Fridge for Fermenting and Conditioning

[Gandolf]

Hi Guys

Can I please pick your brains

I am concerned that my fermenting temperature in my garage is fluctuating too much and had this thought that I would like some comments on please?

If I buy a tall fridge can I quite simply adapt it to 1/ control temperature during fermentation. 2/ store two King Kegs at about 48 degrees for conditioning and dispensing.

I am starting to get concerned about items I have read regarding FV fluctuating temperature, and UV light and temp. affecting conditioning? Will the colder temp. for the King Kegs cause chill hazes?

Your thoughts would be very much appreciated.

G

[Matt12398]

A cool temperature does not cause permanent chill haze. It's because of proteins in the beer which when chilled cause haze to become visible. Allow it to warm up again and it becomes invisible again.

[fego]

Yes, you can easily adapt a fridge (or a freezer) to control a set temperature for fermenting and/or conditioning or even lagering. All you need is a fridge (obviously), a temperature control unit (cheap from ebay) and a tube heater. A hole through the side of the fridge, some basic wiring of the fridge and the heater's cables to the temperature control unit and you're away.

Search on here for fridge conversions and you'll see it's been covered several times by people with no prior knowledge whatsoever. And it's well worth doing.

[Clibit]

I really want one but can only just about wire a plug. What should I do?! get a sparky to help?

I'm going to be buying a new fridge freezer soon so could use my old one. Can both parts be used? How do you stop it freezing the freezy bit?

Help!

[och29]

Wiring the controller is very easy. If you search for PTC1000 wiring diagram. Its two plugs and something else just as simple. Otherwise there is someone on here selling a premade version.
The way the controller works is that when it senses the temp is too high it will switch on whatever you have attached to the 'cool' output. You could use either the fridge or the freezer part but not both to do separate temperatures. Fridge is bigger normally so use that.

[Jim Blockley]

I had the same problem, but a kind chap on the forum talked me through it. I wrote an idiots guide for a
mate of mine. If you need it, it's yours. Making a brew fridge is easy and will transform your nano-brewery!

[Jim Blockley]

P.s feel free to message me if that's possible. I'd be glad to share my limited experience...

[Gandolf]

Hi Jim

That would be great if I could see that guide.

My e-mail is alancmarshall@btinternet.com

Kind regards
Alan

[Jim Blockley]

Just sent it. Let me know if it doesn't come through.

[Clibit]

Yes please! p h i l c l i f t o n at t a l k 2 1 . c o m

thanks.

[Jim Blockley]

Hi Clibit,

I've put it into a pdf and will email it to you. If I could work out how to add an attachment to a post I'd do it. Any ideas?

[och29]

Upload it to Google Drive or Dropbox and post a link?

[Clibit]

Thanks Jim, the instructions look brilliant.

Can't do attachments as far as I know, try dropbox, or put the text and images directly into a post, perhaps?

[Gandolf]

Thanks very much Jim
All I need to lay my hands on now is a fridge.

Alan

[nobby007]

I was just reading about the beer fridge conversion and was wondering if I could get hold of the pdf instructions as well.
007anoble@gmail.com
Thanks
Adam