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Holter
Joined: 07 Oct 2011 Posts: 221 Location: Los Angeles, Ca
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Link Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:37 pm Post subject: Fermentation chamber |
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I am interested in building a panel to control two different fermentation refrigerators/freezers that looks similar to the panel built for this brewery. Has anyone here done this before?
What I would like to do is build a panel that has 4 outlets on the bottom. One for a heating pad and the other for the fridge, per fridge. I'd use the auber controllers again with much higher swing settings so I don't ruin the compressors. It would seem to be very similar to the CP for the electric brewery, but not being an electrical engineer I was curious if anyone on here has done the same thing before?
What I want to avoid is cutting up the guts of the fridge/cables and just plugging in the fridge to the panel. Thanks for any input.
_________________ Holter
LABeerFan.com
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cscade
Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Posts: 140 Location: Wooster, OH
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Link Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:22 pm Post subject: |
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I'd like to do this as well. I don't have the fridges/freezers yet, but I'll be getting them next year after I recover financially from the main brewery build.
I'll certainly share anything I come up with!
_________________ Seeker Brewing Co., est 2008
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silverspoons
Joined: 21 Dec 2010 Posts: 555 Location: Webster NY
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cscade
Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Posts: 140 Location: Wooster, OH
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Link Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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I really liked your build. Have you had any issues with it, in terms of moisture collecting anywhere, etc.? I know that can be a big deal.
I built a very large 4'x4'x8' refrigerator that was powered by an A/C compressor and a BCS. I had some fairly serious moisture issues on the outside of the box after a year. Better insulation can reduce that, but the unit didn't exist long enough to see a revision because I moved.
_________________ Seeker Brewing Co., est 2008
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-MG-
Joined: 05 Dec 2011 Posts: 203
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Link Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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I used an ebay controller and put it in a side by side fridge:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/side-side-refridgerator-help-298649/
Basically I found the wiring diagram, found the main power cord, ran that right to the controller. Removed the previous damper that was in the fridge that allowed the freezer air to blow in and installed a computer fan with a make shift flap. I also removed the thermostat that was there for the fridge side. It was all really easy and just takes a little work. My post on HBT should help you understand everything.
When the temp in the fridge gets too warm it turns the fan on, when its too cold, it turns a ceramic space heater on at the bottom of the fridge I put in. Mine doesn't even touch the compressor settings so I'm not cycling it too much. All the fridge really is doing is keeping the freezer side frozen (hop storage).
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silverspoons
Joined: 21 Dec 2010 Posts: 555 Location: Webster NY
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Link Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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cscade wrote: | I really liked your build. Have you had any issues with it, in terms of moisture collecting anywhere, etc.? I know that can be a big deal.
I built a very large 4'x4'x8' refrigerator that was powered by an A/C compressor and a BCS. I had some fairly serious moisture issues on the outside of the box after a year. Better insulation can reduce that, but the unit didn't exist long enough to see a revision because I moved.
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No moisture issues anywhere.. , its in my basement where the ambient temp is around 67F and i run a dehumidifier in the summer months.
Silverspoons
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milldoggy
Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 569 Location: Pottstown, PA
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Link Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 2:03 am Post subject: |
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I used an upright freezer, think it was a 21 CF. Got it off CL for 100. I used the love control. I also wired three outlets in the fridge, one always on, one on with the compressor, one with the heater. I used a cheap hair dryer for the heater. I made a custom shelf support from wood. I had a wood shelf but replaced it with one of the metal wire ones from the freezer and supported it with a 2x4. The wood shelf created two temp zones. It has drastically improved my beer.
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KES
Joined: 13 May 2011 Posts: 472 Location: Iowa
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Link Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 2:04 am Post subject: |
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Hey milldoggy. My last major piece to my brew room is a fermentation chamber. I like the idea of an upright over a chest freezer. (floor place and easier on my back) I got a Blichmann 14.5 conical (roughly 20"x22"x36" high)I want to put in it with room for at least 2 carboys. Question: Would you think they would fit in your freezer? If so, what are the interior dimensions of your freezer? Model?
_________________ “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” B. Franklin
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milldoggy
Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 569 Location: Pottstown, PA
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Link Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 2:35 am Post subject: |
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In portland, at cascade brewery, amazing sours. Will measure this weekend
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TheHappyBrewer
Joined: 24 Jul 2014 Posts: 1 Location: San Diego,CA
Drinking: Special Bitter and Wee Heavy
Working on: Saison
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Link Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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I'm new to the forum. Just completed first batch with Kal's design. For the fermentation control side I came across a project referred to as BrewPi. Combines a RaspberryPi single board Linux box with an Arduino controller. Creates a PID controller for heating and cooling as well as data logger. May be the same as the Uberfridge mentioned above. I'm building it now (waiting on parts). BrewPi site is http://www.brewpi.com
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inkedbrewer
Joined: 15 Jan 2015 Posts: 57
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Feurhund
Joined: 01 Feb 2011 Posts: 89
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Link Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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Did you figure it out yet. Planning something similar
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David_H
Joined: 13 Nov 2013 Posts: 139 Location: Savannah, GA
Drinking: Dry Irish Stout, Electric Pale Ale, American Amber Ale, Irish Red Ale
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Link Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2015 3:13 am Post subject: |
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I just finished my Glycol Chiller, but I haven't used it yet other than water to test it out. I'm pretty sure the 54 qt cooler would be adequate to manage the temperature of a 14 gallon conical. The factors that would effect the outcome are the BTU's of the A/C (typically about 5000 BTU and the insulation on the conical. I built my own control with a couple of Love TSS2 Controllers. If you are interested I could share my wiring diagram, etc. Good luck.
I have been contemplating using a SS Chiller Coil directly inside of a Wide Mouth Carboy, then insulate the Carboy. If I every do it I'll post in here somewhere.
David
_________________ David
Kal Clone Controller
20 gallon Spike Brewing 3-Kettle System
SS Brewtech 14 gallon fermenter w/ gycol chiller
4 tap keezer with Nitro Tap
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mjo2125
Joined: 27 Feb 2017 Posts: 248 Location: Dayton, OH
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Link Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2017 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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TheHappyBrewer wrote: | I'm new to the forum. Just completed first batch with Kal's design. For the fermentation control side I came across a project referred to as BrewPi. Combines a RaspberryPi single board Linux box with an Arduino controller. Creates a PID controller for heating and cooling as well as data logger. May be the same as the Uberfridge mentioned above. I'm building it now (waiting on parts). BrewPi site is http://www.brewpi.com |
how did the BrewPi work out?
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11121 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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mjo2125
Joined: 27 Feb 2017 Posts: 248 Location: Dayton, OH
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Link Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2017 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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Nice set-up. Glass doors gives the set-up a tech-feel to it - like it!
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