Issues with designing mini-fridge fermentation chamber

[Improv241]

Two big concerns for me:

1. This is going to be in our house, so it has to look nice (no garage...). I have a plan to make it look sleek and think I can pull this off.

2. The biggest issue, I'm concern about condensation. This will be sitting on hardwoods, so I don't want to uncover a problem after it's too late. Does anyone have experience with this? I'm not expecting significant condensation, but would anyone put in a drip tray of sorts to prevent anything hitting the floor?

 

[stratslinger]

It wasn't condensation, but only the second batch I put in my ferment chamber (a weizenbock) blew off like crazy. My blow off tube goes into a growler half filled with sanitizer - and this blow off was vigorous enough that it overflowed the growler. If it wasn't sitting in my unfinished basement, I woulda been mightily torqued off.

 

[DrJerryrigger]

Condensation problems will relate to air leaks (outside air getting in) and the humidity of the air getting in. As I see you live in VA, likely a concern.
Also as said, things can go wrong in a ferm chamber and make a mess, that's just how fermentation seems to go sometimes.

So you would want a really good sealing door, and well taped corners. Also you should have some sort of system in place for water that may accumulate. A run off pan or something. Maybe channels cut in the floor of it, so that water will go where you want it to in the event of excess moisture.

As for making it look nice, I'm the wrong guy to ask.

 

[tomCT]

1) How nice it looks is very subjective, so I can't help you there.

2) I am using 3 minifridges, one for a kegerator, one with a collar to refrigerate extra kegs, and another with a box attached for fermentation. I have not had any issues with condensation dripping. As long as it is reasonably well insulated with no leaks and you have a good seal on the door, you should be fine.

 

[DeNomad]

There is a drip tray on most mini fridges located on the back of the fridge above the compressor. The heat from the compressor is used to evaporate the condensation from inside the fridge.

To be safe I put my mini fridge on top of a "lack side table" from ikea. Cost me $4. Can't even buy a piece of plywood for that price but I got a 24" x 24" x 2" bit of fake wood with nice black paint underneath my kegerator. Looks quite slick and protects the carpet from any heat or moisture. Looks good in my living room, you just gotta do it up nice.