DIY Temperature Controlled Fermenting Unit

[Simon_C]

I've been struggling for months to get hold of a cheap/free fridge the right size and shape in order to set up a brewing station in my workshop that can cope with the summer months. My problem is that the ones I have seen is that they are just not quite the right shape, and often the base of them has a big old step that makes it a challenge to get the FV nice and stable and still being able to access the lid of the FV. So, here is my attempt at a purpose-built temperature controlled DIY brewing unit!

The main chamber was built using spare Recticel/Kingspan insulation board (cost probably about a fiver, but essentially free as it was left over from a DIY project last year). This is all duct-taped together to form an enclosure that is big enough to access the lid, and also for using the tap (I will raise the base a little more than is shown in the picture to improve the access to the tap). Then, the addition of a heater-pad (and a small 25W Aquarium Heater bought for a fiver on eBay for additional heating in the winter), connected with a double plug to the heater socket on an Inkbird, and we have heating control...

I've just ordered a small portable air conditioning unit (http://www.conrad-electronic.co.uk/ce/en/product/855205/Eufab-Compact-Air-Conditioner) designed for camping and caravans, which I will put on the outside of the chamber with a cut-through, connected to the cooling socket on the Inkbird and LO! We now have cooling!

Total cost for the whole setup has been just shy of �£100, including the FV, and Inkbird system, which I am quite pleased with, especially the very Heath-Robinson look of the thing! Even without the air-con unit, once my current brew (Wherry) had cooled down from the initial mixing, I have been able to maintain the temperature at a steady 18.5 - 19.5 degrees, over a couple of weeks with very variable temperature....

Just thought I'd share, in case there are others who are not sure about going the whole way down the brewing fridge route...

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I don't want to put a downer on your plans and hope it works but hope your 12V cooler works better than the 12V Ceramic Car Fan Heater i bought years ago, it was crap.

 

[Simon_C]

Well, I'll just have to see! I did ask a friend who has one for his VW Camper, and he said it does make a difference to his van, and my guess is that it will be more effective in a smaller space, which is heavily insulated. I'm not looking to keep milk fresh in there, just to knock a few daytime degrees off the temperature of my brew if required!

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Keep us posted.

 

[Simon_C]

Okay, here is an update.... So it arrived at the weekend, I cut a small hole to allow the outlet air to circulate in the chamber, and IT WORKS PERFECTLY! I gave it a trial for the past few days by setting the Inkbird temperature to ±0.2 degrees sensitivity, and the FV has been kept at a very consistent 19.0 degrees every time I have checked it. I intermittently hear the cooling fan switch itself on (for about an hour at a time), but given the water reservoir (that provides the required cooling) is good for 8 hours continuous operation, my estimate is that over the past two days it has only been on for about 3 hours (mainly in the mid afternoon). This suggests that the cooling effect is sufficient, and that the system is working well. I doubt the system will drop the temperature massively below the ambient air temperature, or allow me to brew a proper lager in the mid-summer, but it has reduced the range in temperature in the chamber very effectively.

Once this brew is sorted out, I will try and tidy up the arrangement (for example get the Inkbird outside the chamber, but I'm really pleased with this!

 

[Leon103]

For that money you could have had a new fridge and been able to get low conditioning or lager temperatures but for a diy project it looks really good and much better than anything I could come up with

 

[Simon_C]

Leon103, yes, you are absolutely correct, I could have bought a cheap new fridge for about £100 (if you can get one that fits the FV with room to manoeuvre, of course), but you would then still have to buy the Inkbird, heater, FV, build a strong shelf to hold the FV etc...., which I think would put the final price up at around £200, i.e. Around double what I've had to pay!

Just checked it now, it is 27 degrees outdoors (according to my weather station), my workshop is currently at 32 degrees according to a thermometer left on top of the unit, and my little air-con unit has just come on to keep the fermenting beer at 19.2 degrees. I'll take that!

 

[Simon_C]

.... And, to be honest, lagers are not really my bag!:whistle:

 

[Notlaw]

Just checked it now, it is 27 degrees outdoors (according to my weather station), my workshop is currently at 32 degrees according to a thermometer left on top of the unit

Where the bloody hell do you live, Equatorial Guinea?

 

[Wilfy]

Where the bloody hell do you live, Equatorial Guinea?

Normal temperatures for the SR6 Riviera that man.

 

[Richie_asg1]

I was thinking along the same lines of using kingspan to make a box for mine. The appeal to me was that I could flat pack it when not needed.

Not sure on the cooler though as it is an evaporative type. Ideal for keeping a bottle of milk cold, but as it cools the air it also fills it with moisture. Might be good enough for this job though. :thumb:

 

[Inkbird]

For a brewers, the Inkbird ITC-310T is the best model we have now. During mashing,fermentation and storage, you need different temperature on different period, you can set 6 periods of temperature with it timer function. Also, it's ok to set temperature cycle.

Here's the online manual for your reference http://ink-bird.com/asset/file/ITC-310T_%20Manual_%20V1.5b.pdf

 

[Brewed_Force]

I am building a similar fermenting chamber from leftover 1 inch Kingspan boards. It will be portable/folding for easy storage in the shed between brews. No cooling will be required as I brew mainly in winter but can use kveik in the warmer months. My reptile heating mat will fit inside and if necessary a brew belt, both connected to an inkbird.
I had a brew fridge but the wife donated it to a local youth club!