cooling warm room

[Andybiker]

hi guys

Started my next batch of brew last weekend MJ's Juicy IPA.

Krausen went mad within 2 days so hooked up a blow off into some chemsan. Seems to have slowed right down now already.

However I've started this one in a different room that isn't used at the moment so i figured the temp us more stable. Its quite bright in there evwn with the blinds closed so I put a sheet and a towel at the window to keep it dark.
Problem now is the temp is around high 24 degrees and I fear the damage may have been done. Is there any way I can cool the FV? Maybe a fan or something, but I guess it would only cool one side of the FV?

Any ideas guys please?

Thanks.

 

[Clint]

Put a wet towel round it.

 

[Andybiker]

Cheers fella.

 

[Cwrw666]

Depends on your yeast but I think most ale yeasts are ok up to mid 20s. Temperature is more important in the first few days when your krausen is there. After this much less so.

 

[Andybiker]

I just hope its not killed it. It seems to have stopped after 3 days.

I've got an old fridge I use for crashing (Best £5 spent on Ebay ever) which I think I'm going to to control with an STC-1000 and some sort of heating element.

 

[foxy]

If its a room you rarely use get yourself a reverse cycle inverter A/C, ferment whatever and whenever you like, and costs a poofteenth of bugger all to run. Get a couple of PET fermenters and on hot balmy evenings with nothing on the Telly take a chair in there and watch the yeast do their stuff.
I have one of these little gizmos to control the A/C .

As you can see not far off the actual temperature. About 13 C outside temp.

 

[kelper]

About 13 C outside temp

Did you mean 23? He needs to cool his FV, not warm it up.

 

[foxy]

Did you mean 23? He needs to cool his FV, not warm it up.

No, that's the weather here at the moment still autumn and about 11 C in the mornings. What I have found with the A/C it is brilliant in the summer for keeping a low fermenting temperature of 18 C. Come winter the thermostat gets erratic and gets to warm, the little temperature controller controlling the A/C works far better keeping a constant temperature between 18 & 19 C

 

[nixhaz]

I just hope its not killed it. It seems to have stopped after 3 days.

I've got an old fridge I use for crashing (Best £5 spent on Ebay ever) which I think I'm going to to control with an STC-1000 and some sort of heating element.

What about just sticking it in the fridge (turned off) with a couple of frozen 2L bottles of water in the short term?

Also, highly recommend the Inkbird 308. £30ish and super easy to use.

 

[kelper]

Maybe a fan or something, but I guess it would only cool one side of the FV?

A fan does not cool unless it is evaporation your sweat or blowing on a wet towel. However, if the FV was warmer than the room, as in the first couple of days it might help a little.

 

[Andybiker]

Hi guys,

Checked the SG of my juicy today and it's 1012, judging by the bubbles it's smashed through fermentation in about 3 days. i'll leave another few days (wetting the now stinky towel every night) it seems to be holding 21/22 degrees now (room is up to 25).

I'm in the process of building an STC-1000 controlled fridge at the moment, so hopefully all the temp issues should go away soon.

I plan on using a heat tube under the shelf, but i did wonder if that would create a massive hotspot at the bottom of the FV even with holes in the (MDF) shelf?

I've read about using fans to evenly distribute the air and the concensus seems to be split on this.

 

[Banbeer]

I plan on using a heat tube under the shelf, but i did wonder if that would create a massive hotspot at the bottom of the FV even with holes in the (MDF) shelf?

I use a brew belt in two of my fridges and a heat mat in the third, the heat mat is the most convenient tho' and just close the door on the wire, have done this for years now. You can get the wire through the drain hole at the back if you want.

 

[Andybiker]

thanks fella.

One thing i will struggle with is the height, it's only a small under counter fridge with a cooling element accross the top. Ive bent it up and have previously used it for crashing and just plugged up the airlock hole, however i'm not sure it will fit with an airlock on.

 

[Madhouse]

I use a 90 degree elbow out of the FV lid and a blow-off tube into a pint of sanitiser. Does the same job as an airlock at a fraction of the height.

Also have a heater under the bottom shelf in my brew-fridge, not had any off flavours as yet, so in my experience the impact of a hotspot is minimal.

 

[Andybiker]

Good idea fella thanks.

Thats what i love about this forum.

What elbow did you use? 10mm copper or something?

 

[Banbeer]

i'm not sure it will fit with an airlock on

I also have three undercounter fridges that I had to put a shelf in and I buy THESE. The long S type ones don't fit

 

[Andybiker]

Ooh I've got a couple of these. Thanks.