Small refrigerator/freezer ferm chamber

[cvisinho]

Whats up all?

So ive been searching away all morning and unless my context is off... I cant seem to find much on using a standard refrigerator as a ferm chamber. Except for a you tube video where the guy had a paint can heater in his fridge.

I am receiving this for free. 10.1 cu ft smallish fridge
http://www.lowes.com/pd_644615-33112-HA10TG31SS_0__?productId=50266803

I don't entirely want to gut it because I may actually end up using it as a second storage freezer/fridge in my basement. Hops, yeast, burgers, beers etc etc

I have a couple stc's laying around so I figured I would use one of those. Maybe a brew Pi down the road when I upgrade my 2b gaming system and have a spare.

Can I just plug and play like a standard temp controller to a kegerator or chest freezer or will the freezer part be my problem here? Im not 1000% concerned with lagering as I brew ales 100% of the time and would need the 60-70 deg range. I would also use it to cold crash as well.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[cvisinho]

in retrospect of that previous comment, I may actually consider lagers if I can hold those temps. who knows.

 

[broadbill]

Whats up all?

So ive been searching away all morning and unless my context is off... I cant seem to find much on using a standard refrigerator as a ferm chamber. Except for a you tube video where the guy had a paint can heater in his fridge.

I am receiving this for free. 10.1 cu ft smallish fridge
http://www.lowes.com/pd_644615-33112-HA10TG31SS_0__?productId=50266803

I don't entirely want to gut it because I may actually end up using it as a second storage freezer/fridge in my basement. Hops, yeast, burgers, beers etc etc

I have a couple stc's laying around so I figured I would use one of those. Maybe a brew Pi down the road when I upgrade my 2b gaming system and have a spare.

Can I just plug and play like a standard temp controller to a kegerator or chest freezer or will the freezer part be my problem here? Im not 1000% concerned with lagering as I brew ales 100% of the time and would need the 60-70 deg range. I would also use it to cold crash as well.

Any help is appreciated.

The problem is that with the typical temp control setup (on/off via power cord) with the fridge/freezer combo is that the freezer will only get cold when the fermenter needs cooling. It will never keep things like burger frozen.

To get the freezer to freeze and use the fridge as the ferm chamber you need to wire the controller to the switch that controls air-flow from the freezer to the fridge (the fridge section is cooled via air from the freezer section). This is usually outside of the expertise of the average DIYer, sadly.

Another option is to turn the fridge section as warm as it will go then use a controller and heat wrap to warm the fermenter. However, you will have the two systems "fighting" each other.

 

[cvisinho]

ok, that makes sense.
Perhaps this will be just a beer fridge/cold crash fridge for now until I can make room for a dedicated chamber.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Turn it into a garage kegerator and buy a chest freezer for a ferm chamber.There pretty cheap new and can be found for like $50 on craigslist.Or keep the fridge for a fridge like you were thinking and buy the chest freezer.Either way for under $100 you have a fridge AND a chest freezer ferm chamber.No brainer
Here ya go:
Looks like its in your area.There Moving to florida.Throw them a $30 offer.There moving to Florida LOL.No gunna take it with them.Theres another one near you for $95 posted 2 days ago. Plug it in and your done.

https://providence.craigslist.org/for/5485059482.html

 

[whovous]

I feel I may be missing something here. So long as you have no plans to use the freezer, it is a simple matter to both heat and cool the refrigerator part of the unit without doing anything at all to any of the wiring or other setup of the fridge.

I use a simple heater that I think is meant for terraria and this device:
http://www.ohmbrewautomations.com/fermostat

It is a bit expensive, but it shows what can be done without changing any of the fridge's innards. Cheaper options abound, I believe.

Now, if you want to keep using the freezer as a freezer while you do this in the fridge unit, I have no ideas for you.

 

[wapitiscat]

The problem is that with the typical temp control setup (on/off via power cord) with the fridge/freezer combo is that the freezer will only get cold when the fermenter needs cooling. It will never keep things like burger frozen.

I found this out the hard way when the ambient temp got low enough this winter that the temp sensor refrigerator in the refrigerator compartment prompted the STC to think "OK. The compressor can take an extended break". Caught it pretty quick so didn't lose any meat. I did let the chicken broth go. Now I have the sensor in the freezer compartment with the STC set to something like -13 C and it keeps the fridge part where my kegs are between 36-40 F.

Todd