Small fridge for fermentation?

[hilljack13]

My garage refrigerator decided to stop cooling below 55F. Freezer side is good for now. I am going to be in the market for a new one, but I don't think I need a full sized fridge. I use it to hold all my hops/yeast, 2 kegs, and any 1 gal batches for cool fermenting and lagering.

Since I'm going to have to spend money, I am going to look at a 2-3 tap kegerator. So I think a mini fridge would work. Does anyone use a mini for what I would be using it for? Also, any suggestions or do the ones at lowes/HD work just fine?

Thanks!

 

[RyPA]

I’m in the market as well, I went to my local Home Depot but they only had a chest freezer on display and I am looking for a normal/front-loading/fridge style. Sadly, retailers do not list internal dimensions, so finding one that can accommodate a specific fermenters dimensions isn’t possible unless you find it in a questions/answers or reviews section, or find one in store to measure.

Heres the model I mentioned above, its large enough to hold an all rounder.

 

[fluketamer]

https://www.target.com/p/midea-4-4-...SEbz1gsqR-shsdmuMohoCbaUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

this is a steal for this midea i thik i paid 150 for mine. its great. it can fit a oxebar and a torpedo or it can fit a fermzilla flatbottom with inkbird controller , without any cutting or mods.

 

[SkyPilot]

https://www.target.com/p/midea-4-4-...SEbz1gsqR-shsdmuMohoCbaUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

this is a steal for this midea i thik i paid 150 for mine. its great. it can fit a oxebar and a torpedo or it can fit a fermzilla flatbottom with inkbird controller , without any cutting or mods.

Looks like the flatbottom is 13.75” dia. Do you think the allrounder at 14” dia would fit too?

 

[fluketamer]

you have to put the zilla on the bottom glass shelf becuase of the hump in the back unless you want to start cutting up the door. so the width is not the problem thers a few inches to spare the height may be an issue. i only have an inch to spare up top and your all rounder is 2 inches taller. than my zilla. you could def do it with a blow off tube tho instead of an airlock.

the midea is the same dimensions i think as the danby and thats a popular kegging fridge.

this thread is a diy danby conversion. :

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/danby-dar440bl-mini-fridge-conversion-to-kegerator.453105/

 

[mac_1103]

Looks like the flatbottom is 13.75” dia. Do you think the allrounder at 14” dia would fit too?

I have that fridge too (got it for under $100, but that's another story). The bottom is only 11" deep (excluding the compressor bump). And the stuff on the inside of the door steals about 2" of that. I think the flatbottom fits because it's short enough to put it on top of the compressor. I doubt that the all-rounder would work because of the stand.

edit - I think fluketamer's pic illustrates the point; the all rounder is 21.7" tall in the stand, but I don't think that includes the pressure kit (i.e., posts); the flatbottom is 22.5" as shown (i.e., with the airlock); so it probably would work with a grommet and blow off tube and not with an airlock, but it'll be really close with QDs or anything else.

 

[fluketamer]

I have that fridge too (got it for under $100, but that's another story). The bottom is only 11" deep (excluding the compressor bump). And the stuff on the inside of the door steals about 2" of that. I think the flatbottom fits because it's short enough to put it on top of the compressor. I doubt that the all-rounder would work because of the stand.

it looks like the all rounder with the stand and airlock is:
Specs:

• 30 L (7.9 gal) Total Volume
• Pressure Rated to 2.5 Bar (36.2 psi)
• Height in Stand - 21.7"
• Height w/ Airlock - 24.2"
• Tank Diameter - 13.9"

but i am not sure if thats with airlock and without stand.

but it looks like it shouldnt be an issue with a blow off.

 

[mac_1103]

Any way, I just built a 2x8 collar for mine. It'll be very roomy with that sucker attached.

 

[SkyPilot]

View attachment 868612


you have to put the zilla on the bottom glass shelf becuase of the hump in the back unless you want to start cutting up the door. so the width is not the problem thers a few inches to spare the height may be an issue. i only have an inch to spare up top and your all rounder is 2 inches taller. than my zilla. you could def do it with a blow off tube tho instead of an airlock.

the midea is the same dimensions i think as the danby and thats a popular kegging fridge.

this thread is a diy danby conversion. :

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/danby-dar440bl-mini-fridge-conversion-to-kegerator.453105/

Thanks

 

[SkyPilot]

it looks like the all rounder with the stand and airlock is:
Specs:

• 30 L (7.9 gal) Total Volume
• Pressure Rated to 2.5 Bar (36.2 psi)
• Height in Stand - 21.7"
• Height w/ Airlock - 24.2"
• Tank Diameter - 13.9"

but i am not sure if thats with airlock and without stand.

but it looks like it shouldnt be an issue with a blow off.

Thsnks

Any way, I just built a 2x8 collar for mine. It'll be very roomy with that sucker attached.

thanks

 

[hilljack13]

On sale for 120 now. Good deal! I would only put some hops, yeast, and little big mouth bubbler in it. Maybe two of the fv at once if there is space.

 

[odie]

My garage refrigerator decided to stop cooling below 55F. Freezer side is good for now. I am going to be in the market for a new one, but I don't think I need a full sized fridge. I use it to hold all my hops/yeast, 2 kegs, and any 1 gal batches for cool fermenting and lagering.

Since I'm going to have to spend money, I am going to look at a 2-3 tap kegerator. So I think a mini fridge would work. Does anyone use a mini for what I would be using it for? Also, any suggestions or do the ones at lowes/HD work just fine?

Thanks!

check your defrost thermostat & heater. If it fails, the freezer side won't go into periodic defrost, the ice builds up so much that the airflow to the fridge side is blocked...the freezer stays cold but not enough cold air can get to the other side.

Mini fridge? take your fermenter and kegs with you and test fit the display models...also you can cut out the door shelves for clearance. The evaporator plate above can also carefully be bent down for extra head room.

I have an old mini fridge that I bent the evap plate down and pushed back against the rear. I can put 2 cornies inside. I also cut the door plastic shelves out and can fit a 6-7 gal fermenter bucket on the floor in front of the hump and close the door.

 

[hilljack13]

So this afternoon, the GCFI was tripped. The fridge is completely dead. I have zero space in my kitchen fridge and chest freezer. Should I lose much viability of my yeast if I have to wait a few days for a new fridge to arrive?

Also, would it be better to get a feezer and keep it above freezer temps or a fridge and push it to almost freezing temps (for lagering).

EDIT: Garage fridge to be delivered saturday. Komos to be delivered saturday

 

[SkyPilot]

Thsnks

thanks

Well as a follow up. I did buy one an finally got around to unpacking it. Allrounder on the lower stand position, with Spunding valve, and the door soda can holders removed, fits great on the shelf. I will probably put a collar on it eventually. A temp probes in a glass of water shows a steady state low end temp of 39.1F (3.9C) and I would like lower. I will see if there is a fine tuning adjustment on the thermostat first. If not I will just jumper it out.
Thanks for everyone’s help.
Bill

 

[SkyPilot]

Well as a follow up. I did buy one an finally got around to unpacking it. Allrounder on the lower stand position, with Spunding valve, and the door soda can holders removed, fits great on the shelf. I will probably put a collar on it eventually. A temp probes in a glass of water shows a steady state low end temp of 39.1F (3.9C) and I would like lower. I will see if there is a fine tuning adjustment on the thermostat first. If not I will just jumper it out.
Thanks for everyone’s help.
Bill

So belated reply to myself LOL.
The thermostat, not surprisingly, does have an adjustment. I cranked it down about 1/2 a turn. Now the water is frozen and the ambient temp is 27. Since my fridge thermostat adjustment only has a scale, not actual temps, this means that if SWMBO ever figures out it is there it could still be used as a fridge.
It holds my allrounder just fine so I have not collared it yet, but I may still…

 

[Yesfan]

I'm glad this thread came back up as I couldn't find it. For those with the Midea fridge from Target, will a 7 gallon Fermonster with a blow off fit, or doesn't it have to sit on the hump too? What about the 6 gallon Fermonster? Tia.

 

[mac_1103]

For those with the Midea fridge from Target, will a 7 gallon Fermonster with a blow off fit, or doesn't it have to sit on the hump too? What about the 6 gallon Fermonster?

Headroom is not a problem if you cut the plastic off the door for the Fermonsters to fit on the bottom. Top of the hump to top of the fridge is just about 22 inches, so a 7 gallon Fermonster on the hump is going to be tough but a 6 gallon should be fine.

 

[Yesfan]

Headroom is not a problem if you cut the plastic off the door for the Fermonsters to fit on the bottom. Top of the hump to top of the fridge is just about 22 inches, so a 7 gallon Fermonster on the hump is going to be tough but a 6 gallon should be fine.

Thanks!