Chest freezer / cooler recommendations?

[surista]

SWMBO has given me permission to buy a chest freezer or similiar apparatus for cooling during fermentation; apparently I've been a good boy lately

Only condition is that it doesn't chew up too much electricity. When it's not cooling my fermention bucket she'll probably want to use it for vegetables and such - and if it's big enough it might be cooling vegetables along with the wort <g> Our current fridge is pretty small.

Anyone have any recommendations for a decent-sized eco chest freezer for under GBP 300 pounds here in the UK? I have two regular-sized 5-gallon (25L) plastic fermenter buckets (one from the Cooper's kit http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/index.php ... r-kit.html, the other one is this one http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/index.php ... m-tap.html). I'd prefer an upright so I'm not throwing my back out moving around full fermentation buckets. Would wine/drink coolers like this work?

And how do I hook up a temperature control?

TIA!

-S

[flything]

Hi, what are you brewing? If it's mostly ales then I doubt it will matter how efficient the freezer/fridge is as all you need it to do is maintain a steady temp circa 18 degrees and even in summer, as long as you don't keep opening the door, even the crappiest fridge will maintain that with no bother and the compressor will hardly run.

I just took the first fridge I could find for free and wired up a TC10 from here http://www.forttex.com/index.php?main_p ... h=1_5_27_8.

This turns the power to fridge on when the temp exceeds a limit I have set or turns on a double demijon heating tray if it falls below a set limit. It's pretty simple to wire up if you take your time, all you need to do is wire up 3 pin sockets which your fridge and heater then plug into.

Stable fermentation temp is the best thing you can do to improve your beer as long as you have your sanitation sorted.

[surista]

Hey flything - txs for the reply. I'm mostly brewing (well, trying to brew) lagers, so getting my temperatures under control is my first priority! This hot summer hasn't helped much. Unfortunately we don't have a bathroom tub on the ground floor (only a shower booth) and I'll be damned if I'm carrying five gallons of wort up two flights of stairs!

Txs for the advice on the TC10, will look into that once I've sourced a refridgerator or something,


S

[surista]

Bumpity? Anyone?

[surista]

Bumpity bumpity? the have any good chest freezer / refrigerator model recommendations? I was looking at the Ice King CH103: http://www.coopelectricalshop.co.uk/pro ... FZ-CH103-W

Anyone using this?

[Invalid Stout]

It looks like it would be kind of difficult to get a bucket/better bottle in and out without straining your back and/or sloshing beer around.