Suitable fridge for a large SS Chronical

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

I am looking to get a larder fridge to use as a temp controller for my SS Chronical, which is the 65L version.

Scouring gumtree, there are quite a few about, that look like they can fit the FV.

However many of them feature some kind of pump housing, which means that the fermenter can't rest on the floor of the fridge, it would need to be placed on a platform above the salad tray.

Considering the FV will weigh about 70kg filled, I am concerned that the platform won't be secure.

Has anyone tried this?

Should I abandon the plan and think of creating a fermentation chamber instead?

[Matt in Birdham]

I had a fridge support set up in my old fridge, which had the same problem (many do, as you have noted).
I created a platform that was supported by metal angles all the way around, screwed directly into the fridge sides with a plywood board on top (that fit into the "nest" created by the surrounding four pieces of angle). The back section was also flush to the pump housing which provided extra support, and two pieces of extra angle at the front were bolted on to provide legs. This was very, very strong - it was a very large fridge and I could get 3x25l fermentors in there with no worries. I'm pretty sure I could have stood on that platform quite happily.

[Aleman]

I have a large hotpoint fridge for my 25L chronical, and the glass shelves even on the salad drawer were not sufficient for the load . (The plastic supports on the shelves broke ) I am making some solid shelves out of plywood, anyone with a slight amount of wood working skill could knock up a simple table to take the weight

[kev93_10]

I have this fermenter and it fits in a larder fridge. I created a similar thing to Aleman. Plank of wood supported on posts for front legs. Back legs sits on the compressor housing.

Very secure. Been using for a year without issue. About 20 batches have been through it.

K

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

So the pump housing can take the weight, if it is suitably spread with a solid platform?

[kev93_10]

If it's spread evenly it'll not be much on each leg.

Mines fine. It's a neat fit in the fridge but very solid.

K

[LeeH]

My half barrel cronical fits in a commercial sized fridge no problem. It sits on a 10mm thick Aluminium base.

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

You didn't get that fridge on gumtree. What is the exterior/interior dimensions of that fridge?

I use a 5L Demi john as a blow off tube container, and I don't think it will fit in the bottom if that fridge.

[guypettigrew]

Or you could go wild and treat your chronical to the proper SS temperature control system!

My smaller chronical has one and it works a treat for heating during cold weather, cooling during warm weather and crash cooling before kegging.

Guy

[Aleman]

On the other hand a fridge, tubular heater and a ST1000+ does everything the FTSS does and more, and you don't have to supply a heating and cooling source.

And if you want to be really poncy you can always build a BrewPi to control it all. . . . I went the Fridge and Home BrewPi route, and even though I bought the fridge from gumtree, had to buy the Pi and an Arduino . . . . I'm still quids in over the FTSS

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

The FTSS replaces the lid and you lose a bit of headspace from it.

My only gripe so far is that I am struggling to get a fridge with the internal dimensions to fit the half barrel chronical

[guypettigrew]

The FTSS replaces the lid and you lose a bit of headspace from it.

My only gripe so far is that I am struggling to get a fridge with the internal dimensions to fit the half barrel chronical

This bothered me before buying the SS system, but it hasn't been a problem.

I've fitted a blow off tube to the lid. The tube drops into a bucket of water. Very occasionally some light frothy krausen is pushed through the tube. Just means the water has to be changed.

Before having the Ss system the beer was fermented in the Chronical in an air conditioned room. Even setting the room temperature to 17C, the temperature inside the chronical sometimes got up to 23C, as measured using the thermowell. This means keeping the ambient temperature at the ideal value doesn't necessarily means the temperature in the beer, especially during the initial fermentation phase, is also ideal.

The Ss system has a coil in the beer and an insulating jacket on the outside. It keeps the beer at whatever temperature you set it to +/- 0.75C. Good enough for me! And, of course, it's a fast response.

Yes, it's expensive, yes you have to work out a heating and cooling mechanism. I use an old cool box with either a fish tank heater or plastic bottles of frozen water. Very easy once you've sorted it out.

Guy

[LeeH]

You didn't get that fridge on gumtree. What is the exterior/interior dimensions of that fridge?

I use a 5L Demi john as a blow off tube container, and I don't think it will fit in the bottom if that fridge.

Correct, it came from eBay £60 ish.

I'll measure it tonight.

[LeeH]

Or you could go wild and treat your chronical to the proper SS temperature control system!

My smaller chronical has one and it works a treat for heating during cold weather, cooling during warm weather and crash cooling before kegging.

Guy

What cold/hot water source do you use for it?

EDIT...just read your other post!