My semi walkin 5000 btu fermentation chamber

[n240sxguy]

Only thing I would suggest is your center shelf should not be solid plywood; but get some type of stainless steel shelving for better circulation to the bottom.

I thought about that but I didn't feel like messing with metal in it. You can't really tell from the picture, but there is a gap on the front and back of the shelf that is probably 6 inches. I made it as narrow as I could while still being able to hold my fermenter. I need to put my thermometer in a bottle of water on the bottom to confirm that there is enough circulation to maintain temp in both sections.

 

[elwood]

excellent job!

 

[elangle]

You could always use a computer fan or two for air circulation.

 

[elangle]

Could you post the dimensions and if possible a parts list?

 

[n240sxguy]

You could always use a computer fan or two for air circulation.

I opted to put an off delay relay on the A/C's internal fan to run it after the temp controller turns off the compressor. I figure running it for a couple minutes would move more air than a computer fan running constantly. By the time any temp stratification occurs the A/C will probably be kicked back on. That's all speculation at this point. I'm gonna try to measure some temps in the next few days.

 

[n240sxguy]

Could you post the dimensions and if possible a parts list?

It's 3x3x7.
Parts list from memory:
4 sheets of 3/8 plywood
2 rolls of R-13 insulation
16 8ft 2x4's
3 sheets(I think) 1" thick 4x8 extruded polystyrene insulation
2 rolls of aluminum tape
Box of screws
6x6x4 PVC electrical box
Window A/C
Off delay relay off eBay
Temp controller off eBay from a couple years ago
Scrap plywood I had laying around
Misc wiring materials I had laying around
4 brass door hinges
2 latches
1 handle

Hope that helps

 

[Hoptimistic]

very cool. but does it also time travel?

 

[n240sxguy]

very cool. but does it also time travel?

Only if I get it to 88 mph!

 

[oldstyle69]

very cool. but does it also time travel?

TARDIS for the win. very nice build. i just made one out of an old dresser.

 

[n240sxguy]

Classy

 

[limulus]

TARDIS for the win. very nice build. i just made one out of an old dresser.

I also saw a guy build a keezer out of an old entertainment cabinet that was used to house a CRT TV (not flat screen), and stereo equipment...maybe it once even held a beta VCR :rockin:

 

[n240sxguy]

First batch is fermenting away.

 

[InLimbo]

Interesting build. While it was smart introducing the cold "heavier" air at the top, what kind of temperature fluctuation are you getting from the top to the bottom half? Cause even when I reach into my keezer (which is only half that height) I can feel a tremendous difference from the top to the bottom. Obviously you're not getting much air circulation past your solid fiber board shelf. Is there a reason you went with a stacking design, as opposed to making a side-by-side design? I plan to go with a single level design when I make one.

 

[n240sxguy]

I chose a stacked design to replicate the fridge I was using. I like to use gravity whoever possible, so I can just drain the fermenter to the kegs. The shelf is solid side to side, but it has several inches of clearance in the front and back. Before I installed the 1" foam on the inside of the door I could sit on the shelf with my legs hanging down and close the door. I'll get a couple thermometers and water bottles and see what kind of liquid temp gradient I have.

 

[bleme]

Very nice. I would just cover the shelf with contact paper for easy cleanup and reduce mold growth.

 

[n240sxguy]

That's a good idea. I hadn't crossed that bridge yet.

 

[limulus]

I assume that is a 15g conical. Are you pumping wort into it or lifting it up to the shelf?

 

[n240sxguy]

I have a chugger pump now, so I'm pumping it. Before, I was draining the kettle into my bottling bucket, and sitting it on top of the fridge to drain into it. Real PITA.

 

[limulus]

I keep thinking about a conical or two. I would also have to use my pump for the transfer.

 

[trbig]

Great ideas and nice build. Not trying to be a kill-joy, but wouldn't an old fridge off Craigslist be much cheaper, get much colder, and be much more economical to run? I mean, I can see using this for fermentations to keep the temps where they need to be such as for bock style beers, (Never tried to see if you can turn a fridge temp up high enough to hold at high 50's to low 60's) but for actual cold crashing, an old fridge is hard to beat.

Also, the idea about computer fans is a good one. They use very very little electricity, are usually very quiet, and are cheap. I use them in egg incubators to keep all the air in the enclosed space circulating and the same temp. Still air will settle out fairly quickly.. hot to the top and cold down.

Also, you don't want the A/C blowing directly on your bucket since it's much colder than the surrounding air. Whatever surface it hits, it'll make a cold spot. Your wort on the A/C side of your bucket will get much colder than the oposite side. Kind of like in your car with the A/C going and a vent blowing directly on you.. eventually that spot will feel like it's frezing even though the surrounding air and the rest of you is much warmer.

Just my 2 cents.. if it's worth even that.

 

[BryceL]

Very nice build. I'm starting to put some ideas together to build a nice chamber. It's time to upgrade from my son of a fermentation chamber which can only hold one carboy.

 

[limulus]

Great ideas and nice build. Not trying to be a kill-joy, but wouldn't an old fridge off Craigslist be much cheaper, get much colder, and be much more economical to run? I mean, I can see using this for fermentations to keep the temps where they need to be such as for bock style beers, (Never tried to see if you can turn a fridge temp up high enough to hold at high 50's to low 60's) but for actual cold crashing, an old fridge is hard to beat.

Also, the idea about computer fans is a good one. They use very very little electricity, are usually very quiet, and are cheap. I use them in egg incubators to keep all the air in the enclosed space circulating and the same temp. Still air will settle out fairly quickly.. hot to the top and cold down.

Also, you don't want the A/C blowing directly on your bucket since it's much colder than the surrounding air. Whatever surface it hits, it'll make a cold spot. Your wort on the A/C side of your bucket will get much colder than the oposite side. Kind of like in your car with the A/C going and a vent blowing directly on you.. eventually that spot will feel like it's frezing even though the surrounding air and the rest of you is much warmer.

Just my 2 cents.. if it's worth even that.

Sure, you cold buy an old fridge off CL. But, it would be smaller and could only hold one fermenter at a time...maybe two. It's also old. Every used freezer I ever bought did not last and those were from the so called repair shops that buy and sell them. Then I was left with the carcass and had to pay someone to haul it away. An old fridge has even more potential problems. That being said, I do have our old GE fridge from a previous home in our garage. I use it for crash cooling. It will only hold one of my 13gal fermenters at a time.

This particular build was built as an upright. I built mine as a cube and I can get 7 fermenters inside. I have taken mine down to 50F with no problem and I use a very similar A/C unit as the OP of this thread. Since this type of system could freeze up, I have not tried colder on mine.

 

[n240sxguy]

Great ideas and nice build. Not trying to be a kill-joy, but wouldn't an old fridge off Craigslist be much cheaper, get much colder, and be much more economical to run? I mean, I can see using this for fermentations to keep the temps where they need to be such as for bock style beers, (Never tried to see if you can turn a fridge temp up high enough to hold at high 50's to low 60's) but for actual cold crashing, an old fridge is hard to beat.

Also, the idea about computer fans is a good one. They use very very little electricity, are usually very quiet, and are cheap. I use them in egg incubators to keep all the air in the enclosed space circulating and the same temp. Still air will settle out fairly quickly.. hot to the top and cold down.

Also, you don't want the A/C blowing directly on your bucket since it's much colder than the surrounding air. Whatever surface it hits, it'll make a cold spot. Your wort on the A/C side of your bucket will get much colder than the oposite side. Kind of like in your car with the A/C going and a vent blowing directly on you.. eventually that spot will feel like it's frezing even though the surrounding air and the rest of you is much warmer.

Just my 2 cents.. if it's worth even that.

I built this unit because I had an old fridge that lasted a year. If this lasts 4 years I've come out ahead, and I only have to replace the A/C then, not retrofit an entire fridge.

I'm still in the learning phase as far as air stratification goes. I'll address that issue when I have more data.

I've been thinking about putting a deflector in to blow the air over the fermenter so it's not blowing directly on it. For now the built in deflector helps divert the air flow some. I liked the build I saw with the A/C on top of the chamber with ducts blowing down, but I didn't want to build all that duct work.

 

[brewguyver]

Great ideas and nice build. Not trying to be a kill-joy, but wouldn't an old fridge off Craigslist be much cheaper, get much colder, and be much more economical to run? I mean, I can see using this for fermentations to keep the temps where they need to be such as for bock style beers, (Never tried to see if you can turn a fridge temp up high enough to hold at high 50's to low 60's) but for actual cold crashing, an old fridge is hard to beat.

+1 on the space dealie. Much more room in a self built setup, and you don't have to worry about voiding the warranty.

 

[n240sxguy]

One thing I'm running into now is it has a tendency to freeze up if I go below 60. I've got two on delay relays on the way to basically make a defrost cycle. Cost $10. Still cheaper than a different controller. I actually haven't seen a controller that has a feature like that. The stc1000 has a compressor surge protection circuit, but nothing to keep it from running for hours on end. I may also add a couple computer fans.

 

[estricklin]

That is sweet!

 

[trbig]

+1 on the space dealie. Much more room in a self built setup, and you don't have to worry about voiding the warranty.

All the room in the world won't help you if you can't get it down to cold crashing temps. And if you ever find an old fridge on Craigslist that's still under warranty, let us know, will ya?

 

[brewguyver]

One thing I'm running into now is it has a tendency to freeze up if I go below 60. I've got two on delay relays on the way to basically make a defrost cycle. Cost $10. Still cheaper than a different controller. I actually haven't seen a controller that has a feature like that. The stc1000 has a compressor surge protection circuit, but nothing to keep it from running for hours on end. I may also add a couple computer fans.

I believe some of the watlow PID controllers can take multiple probe inputs and have all sorts of wait and rest cycles, auto leveling, etc. If you're already putting in your own relays then it might be worth looking at - one probe could go on the fins and trim it down if they're freezing up, or it could do rest cycles. My buddy has a few that were pulled out of a unit for managing tissue samples etc (e.g. Very accurate). I'll find out what the model number is.

All the room in the world won't help you if you can't get it down to cold crashing temps. And if you ever find an old fridge on Craigslist that's still under warranty, let us know, will ya?

Heh - can't cold crash one fermenter without cold crashing all of them (without a bunch of extra engineering). Can always buy the fridge later and use it just for that, and keep the pipeline moving using this one!

 

[n240sxguy]

I believe some of the watlow PID controllers can take multiple probe inputs and have all sorts of wait and rest cycles, auto leveling, etc. If you're already putting in your own relays then it might be worth looking at - one probe could go on the fins and trim it down if they're freezing up, or it could do rest cycles.

I already ordered my relays unfortunately. I'm trying to get them "unshipped" right now. If that works I plan to get an STC-1000 and use it to monitor the fin temp. I wish I had though of doing that yesterday instead of trying to build a defrost circuit into it. I was planning on doing that and computer fans, but I would rather do the extra controller.

 

[brewguyver]

I already ordered my relays unfortunately. I'm trying to get them "unshipped" right now. If that works I plan to get an STC-1000 and use it to monitor the fin temp. I wish I had though of doing that yesterday instead of trying to build a defrost circuit into it. I was planning on doing that and computer fans, but I would rather do the extra controller.

It's probably much simpler that way - seems like live got the right approach.