Questions on Fermentation Chamber

[AnchorBock]

I'm working on a fermentation chamber. It's only going to hold 2 carboys and I'm looking to keep it around 66-68* for ales. It'll be in my basement where it's around 50-55* in the winter and 55-65* the rest of the year (it rarely hits 65, it's usually pretty steady around 62-63* in the summer). I'll be using a two stage controller.

In order to cool it, would ambient air from the basement be sufficient if it was blown in with a PC fan through a dryer vent (Credit Tim Weber for the idea) to keep the fermenting beer as low as I want it during active fermentation?

I may eventually put the fan in my kegerator and have a dryer hose/vent leading into the chamber for colder air like Tim did in his fermentation chamber build, but I'd like to avoid that for now as I may be moving them around a bit.

Also, do I need to worry much about R value for the insulation since I'll be keeping it within 10-15* of the ambient temperature outside the box?

Thanks - I'll do a writeup when I actually get this done.

 

[Bartp]

it should be sufficient to bring the chamber up to the basement ambient temp. but it sounds that you'll need to heat the chamber a bit to 68 degrees to brew your ales (if the temp is in mid 50s low 60s). I would recommended getting a cheap heating pad from your local drug store (without auto off, CVS brand usually don't have it) they usually are around 50 watt. Just attach it to your controller and you'll be golden.

as far as R value, just get a foam board ~1.5 inch thick. Google Son of Fermentation Chamber. It will give you a lot of good ideas.

 

[AnchorBock]

I guess i didnt state it, ill be using a space heater or light bulb to raise the temp

 

[RegionalChaos]

I have some r-value calculations in the thread in my sig. You might find it interesting. It sounds like your ambient temp is close to your target temp though, so I don't think you'll have much of a problem keeping the temp you want.

 

[Ace_Club]

I have some r-value calculations in the thread in my sig. You might find it interesting. It sounds like your ambient temp is close to your target temp though, so I don't think you'll have much of a problem keeping the temp you want.

NICE! I like those calculations! Just what I was looking for to help with my fermentation chamber build! :rockin: