Heating idea

[graysalchemy]

In summer time cooling is definitely needed so I would go for a working fridge. :thumb:

 

[dangerman]

Ok, I'll snap up your advice. You're clearly the man in the know.

Not to be awkward or anything, but what if I did come across a broken fridge - couldn't I just open the door in summer?

 

[evanvine]

In summer your garage will easily get up to 30C or more, far too warm for fermenting!

 

[Dave1970]

No. The ideal temp for most fermentations is between 18C & 20C - given that the fermentation does produce its own heat your brew needs to be actively cooled to keep it below this temp during the warmer months, just leaving the door open would lead to high temps and some dodgy flavours

 

[dangerman]

Ok I'm convinced.

Now another question - more a dilemma. I was just about to put a brew on and bung it in the conservatory.

Should I bother or should I wait till I've made my brew fridge?

 

[evanvine]

A lower temp will just slow things down with no detriment to your brew, it's the higher temps you need to guard against.

 

[winelight]

Ok I'm convinced.

Now another question - more a dilemma. I was just about to put a brew on and bung it in the conservatory.

Should I bother or should I wait till I've made my brew fridge?

Most people don't use a brew fridge and brew at all sorts of random ambient temps and usually get perfectly OK results. I wouldn't worry about it. Getting a brew on is more important

 

[dangerman]

Done! New thread on the way...

 

[dangerman]

Hey just one more question. I seem to be seeing quite a lot of stand alone freezers for cheap or free, or fridge freezers. Will a brew freezer work just as well? Or if I acquire a fridge freezer could I run the freezer constantly (for family food) while temperature controlling the fridge?

 

[winelight]

If it's a stand-alone freezer I don't see why it can't be used as a brew fridge under the control of an STC-1000. It contains a compressor which is all you need. The fact that you are only cooling a few degrees should just means the compressor runs less often. At least, that's what I would have thought.

As for fridge-freezer it depends. If they have two compressors then yes fine. Leave the freezer one alone and wire up the STC-1000 to the fridge one. If only one compressor, you're stuffed - sorry.

 

[dangerman]

If it's a stand-alone freezer I don't see why it can't be used as a brew fridge under the control of an STC-1000. It contains a compressor which is all you need. The fact that you are only cooling a few degrees should just means the compressor runs less often. At least, that's what I would have thought.

As for fridge-freezer it depends. If they have two compressors then yes fine. Leave the freezer one alone and wire up the STC-1000 to the fridge one. If only one compressor, you're stuffed - sorry.

Thanks bud, I'd have thought so too. But WhatdoIknow? :)

 

[dangerman]

Well my brew is still very slowly fermenting in the conservatory I've been busy acquiring my brew fridge as y'all recommended. I got one from FreeCycle, an average sized under counter Hotpoint fridge for FREE!

Just ordered the STC1000 from ebay for £10.99 and now I've struck gold by finding a 60w bar heater in my utility room. I just pulled it off the wall, there is probably gonna be a bit of extra condensation in there now but what the hell. Priorities!

I'm hoping my electrician of a brother will have a soldering kit, wires and plug sockets ready to set it all up over the weekend. Then I'll have a five gallons per week mini brewery on the go! Wahoo!

 

[dangerman]

Here's a little piccy of my new alcohol creation station with my empty barrel in.



I just hope my bar heater actually fits on the fridge without making contact with anything meltable. It's quite a long thing, it is.

 

[rpt]

Just be careful with a glass shelf supporting a full barrel or FV. I use a paint can as a stand. See the post in my sig.

 

[dangerman]

That's ace, that's mate, that's a cracking post. I'll be using your shopping list there if my bruv doesn't help me out.

 

[rpt]

Your electrician should know there's no soldering needed.

 

[winelight]

Then I'll have a five gallons per week

It depends on what the temperature in the house etc. is... I leave mine in the brewfridge for 3 weeks:

10 days at 18C
5 at 21C
5 at 12C

If you have a nice warm house the 5 at 21 can be in the house and if you have a nice cold utility room the 5 at 12 can be in that. But I'd still advise 10 at 18 rather than just 7.

 

[dangerman]

I don't have a nice warm house. I'm working class and have three kids. We just snuggle up with blankets and draw straws for someone to make a brew.

The brew fridge is in the garage because my wife won't let me keep my batches by the radiator. I thought that if I just set the fridge to keep the temperature at 22ºC for however long then I'd be able to brew as maximum pace. I'd just take hydrometer readings to check once it looks done.