Fermentation temp control

[quixoticgeek]

The next step to improve the quality of the beer I am making is in controlling fermentation temperature. I live in a small first floor flat, and have a limit on the amount of space I have. For this reason, I can't easily fit in a pair of fridges necessary to take the FV's I am using (either a 60L bucket or a youngs 30L wine fementer).

My first thought was to get some 50mm solid insulation sheets, and make a cabinet to put the FV's in, then use a peltier element (or 3) some fans and some magic, to cool the chamber with the FV in it. Reading up suggests that this may be inefficient and ineffective.

My second thought was using the same chambers, but rather than a peltier, get a very compact freezer to put a coil of pipe in, put a coil of pipe in the FV chamber, and then pump water + antifreeze between the two loops... Not sure how well this would work.

What are the other options? I need a solution that is effectively the same size as an under counter fridge. Alas, undercounter fridges are out, as they tend to have a chunk of their volume at the bottom taken up by the compressor gubbins.

Any suggestions?

Julia

[Fil]

one us brewer in one of the hot states built an insulated box as you suggested and added some PC fans, he would then exchange 4pint milk bottles daily with ones frozen overnight in the freezer, the fan moved air would transfer the cold from the ice bottles to the brew..

you need an air tight box for something like that to work tho a small gap would let all the cold air fall out of the enclosure..

another alternative would be a shelf chiller with a python or recirculation pump,

they can generally be picked up on ebay for under £50, used with a SS square coil from one of the larger trolly beer chillers which appear on ebay now and again for circa £15 you can pump cold water thru the coil to chill the brew..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Beer-Chiller- ... 2edd845627

and

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRODUCT-COIL- ... 566fad982d

for example..

fwiw shelf chillers aint quiet beasts

i use a shelf chiler but it didnt come with a recirc pump so i dropped a water feature pump in it.. its used to chill an insulated fermentation vessel via


testing

[Aaron]

Fil, how did you make that long thermowell or where did you buy it? Does the temp probe go right down to the bottom of the thermowell?

[Fil]

Fil, how did you make that long thermowell or where did you buy it? Does the temp probe go right down to the bottom of the thermowell?

it was an ebay auction not a mass seller, so i cant post a valid link..
yes its full depth..