How long is fermentation temp a big issue?

[phbern]

I had one of these bad boys before I got my chest freezer set up as a fermentation chamber.

It works like a charm! Two frozen 2 liter bottles switched out every 12-18 hours kept the beer at 64 degrees, 4 frozen bottles keeps it lager temps. If you catch morebeer on a sale or a coupon you can get it for like 50 bucks.

I have one of these as well, they work great. The Cool Brewing company also sells special freezer packs to go with it. More expensive than soda bottles, but they get and stay cold for at least 12 hours.

Products

Paul

 

[Jim R]

Here is some info on the dimensions of that Magic Chef refrigerator with some pictures in the link. Hope this helps.

The internal measurements are about 28 1/2" height, 16" width and about 18" deep. By cutting the door divider a little, I added about 2" to the depth or a total of about 20" which I needed for the top of my SS Brewtech 7 gallon fermenter.

You do then lose a little of this internal space with the back shelf for the compressor. This measure about 8" high by 6" deep and goes across the full 16" width of the refrigerator. Again there is no freezer compartment taking up valuable space.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/nice-mini-refrigerator-for-180.675417/#post-8789248

 

[johndan]

Thanks for this. So it looks like my 6.5 gallon plastic bucket will fit but the Ss Brewbuckets might be too tight by about a half inch after subtracting for the compressor. Maybe I can make up the 0.5" with cutting into the door. I'll check once I have the fridge. (I don't have the Ss Brewbucket, but it's what I was considering as a future purchase.)

Here is some info on the dimensions of that Magic Chef refrigerator with some pictures in the link. Hope this helps.

The internal measurements are about 28 1/2" height, 16" width and about 18" deep. By cutting the door divider a little, I added about 2" to the depth or a total of about 20" which I needed for the top of my SS Brewtech 7 gallon fermenter.

You do then lose a little of this internal space with the back shelf for the compressor. This measure about 8" high by 6" deep and goes across the full 16" width of the refrigerator. Again there is no freezer compartment taking up valuable space.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/nice-mini-refrigerator-for-180.675417/#post-8789248

 

[Deadalus]

A friend of mine bought a similar sized mini-fridge and built a collar for it out of 2x4's to avoid cutting into the door. I'm not sure how it attaches though but I think I've seen some examples here before too. I built one for my keezer but it sits on top.

 

[Jim R]

My SS Brewbucket fits in this refrigerator. I just had to cut a little of the door divider off where the top of the Brewbucket would contact the door.

 

[msjy2008]

My 14 gallon SS Brewtech unitank fermenting under pressure with a 1/5 horsepower glycol chiller.

 

[Dancy]

I had one of these bad boys before I got my chest freezer set up as a fermentation chamber.

It works like a charm! Two frozen 2 liter bottles switched out every 12-18 hours kept the beer at 64 degrees, 4 frozen bottles keeps it lager temps. If you catch morebeer on a sale or a coupon you can get it for like 50 bucks.

That is exactly what what I have and love it! My Speidel 7.9g fermenter is a bit too tall for it but works fine as I wrap a bungie cord near the top. I only do ales but found I have to be careful not to go too nuts with the ice bottles as I got down to 54 degrees at one point. Also, one time the edge of the Speidel’s valve ripped the interior lining, which I patched so now I tape some bubble wrap over the valve.

 

[jrgtr42]

My SS Brewbucket fits in this refrigerator. I just had to cut a little of the door divider off where the top of the Brewbucket would contact the door.

Stupid question... do you need the insulation wrapped around the fermenter, or is that for attaching a temperature probe?

 

[Jim R]

Stupid question... do you need the insulation wrapped around the fermenter, or is that for attaching a temperature probe?

I have a Fermwrap heating blanket around the fermenter so I use some insulation outside of the heater. I am not sure I really need it though because it rarely turns on. I also have a temperature probe in the thermowell of the fermenter.

 

[johndan]

Excellent--thanks.

My SS Brewbucket fits in this refrigerator. I just had to cut a little of the door divider off where the top of the Brewbucket would contact the door.

 

[faithie999]

Here is some info on the dimensions of that Magic Chef refrigerator with some pictures in the link. Hope this helps.

The internal measurements are about 28 1/2" height, 16" width and about 18" deep. By cutting the door divider a little, I added about 2" to the depth or a total of about 20" which I needed for the top of my SS Brewtech 7 gallon fermenter.

You do then lose a little of this internal space with the back shelf for the compressor. This measure about 8" high by 6" deep and goes across the full 16" width of the refrigerator. Again there is no freezer compartment taking up valuable space.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/nice-mini-refrigerator-for-180.675417/#post-8789248

not to hijack the thread, but those dimensions look like it would accommodate a 6-gal Better Bottle carboy fermentor which is 19" high (plus maybe 2-3" more for a blowoff tube) and 11.5" diameter. is there 11.5" clear between the face of the compressor bump-out and the inside of the door? if not, and I needed to build a riser the same height as the bump-out, I don't think the carboy plus blowoff tube would fit height-wise. am I right? thanks!

 

[Jim R]

not to hijack the thread, but those dimensions look like it would accommodate a 6-gal Better Bottle carboy fermentor which is 19" high (plus maybe 2-3" more for a blowoff tube) and 11.5" diameter. is there 11.5" clear between the face of the compressor bump-out and the inside of the door? if not, and I needed to build a riser the same height as the bump-out, I don't think the carboy plus blowoff tube would fit height-wise. am I right? thanks!

There is definitely 11.5" of depth between the compressor bump-out and the closed door (closer to 12.5") although you will need to cut the door divider a little (will take about a minute). I use a blow-off tube on my SS Brewtech fermenter and set the Star San container in the back on top of the compressor bump-out. I then do a pressure transfer to my keg and then cold crash in the same refrigerator.

 

[faithie999]

There is definitely 11.5" of depth between the compressor bump-out and the closed door (closer to 12.5") although you will need to cut the door divider a little (will take about a minute). I use a blow-off tube on my SS Brewtech fermenter and set the Star San container in the back on top of the compressor bump-out. I then do a pressure transfer to my keg and then cold crash in the same refrigerator.

thanks!!

Ken

 

[yowzers]

Here's another inexpensive option that gives precise control. If you already have the inkbird you're looking at $70 more to have this system. I lager with mine down to the low 50's. I'd rather have control like this than spend the same $70 on a Cool Bag that doesn't have precise control.
https://ballandkeg.com/temperature-control-loop.php

 

[faithie999]

Here's another inexpensive option that gives precise control. If you already have the inkbird you're looking at $70 more to have this system. I lager with mine down to the low 50's. I'd rather have control like this than spend the same $70 on a Cool Bag that doesn't have precise control.

neat system! which model inkbird, and what kind of recirc pump do you use?
thanks