fermenting cooling ideas

[Newtons Shed]

Hi looking for alternitive ideas to a fridge to keep fermentation temp correct. As the cupboard is small 2x3 ft in a shed I'll be struggling to fit it in I also don't want bucket and water as hoping to have at least 2 25 l fermenters going. I'm currently thinking extractor type fan on the outside of the shed wall so would at least pull some outside air to help move the over heat out if needed would this work thanks Andy

 

[bunkerbrewer]

I doubt that simply moving the air around will help much (it could be warmer in the shed than outside, or vice-versa).

The only alternative I can think of is to insulate the shed, and cool the whole environment with a portable aircon unit? These often have a water reservoir which needs emptying, so it would need to be checked quite often.

 

[rpt]

A fan will only work if the temperature outside is cooler than the temperature you are aiming for. For a lot of the year it will probably work but you wouldn't be able to rely on it in a proper summer.

 

[aamcle]

There are a few options but they are all more work that a fridge,

Water baths with cooling
Cooling coils
Things with ice blocks/frozen pop bottles.


You can use conventional refrigeration to provide the "cold" or a peltier device I considered both then picked up a secondhand fridge for the massive sum of £4.20p and I'm happy with that :-)

What you could do would be insulate the the shed then chill the whole thing either with an air con unit (expensive but best) or remove the cooling unit from a fridge and reuse that.

Atb. Aamcle

 

[prolix]

i tend not to brew during the summer, got 8 cornies brew til late may then start again in september.

 

[PD]

I think you would find it very expensive and problematic to treat the whole shed as a fermenting cupboard, and try and control the temperature of it enmass.
Much cheaper and easier to provide localised temp control of your Fv's individually somehow by the methods already outlined.
On a hot summers day you can easily reach into high 80's/90 degrees C during the day only for the temps to plummet at night...and or even the other way around knowing our summers.

I brew ferment condition all in an attached garage and trying to maintain temps of the whole garage for each individual process can be a problem.Much better to go for things like fermentin cabinet ( old fridge with heater inside) insulated boxes for bottle conditioning etc.

 

[Newtons Shed]

Thanks, just to clarify I'm not looking to heat/cool the whole shed. I am going to build a small cupboard (dubble skinned exteria ply and hardboard with loft insualation) underneath the work bench that I have in there, which is at kitchen work top height, as I want more than one fv to be kept at close to the ideal fv temp as i can possibly get without completely going to town, as I'm restricted in lenght aprox 3ft, if I put fridge (with door removed) under the bench in the cupboard, that'll take a lot of room up and may also generate its own heat as the back of fridge be inside the cupboard too. For serving and cold condition I have a pantry in the house that I could use if needed but can't/don't want ferment in there as its a walkthough to the back garden too at times and have dog and kid.
I take the point that if outside temp is hotter than won't cool but how often are we at over 21 degres also as low to ground be a bit cooler. Maybe in conjunction with a mini fridge or 2 hmm

 

[WelshPaul]

Wrapping the FV in wet towels is a cheap and cheerful way to keep the temperature down but will need a be renewed from day to day. A fridge with a temperature control is by far your best bet.

 

[Newtons Shed]

How much heat is self generated by the yeast fermenting?
Does bigger capacity fridge mean bigger compressor so more coolent power? I'm thinking about a table top fridge or freezer, rather than those 12v mini fridge instead of under counter fridge to put ion the cupboard would that provide enoght cooling, would a freezer be better than fridge given it'll designed to go cooler although as door be open won't be able to build up ice bank and could mely everywhere.