fermenting in a fridge?

[doghouse gav]

i have read alot about people fermenting their homebrew in an old fridge. id like to try it as i brew in my garage and have an old fridge.
so basicly how do i warm the fridge up for secondry fermentation as i use a heat tray for the first fermentation.
any help?

 

[phettebs]

Do you have a temp controller?

Ideally, you get a digital or analog temp control, plug that into the outlet, set the temp you want, then plug your fridge into the controller. It cycles power to the fridge on or off based on the temp you have set and the temp in the fridge. The controller comes with a temperature probe to do this.

 

[Stone Cold]

I would use it for primary fermenting and when its fermented out to the final gravity leave it cool so it will clear out faster (in second vess) thats what i do anyway , and keeping it warm could encourage bacteria to spawn.

 

[doghouse gav]

where would i get the temp control? and how much would i be looking at? budgets very tight!!

 

[doghouse gav]

just been looking on ebay. ive seen the tc 10 which looks like it would do the job. any advice on them as im a total tecno novice! are they easy to fit? how do i fit? does the fridge need to be working? cheers

 

[johnluc]

Hi gav
what i did and it works a treat is.get a cheap mechanical room thermostat,screw back plate to inside of fridge,drill hole through side of fridge through back plate same size hole as 3 core elec flex and fit plug to flex,wire up t/stat and from t/stat to small lamp or lamp holder with 60 watt bulb set temp to 20. job done took 20 min. fridge is not turned on. once fermenting is finished un plug. then when you bottle or keg you can put your bottles or keg back in fridge with it turned on to fridge mode to condition. if too cold with fridge on min turn off and leave door open.
johnluc