New fermentation chamber build

[Crash]

I was thinking of doing something similar, but was going to use a small 110 ac window unit we bought a couple of years ago to cool the tent when camping. I think its around 5,000 btu's and a decent fan for circulation, but I'll have to catch and pump the condensation out of the garage. Any idea if it would reach lagering temps?

 

[TrannyRock]

I'm thinking about taking a minifridge and just putting sheathing around it, leaving the back of the fridge uncovered. Is there anything I'm not thinking of that will keep this from working?

 

[mnadamn]

I was thinking of doing something similar, but was going to use a small 110 ac window unit we bought a couple of years ago to cool the tent when camping. I think its around 5,000 btu's and a decent fan for circulation, but I'll have to catch and pump the condensation out of the garage. Any idea if it would reach lagering temps?

you could freeze the beer if u wanted to

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

I'm thinking about taking a minifridge and just putting sheathing around it, leaving the back of the fridge uncovered. Is there anything I'm not thinking of that will keep this from working?

I think that would work, but you just have to seal everything up really well. Cold air is going to find every little crack and escape which will be running that fridge constantly. I sealed my stuff with some exterior silicone window/door sealant and gooped it in every little corner I could. I'm hoping this will be sufficient when the really hot weather hits.

 

[TrannyRock]

I mean the back (or more specifically, the coils) of the fridge have to be OUTSIDE the box, right? So the heat would transfer out of the box?

 

[boodyrischous]

An 8,000 or 9,000 btu portable A/c unit would do the trick, right? I have access to either for a low price, so I am thinking of using them instead of a window unit (that way all the noise is contained in the well-insulated cabinet). They have tubes to dump moisture that I would have to seal through the wall.

 

[baltimorebeer]

That is an awesome build! Good job. Do you have that computer fan setup to run when the fridge is running, or do you just plug it in and have it circulating during the whole fermentation?

Glenn

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

That is an awesome build! Good job. Do you have that computer fan setup to run when the fridge is running, or do you just plug it in and have it circulating during the whole fermentation?

Glenn

Thanks! It is hooked up to the Johnson thermostat, so turns on at the same time as the fridge. So far that's worked pretty good, and I'm able to get down to lagering temps without the fridge kicking on too often.

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

An 8,000 or 9,000 btu portable A/c unit would do the trick, right? I have access to either for a low price, so I am thinking of using them instead of a window unit (that way all the noise is contained in the well-insulated cabinet). They have tubes to dump moisture that I would have to seal through the wall.

Yep, that would work too. I think the main thing is good insulation and sealing the chamber.

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

I mean the back (or more specifically, the coils) of the fridge have to be OUTSIDE the box, right? So the heat would transfer out of the box?

Yes, and some fridges have coils running along the outside walls of the fridge to get rid of that heat. That's why my fridge is entirely outside the chamber. I noticed that during operation the walls of the fridge get pretty hot.

 

[BioBeing]

Yes, and some fridges have coils running along the outside walls of the fridge to get rid of that heat. That's why my fridge is entirely outside the chamber. I noticed that during operation the walls of the fridge get pretty hot.

Is this true? I am in the middle of building mine, and I was going to enclose most of the fridge, leaving just the back open.

 

[samc]

Yes it is. Some do, some don't. Plug the fridge in and check. My old keg fridge has internal coils only not on the walls. My chest freezer has them in the walls and they got hot.

 

[BioBeing]

Thanks. I just assumed that I didn't need worry about the sides...

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

I'm sure that varies between models, but if there isn't a radiator-looking grill on the back of the fridge those lines probably run through the sides/top. All of that heat has to go somewhere, and since the skin of the fridge is metal, it makes a nice heat exchanger.

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

UPDATE: Due to the warm weather the garage is sitting about 95F in the hottest part of the day. I checked the ferm chamber and it's holding a nice 62F, and not even clicking on that often. I've also got 2 carboys full of barleywine in full active fermentation, and they are at perfect temp. So far so good, seems like the insulation is doing it's job! :rockin:

 

[Scut_Monkey]

This is a great build. I have a work bench in my garage that was left by the previous owners. It is kind of useless space underneath except if I could make one of these little guys. I've been searching for a way to control fermenation temps and I would love to lager but I don't have the capabilities to do it right now.

I was wondering what the dimensions of your build were including the fridge. Just an approximate height width and length if you know off the top of your head.

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

It's about 32" tall, 24" wide, and 4' long. I would have made it longer, but I was concerned about the cooling capacity of that little fridge. However, so far my concerns have been unfounded. The weekend we'll be getting close to the century mark, so I'll see how it does. I don't anticipate any problems, this thing hardly comes on at all even when the garage is 90F.

 

[riromero]

Could you quote the R-value on your foam? I'm in the midst of doing the same thing buy mine leaks cold air like a sieve.

 

[LooyvilleLarry]

hmmm. This might be incorporated into my new router table/miter saw stand.

 

[Scut_Monkey]

Thanks for the dimensions. I think I will be able to make it a little larger if I build it. From what you said it holds 3 buckets or carboys though which would probably be enough for my needs. What would probably be a better idea for me is to create two chambers side by side so I can have two different temps running for different fermentations. Say an ale and a lager. Thanks again for the great post.

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

Could you quote the R-value on your foam? I'm in the midst of doing the same thing buy mine leaks cold air like a sieve.

The R-value of the 1.5" product is listed at 9.4. On the front of the chamber where it encounters the most heat, I also have some cheap styrofoam 3/4" insulation with an r-value of 3.5. I have all of that mounted on the outside walls to 1/4" plywood. The other sides are attached to an insulated house wall on one long side. If you're getting air leakage, I would go around with a couple tubes of silicone exterior caulking and seal up any seam you can find. If you have any large gaps, I'd buy a can of spray-in expanding foam.

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

Thanks for the dimensions. I think I will be able to make it a little larger if I build it. From what you said it holds 3 buckets or carboys though which would probably be enough for my needs. What would probably be a better idea for me is to create two chambers side by side so I can have two different temps running for different fermentations. Say an ale and a lager. Thanks again for the great post.

Great idea, let me know how it turns out!

 

[jboehle]

Can you post more details and/or pics about how you sealed to the front of the fridge? I have a mini fridge I'd love to do this do in our garage, it's getting hot here in Kansas, and my closet under the stairs didn't maintain 71 F this week when my latest IPA was in the heat of fermenting, it got up to 77 F, doh! Plus my wife would love it if I got my brewing moved completely to the garage.

I just don't want to permanently damage the fridge, I was wondering if you did or not.

 

[jajabee]

This is just awesome. I'm going to start hunting for a good deal on a craigslist mini fridge. Do you have any thoughts on how I could install an observation window? Could I get some sort of thick Plexi or something that wouldn't leak all the cold out? I still get a kick out of watching the fermentation happen.

Something like this: http://www.estreetplastics.com/1_2_x_6_x_12_Clear_Acrylic_Plexiglass_Sheet_p/1013010200.htm

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

This is just awesome. I'm going to start hunting for a good deal on a craigslist mini fridge. Do you have any thoughts on how I could install an observation window? Could I get some sort of thick Plexi or something that wouldn't leak all the cold out? I still get a kick out of watching the fermentation happen.

Something like this: eStreetPlastics - plexiglass supplier

Yeah, that would be fantastic. Hey, mind if I rip your idea off? I think it could be easily done with a "double pane" technique on either side of the plywood. Make a frame out of benderboard or some other 1/8" thick wood and seal it all up with exterior window/door caulking. I'm always peeking in there to check fermentation, airlock activity, and temperature.

 

[jajabee]

Yeah, that would be fantastic. Hey, mind if I rip your idea off?

Naturally! I fully intend to copy yours.

 

[ClaudiusB]

Do you have any thoughts on how I could install an observation window? Could I get some sort of thick Plexi or something that wouldn't leak all the cold out? I still get a kick out of watching the fermentation happen.

Yeah, that would be fantastic. Hey, mind if I rip your idea off? I think it could be easily done with a "double pane" technique on either side of the plywood.

Don't worry about ripping his idea off, I did it a few years ago
Different project, same idea.
I used two 1/4" polycarbonate sheets for my window.

Final product

My outdated fermentation box.

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

 

[jboehle]

Inspired by this thread, I started on my fermentation chamber build tonight:

I sized it to have room for two carboys and maybe a starter or two. Picking up the insulation tomorrow from Home Depot. Hopefully be pretty much done with it tomorrow night. Going to put the whole thing on wheels for easy mobility in my garage. Ranco controller on the way for temp control.

Thanks for the inspiration!

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

Very cool! Did you start your own thread with some more pics of the build? I'd love to see more on this project...nice work!

 

[jboehle]

Haven't started my own thread yet, but I uploaded my first two day's progress to a new album, along with descriptions:

DIY Temp. Controlled Fermentation Chamber - HomeBrewTalk Gallery