New fermentation chambers to show off brew buckets

[Lucky Cat Brew]

Hey Steve,
Not sure if you're still closing the door on the cord, but I used your idea here for my Brew Buckets and also drilled holes to run the cords:

The heat pad had your standard electrical outlet on the end, so I cut and spliced the power cord in order to run it. The probe fit through the hole just fine. If you lift one of the caps for the door handle mounts, there is nothing underneath other than foam insulation and plastic. Just drill slightly larger and you should be able to feed everything through. Hope this helps, and very happy I found these pics when you posted them!

This is exactly what I needed to figure out as well. Are you guys just plugging the fridge directly into the STC power supply or did you do a hack to intercept the temp controller on the Tramontina?

 

[brewbama]

I have been able to get 1 of mine to 35 F
The 2nd can only get to 40 F

Not sure why.... so i just Lager in the 1 st one !

S

I read a review that said Tramontina has a circuit board mod they will send to you free that allows you to set the digital temp to 32F

 

[gpops]

I read a review that said Tramontina has a circuit board mod they will send to you free that allows you to set the digital temp to 32F

I read that new models are being fitted with the 32F circuit board, so the mod shouldn't be necessary anymore.

I wrote customer support and asked how to increase the max temp from 60F to 70F. They told me they can do it, but they'd need multiple units ordered. Anyone want some new circuit boards? Wouldn't need an external controller anymore.

 

[Lucky Cat Brew]

I read that new models are being fitted with the 32F circuit board, so the mod shouldn't be necessary anymore.

I wrote customer support and asked how to increase the max temp from 60F to 70F. They told me they can do it, but they'd need multiple units ordered. Anyone want some new circuit boards? Wouldn't need an external controller anymore.

I'd definitely be down, how many would they require?

 

[schard84]

I would be in for 2.

Any idea on price? And how easy it would be to install them?

edit: my quoting skills suck. This was in reference to purchasing the circuit boards.

 

[gpops]

I'd definitely be down, how many would they require?

I would be in for 2.

Any idea on price? And how easy it would be to install them?

edit: my quoting skills suck. This was in reference to purchasing the circuit boards.

Still waiting on their response. I followed up today. I assume it's easy to install because they mailed out modified boards a year ago to get the temperature down to 32.

Just thought about it.. you'd need to have a room temperature above your fermenting temperature for the special circuit board to work correctly. Dagnabbit!

 

[Lucky Cat Brew]

Still waiting on their response. I followed up today. I assume it's easy to install because they mailed out modified boards a year ago to get the temperature down to 32.

Just thought about it.. you'd need to have a room temperature above your fermenting temperature for the special circuit board to work correctly. Dagnabbit!

Or a heating element inside the fridge?

 

[schard84]

Still waiting on their response. I followed up today. I assume it's easy to install because they mailed out modified boards a year ago to get the temperature down to 32.

Just thought about it.. you'd need to have a room temperature above your fermenting temperature for the special circuit board to work correctly. Dagnabbit!

I'm in Az. Ambient temps below fermentation temps are never a concern. Let us know if you're giving up on the circuit boards. I may get in contact with the company if so.

 

[gpops]

Or a heating element inside the fridge?

To use a heating element, you'd need a two stage external temperature controller.

I'm in Az. Ambient temps below fermentation temps are never a concern. Let us know if you're giving up on the circuit boards. I may get in contact with the company if so.

I haven't given up. On Apr 19th the representative said that she would get back to me in a week. She's waiting on their technician to answer her. I will keep updating.

 

[gpops]

Haven't heard back.. PM me if you'd like the contact information of the representative.

 

[z@ch]

I read that new models are being fitted with the 32F circuit board, so the mod shouldn't be necessary anymore.

I wrote customer support and asked how to increase the max temp from 60F to 70F. They told me they can do it, but they'd need multiple units ordered. Anyone want some new circuit boards? Wouldn't need an external controller anymore.

I would definitely be on board to order 2 or more if the company is able to do this! Thanks for looking into it!

 

[PacificNWBrewer]

Haven't heard back.. PM me if you'd like the contact information of the representative.

I want one or two of these!!!

 

[BeernuT100]

2 as well

 

[Lucky Cat Brew]

2 as well

Same.

Sidenote: My Tramontina only holds one keg... has anyone else that has purchased one recently noticed that the inner dimensions are smaller?

 

[Calfj60]

Wondering if these are still available in store? Can’t find them on line?

 

[Lucky Cat Brew]

https://www.samsclub.com/sams/126-can-dsv-in-club-886159/prod18910248.ip
Still available at Sams.

 

[MrBaloo]

Resurrecting an old thread.. I am currently working on modifying mine... has anyone found a way to bypass the tramontina temp controller? and use a STC-1000???

Also looking to add heater, and a way to get temps up to 70-75....

 

[Lax coach]

I replied to your other posting re: bypassing the controller. I'm sure it's doable, less sure it's a good idea.

On the heating side, I bought a two pack of these seedling mats: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015PD8I7I/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

They work great. I've had no issue with them getting the chamber up to 68, or holding my wort at 65 for weeks on end in a cold (20-40F) garage. Haven't tried higher, but they raise it quickly enough that I don't think 75 would be a problem at all.

 

[breweer]

I replied to your other posting re: bypassing the controller. I'm sure it's doable, less sure it's a good idea.

On the heating side, I bought a two pack of these seedling mats: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015PD8I7I/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

They work great. I've had no issue with them getting the chamber up to 68, or holding my wort at 65 for weeks on end in a cold (20-40F) garage. Haven't tried higher, but they raise it quickly enough that I don't think 75 would be a problem at all.

Did you mount them to one of the inner walls in the fridge? Does the power cord disconnect so that I can route the cable through a drilled hole without having to make a hole large enough to fit he plug through? TIA

 

[Lax coach]

Did you mount them to one of the inner walls in the fridge? Does the power cord disconnect so that I can route the cable through a drilled hole without having to make a hole large enough to fit he plug through? TIA

No, I just laid the mat across the bottom. It comes about 4” up each side of the fridge.

The power cord does NOT disconnect. I cut about 2’ off of mine, ran it through the rear drain that I had already expanded with a drill, then re-spliced the cord outside the fridge. If I cared about appearances, I would have used some quick disconnect plugs, but it’s behind the fridge and under a countertop, so I really don’t care.