Mini fridge size?

[mdawson9]

Hey guys, I'm in Florida and want to start control temp better during fermentation, especially since summer is starting soon. I just bottled my first batch of beer and temp was constant throughout the fermentation but was on the high side (78 F). What cubic size mini fridge can hold a 6.5 plastic bucket or glass carboy (and room for blow off tube if needed)? Thanks!

 

[MikeinCT]

I have not done this ...but some folks have bought a mini fridge and expanded them with plywood or other materials.

I have used an evaporation cooler or a swamp cooler. This is a pretty easy way to knock 8 or 10 degrees off of your fermenter.

 

[Draken]

I have not done this ...but some folks have bought a mini fridge and expanded them with plywood or other materials.

I have used an evaporation cooler or a swamp cooler. This is a pretty easy way to knock 8 or 10 degrees off of your fermenter.

This is on my list of things to do this summer... The are a few threads in the DIY forum that cover a fermentation chamber. Check over there.

 

[Nimand]

I believe if you got a 15 x 15 x 30 on the inside it should be fine. I finally just got a wine fridge to use and its a pain in the ass because a lot of the mini/wine fridges have that hump in them for the working parts. I havent been able to get my bucket in mine yet because its full and I dont want to move it so Im hoping it works out lol.

 

[BrettFitz]

I live in Florida too. Going to build a nice big fermentation chamber this summer, but for now I am going the easy/cheap route. A friend was gonna throw his fridge away (regular size, freezer on top style). I took it, removed all of the shelves and built a very simple wooden platform to bring the bottom of the fridge to a larger, level size.

I took the freezer door off so I don't get mold up there, and take advantage of the space for general garage storage (wife says it is just another place to put "junk").

I can put 2 fermenting buckets in there.

I keep it cool by setting a frozen bottle or 2 of water in with the beer each morning. I watch the temp - if it is creeping up, I use a gallon size jug. If it is trending lower, I use a 22 oz water bottle.

Come summer I might have to alternate between the gallon sized jugs - we'll see. But keeping the temp between 67-70 is no problem at all, and it would be easy to drop it a few degrees.

The only downside is that I have to check it each day.