Son of Fermentation Chiller - Blow off Assy.

[professorxxl]

Hi all,

I am thinking if building a SoF chiller, but I'm not sure it will support blow off assembly setup. Has anyone modified theirs to be wider than the original plans in order to fit blow off bucket or even 2 fermenters? If so, do you need a bigger fan or more ice per compartment?

Thanks!
Ryan

 

[beergolf]

When I built one several years ago I drilled a hole in the side and put a piece of PVC pipe in ther just the right size for a blow off tube. It sticks out about. 1/2 inch on each side. That way when I no longer need the blow off I can plug it up with foam rope and cap it off. Worked great.

I may still have a pic aroud. I will see if I can find it.

 

[beergolf]

I found some pics. The chamber is big enough to put a blow off inside but I like this way because you can monitor it without opening the fermenter to know when you can pull the tube and replace it with an airlock.

I also took a digital thermometer and taped the probe to the side of the fermenter and put the unit on top so I could monitor fermenting temps without opening the fermenter.

A good idea is to line the bottom with something so the foam does not get hacked up I used 1/4 inch white board.

Also if you use the round water bottles they can be stacked 3 high if you really need to get the temps down.

I used this for a long time until I got my fridge.. I still use it occasionally if I need a different temp or if the fridge is full.

 

[professorxxl]

OK great ideas! I'll build to spec then and just make additions along the way, like external blow off and thermometers, etc.

What did you use on the side where the blow off comes out?

 

[beergolf]

What did you use on the side where the blow off comes out?

It is just a piece of PVC that the hose fits through. If you look about half way down it is another piece of PVC to hold the blow off tube in place. I put the chamber on a base with wheels so I can move it around. I made it wider than the chamber to hold a bottle for the blow off.

I also made another mod. I made the top so instead of taking the whole top off I made mine where the top part over the main chamber is solidly attached. Then the only part that opens on the top is a small part above the ice chamber and the front.

I also used some small brass tubing as sleeves for where the dowel rods go to increase durability. Works great.

 

[professorxxl]

Awesome, thanks for the reply again! I bought some grommets for the dowel holes and I like not having the top loose and only the front...I was thinking there wasn't really a need to have both accessible since only 1 fermenter is going in.

Going to start tomorrow... Real excited to get this done. Going to be plinian legacy in a week or two.