer in, but oxygen is getting sucked in), and created a way to purge my headspace in time of opening the carboy.
I bought solid lids for the Fermonster and these
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J5QXD4Y/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
I drilled 2 holes in each lid and inserted the grommets. I made fittings with hose barbs, valves, and 1/4" male flare fittings.
During normal fermentation, an airlock (with blow off tube if necessary) is on one hole and the closed valve in the other. When I cold crash, I remove the airlock, purge the top with CO2, and insert the grommet plug in the airlock hole. I check the fermenter every couple hours and if the vessel is showing any signs of getting sucked in, I burp a little CO2 in until it comes back to shape.
When it was time to transfer, I remove the plug, purge with C02, and slide a stainless steel siphon in the grommet. I put a compression by male flare fitting on the end of the siphon. I connect a hose down to my liquid disconnect on a purged keg and push the beer out with 1-2 psi going into the carboy. Once the siponed started, I'd turn off the CO2 until the carboy started to get sucked in and then turn the gas back on to push it out again.
This does take a little bit of watching and tinkering, but it worked great. Just be careful not to over pressurize the carboy.
I will eventually add a 2 way manifold to my chamber, but didn't want to spend any more money on this if it didn't work like I planned. I do have a plug for one side of the gas lines if I don't need it.
I wanted to be able to do closed transfers from my Fermonsters to keg. I was also able to prevent suck back when cold crashing (I do not buy into the S style airlock as a viable fix. You may not be sucking sanitizer in, but oxygen is getting sucked in), and created a way to purge my headspace in time of opening the carboy.
I bought solid lids for the Fermonster and these
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J5QXD4Y/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
I drilled 2 holes in each lid and inserted the grommets. I made fittings with hose barbs, valves, and 1/4" male flare fittings.
During normal fermentation, an airlock (with blow off tube if necessary) is on one hole and the closed valve in the other. When I cold crash, I remove the airlock, purge the top with CO2, and insert the grommet plug in the airlock hole. I check the fermenter every couple hours and if the vessel is showing any signs of getting sucked in, I burp a little CO2 in until it comes back to shape.
When it was time to transfer, I remove the plug, purge with C02, and slide a stainless steel siphon in the grommet. I put a compression by male flare fitting on the end of the siphon. I connect a hose down to my liquid disconnect on a purged keg and push the beer out with 1-2 psi going into the carboy. Once the siponed started, I'd turn off the CO2 until the carboy started to get sucked in and then turn the gas back on to push it out again.
This does take a little bit of watching and tinkering, but it worked great. Just be careful not to over pressurize the carboy.
I will eventually add a 2 way manifold to my chamber, but didn't want to spend any more money on this if it didn't work like I planned. I do have a plug for one side of the gas lines if I don't need it.
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