Fridges for fermenting in / cold crashing

[Insomniac]

Hi all, Ive just stuck 3 5L carboys in my fridge to try and cold crash them. All fine and good, but I'm guessing my housemates won't like me taking up all the fridge space constantly.

I've had a little look around ebay for small fridges but am finding it realy hard to spot if the fermentor and airlock would actually fit in there!

By my rough measurements a 5L jar and bubbler airlock are 48cm tall. Most of the fridges I see say they are 50cm tall, and i'm guessing thats the outside size.

I'm looking to spend no more than £50 for this (I'm in the UK), does anyone have any recomendations for fridges which don't take up too much space for putting in a bedroom, but actually being able to take a 5L carboy with airlock?

Cheers!

 

[Double_D]

I don't think I've seen one with an interior space that tall. It's usually just in the regular size refrigerators. Do you have room in the garage?

 

[bruin_ale]

you can save alot of space if you remove the airlock, use a carboy cap and a blow-off tube. I'm no help on specific models of fridge though.

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

You might want to consider adding a foam box to a mini fridge.

 

[Insomniac]

Ah good point, smaller airlocks might give me a lot more breathing space! What do you mean by adding foam box?

 

[Insomniac]

Does anyone know what the height difference is between the "Small Handy Airlock" and the normal bubbler style ones? The internet has failed me...

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

Ah good point, smaller airlocks might give me a lot more breathing space! What do you mean by adding foam box?

Remove the door from the fridge. Take foam insulating board, and construct a box that fits where the old door did. This enables you to increase the cooled space. I made a box big enough for three 6 gallon Better Bottles.

 

[Insomniac]

Ah ok cheers just seen a few of those in one of the other forums here. I don't have a garage or anywhere to fit a construction like that, maybe when I next move house! Cheers for all the ideas guys, recon I can cobble something together!

 

[BlueZooBrewing]

BB dry-trap sits about half an inch over the stopper, vs 3.25 inches for the three piece and 5 inches for the double bubble.
Blowoff would be just be the width of your hose.

 

[wedge421]

Yeah if you want to go the multiple carboy route your best bet is to construct a cold box from a small dorm refrigerator and styrofoam/insulation.

 

[BlueZooBrewing]

Also this fridge is a Magic chef mcbr 360 s and with a few mods it fits a 5 gallon bb, a standard brew bucket with blowoff hose or dry trap, or two cornies.

 

[Insomniac]

Awesome, thanks for all the info guys, massive help!

 

[StMarcos]

Just run a hose down to a small cup of water. No need for premade locks really.

 

[Double_D]

How tall is the interior of that fridge?

 

[BlueZooBrewing]

29.5 inches inside top to bottom. Takes a modification of the ice tray and a few old books to fit it nicely on the shelf, but since the cooling element is right next to the carboy then instead of in the walls it is great for crashing.