Rectangle Cooler as Fermentation Chamber

[Brif]

Anyone done anything like this before??
I’m looking at doing some BIAB smaller batches that would allow me to use a 3 gallon carboy. After one batch, I’m already not a fan of the swamp cooler, so I am looking at turning this large rectangular cooler on its side and making it a simple fermentation chamber.
My question is really around where to place the ice bottles. I should have room for a 3 gal better bottle and a couple of 1 litre frozen bottles on the bottom, but I wonder if creating some kind of platform over the carboy that would allow me more room for ice bottles and allow the cool air to sink down to the carboy. There is a nice little hatch door that I could have on top or bottom, either way, allowing me to replace ice quickly. (May also use some weather stripping to better seal the cooler doors). I do have a couple of computer fans, no temp controller yet though, and I don’t want to permanently modify the cooler.
Anyone done this before or run any experiments like this before with ice placement and some positive results?
Thanks

 

[lazysunday]

I think this may be difficult without somehow permanently modifying the cooler.

My initial thought is that you could slide some plywood in at the point of the cooler where the hatch opening ends, and seal everything from that downward. You could then install your fans into the wood pointed down into the bottom part of the cooler where your carboy would be, pumping ambient air from the hatch.

Using the hatch you could replace ice/bottles as necessary. The problem there will be that, unless you cap and seal the fans somehow, the ambient air in the 'hatch' part of the cooler will warm up the minute you open it to replace ice. Several degrees, depending on how long it takes you to make the switch.

That and you'll need to make sure whatever you're using to bring down the temp (ice, bottles) isn't too heavy to sink your board.

Another problem is going to be sealing the separation from the hatch area to the bottom in such a way that when you open the hatch (down, in this case) it wont release all your cool air. The shape of your cooler is going to be an issue.

Honestly I think due to the shape and size of your cooler, you'll end up with an inconsistent temperature no matter what you try to do. The more sealant you add (weather stripping, foam, insulation) the less room for anything else.

 

[Boydric]

I use a cooler with one gallon jugs of water froze but I am using mr. Beer fermenters and do about two gallons at a time. This has worked out great for me. I also use a heating pad and a stc 1000 to hold my temps. It would be an option if you did not want to stand the cooler up and the fermenters are one ten bones per. You may want to read the threads about the cooler bags since those guys use ice bottles as well. Might give you some insight to how many and how often to change them.

 

[30Bones]

Cheaper to get a ~4CF dorm fridge. I ferment all my batches in that with a heat/cool Black Box STC1000. Can fit a 6.5 gallon big mouth bubbler with air lock, only mod needed was removing the door storage. I too am going to small batch experimental brewing and should be able to do 2 - 2.5 gallon buckets in there at one time. That's my hopes anyway. More if I find some 1 gallon bottles for free.

 

[number40fan]

It looks like you have your answer right next to the cooler. Cardboard box. Put the fermenter in a box that is sat in the cooler sideways and put your ice bottles on top.