Using a portable freezer for a SS Brewtech FTS system

[pvpeacock]

I know SS Brewtech is coming out with a glycol system for its conicals with FTS and some folks have used aquarium chillers as a source for cold water to use in their FTS systems. Does anyone have any thoughts about using a portable freezer like this to accomplish the same thing: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030G7Y64/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

It would be cheaper than a glycol system and similarly priced to an aquarium chiller, but would eliminate the need for a separate tank/cooler of water. It also looks like it would be able to get colder than an aquarium chiller.

 

[PlinyTheMiddleAged]

pvp,

The thing that bothers me about the product description (and I just gave it a quick skim) is that I don't see a BTU rating. I'm not sure that little guy has enough power to cool down a conical during the really active part of fermentation. Then again, I'm not sure how much you need, but I think I've seen someone do the calculations for that.

And keep your peacocks quiet! They were loud last weekend.

Pliny

 

[jddevinn]

You can build a window a/c unit glycol system for less $$$!

 

[chrisjpryor]

This was one option I have been considering as well. I have a 7 gal SSbrewtech conical and need to cold crash and lager. I've read lots of posts about these portable freezers not having not enough btu's, but how many btu's does one really need to maintain fermentation temps or cold crash (just above freezing) a small fermenter? Here's one I was looking at which I can get for half price https://www.amazon.com/Dometic-CF-050AC110-Portable-Freezer-Refrigerator/dp/B0017YHGXC

Where I live, a 2nd hand window aircon unit goes for about half the price of this portable freezer, plus the cost of the cooler box and other parts, so it's not massively cheaper (although the diy a/c chiller would certainly have more btu's).

Other pro's for the portable freezer would be lower power consumption, less noise, smaller footprint, and very possibly more reliable than a diy job. Any further thoughts on this? I'm sure someone out there must have tried this?

 

[jddevinn]

This was one option I have been considering as well. I have a 7 gal SSbrewtech conical and need to cold crash and lager. I've read lots of posts about these portable freezers not having not enough btu's, but how many btu's does one really need to maintain fermentation temps or cold crash (just above freezing) a small fermenter? Here's one I was looking at which I can get for half price https://www.amazon.com/Dometic-CF-050AC110-Portable-Freezer-Refrigerator/dp/B0017YHGXC

Where I live, a 2nd hand window aircon unit goes for about half the price of this portable freezer, plus the cost of the cooler box and other parts, so it's not massively cheaper (although the diy a/c chiller would certainly have more btu's).

Other pro's for the portable freezer would be lower power consumption, less noise, smaller footprint, and very possibly more reliable than a diy job. Any further thoughts on this? I'm sure someone out there must have tried this?

I can find no listed BTU rating for this freezer. From the portable design it most certainly uses Thermoelectric coolers and probably has a fairly low cooling capacity.

The cooler is $670!!! You can buy a 5,000 BTU window a/c from Amazon for less than $150. A 48 quart cooler for $25. The controls, pump, ect. (or use the SSBrew kit) will be the same for both.

So what I see is $670 for an unknow cooling power vs less than $200 + 30 minutes of DIY for a 5,000 BTU cooler.

Drawing a thermo box around the system there is a certain amount of heat that must be extracted from the beer and discharged outside of the "box". The only way to lower power consumption is to increase the efficiency of the conversion from electrical power to heat rejection. A thermoelectric cooler is WAY less efficient than a heat pump cycle. While the cooler may have a lower momentary electrical load than the a/c unit it will run more often, for longer, and have a higher overall power usage.

 

[chrisjpryor]

It has a compressor, but you make some good points. Unfortunately the $150 a/c will cost me $500 to ship it to me (I live in South Africa).

 

[jddevinn]

Ah, I didn't look at that... just that you provided an Amazon link for the cooler.

Are mini fridges easier to get? You could probably find one that the cooling is all in the ice tray or a small condenser and remove the refrigerator shell and insert the condenser into the glycol.

 

[Redlantern]

get the smallest chest freezer you can and put a bucket in it with antifreeze. Run lines through the bucket lid and the freezer lid.

I know they make them as small as 2.1 cubic foot. Cost is about the same as the portable and probably a lot more suited to the task. If freezer temp is too cold, get an inkbird