My SOF Chiller

[EricT]

Started working on my SOF chiller about a week ago based on the http://www.bayareamashers.org/gadgets/son_of_chiller.pdf design. I decided to enclose the whole thing in plywood and made it big enough to hold two 6.5 Gal carboys. I also added a laminate bottom which is glued to the 1.5" Styrofoam insulation as a protective covering. (the Styrofoam is a mess if it starts getting cut up). I did a test run yesterday for 5 hours and with just a 2L bottle in once chamber and a 1/2 Gal bottle in the other I got it down to 54F. Of course it was only 73 here yesterday and it was in my garage which really doesn't get too warm anyway here in Socal, but it should help me keep my Fermenting beer at a steady temperature a lot easier. Additionally I can venture into some of the higher fermenting temp Lagers

I do have a couple things I want to do still. 1. add a drain for condensation. 2. Possibly paint it (not sure yet, kinda like the rustic look) 3. Add a thermometer on the outside.

For now its functional so the rest can wait.

 

[Espi]

looks good!

I am starting to design something for fermenting. I am sick of the tub of water/ frozen water bottle thing.

I am thinking of making one to kinda look like an old foot locker...

Any idea as to how often you change your frozen gallon jugs with keeping the house around 80 during summer?

I rekkon you don't have that problem though Eric...

 

[EricT]

I did lot of reading about these and there are guys in central Texas where it hits 100+ and they are able to maintain descent fermenting temperatures. Not sure how often you will need to change Ice, I guess it depends on how big your ice bottles are. Also, you may want to go with the thicker foam. HD has 2" thick for a few dollars more. I like your foot locker Idea though, just make sure its big enough to accommodate your Airlock

 

[Espi]

The thing is.. I have a fridge in the garage.. it costs me an arm and a leg to run in the summer. (its old and tired, ran all the time in the house before I replaced it)

I hit up the antique stores quite often and wanted to convert something that could be in the house and look good.

In AZ its just rough to try and do something in the garage to ferment in.

Yours looks presentable, for me it needs to be a piece of furniture so the ole lady digs it?

Window bench or something?

 

[EricT]

You should check out Jas0420 Fermoire here #
www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/fermoire-45567/
#
Pretty nice, if you read the post he was going to go with Ice and fans but got a cooling unit instead I believe.

 

[Espi]

oh man thanks for the link.. dunno how I missed that?

I don't mean to hijack your thread.

Yours looks great! Nice job.

 

[EricT]

Its functional so I'm happy. Its not in our house so SWMBO is Happy

 

[mmurray]

I'm still trying to figure out how you keep the beer in your carboy on it's side like that!

LOL!!!!!

 

[EricT]

I'm still trying to figure out how you keep the beer in your carboy on it's side like that!

LOL!!!!!

When your good, your good

 

[EricT]

I'm still trying to figure out how you keep the beer in your carboy on it's side like that!

LOL!!!!!

When your good, your good Actually, I'm trying to figure out how to change the pic, I already rotated it when I saved it to my files so I'm stumped.