swamp cooler question

[Tiredboy]

As posted elsewhere I am in Jamaica with room temperature around 85 degrees. I was planing on turning the AC up high and leavign it running (at least for the first week). However, I'm thinking about suplimenting with a swamp cooler (so the bedroom doesn't need to be too cold!). Am I right in thinking you put in the iced water bottles and monitor the temperature, replacing ice when needed? I'm a bit concerned as I've heard that temperature fluctuation is worse than being slightly high and unless I'm missing something, there is a big potential for temperature fluctuation in a swamp cooler if I check temp before going to work and again in the evening. Is it just trial and error on how much ice to use?

 

[McGarnigle]

If you use a large mass of water, it will take a lot longer for the temps to change. The ice bottles will melt when you are at work, and there will be some fluctuation. But it will hopefully be limited.

 

[Tiredboy]

do i strap a thermometer to the fermenting bucket just above the waterline?

 

[flyfisherwes]

Use big water bottles or 2 liter pop bottles. And a large mass of water and the temp won't change much. Water has a high specific heat compared to most things.

 

[flyfisherwes]

do i strap a thermometer to the fermenting bucket just above the waterline?

If you keep the water around 55-60F that should be sufficient

 

[kh54s10]

do i strap a thermometer to the fermenting bucket just above the waterline?

This is good. Or get a liquid crystal stick on strip. Above the water in the swamp cooler so you are measuring the temperature of the wort.

I think that if, as stated, you use water and large bottles of ice you should be able to keep the temps within 4-5 degrees F. I think high temps would be far worse than small temperature swings. Try to keep the temperatures in the low 60'sF

 

[AleFred]

if i were you i'd keep in a dark place in your house in the swamp cooler with water basically level with the wort in the fermenter. throw a few bottles of ice in there and a thermometer to know the temp of the water...it should be very relative to the internal temperature of the fermenter.. i know how hot it get out there i'm from Jamaica as well Mandeville.. good to see more yardies gettin in to homebrewing best of luck.

 

[Tiredboy]

I think I'll go for the swamp coller in the bedroom with AC on. liquid crystal stips aren't available locally (I don't think) and timing means I need to start brewing next week which doesn't give me time to get one sent down from USA. I ofund a digital food thermomelter last night for about $10 that will record max an min temperature (as well as showing current temp). I think I'll pick one up and see how things go. I had hoped to start thwe gbrew tomorrow so that I could monitor closely over the weekend when at home but that doesn't look like happening now as the kit probably won't arrive until early next week. Could be a couple of anxious days at work not knowing what the temperature of my wort is during the day.
This will be my first batch of homebrew that I want ready for christmas. Before the next batch I'll be making a son of a fermentation chiller.

 

[birvine]

I would not worry so much. Keep a regular flow of frozen iced water bottles going into the swamp cooler. Running that ac is going to get a bit pricey.

Brent

EDIT: An addition is a towel or t-shirt over the top of the carboy with a little fan blowing onto the wet shirt. The evaporation will draw a lot of heat from your carboy, as well, and draw a lot less electricity than an ac.