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Anticlimaddox
Joined: 05 Feb 2016 Posts: 85 Location: Harrisonburg, VA
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Link Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2018 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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I use a brewpi connected to an upright freezer, works wonderfully. I was using the bulb in a paint can for about a year without issue but I noticed it getting dangerously hot - at least too hot for my liking. Switched to the Lasko personal heater based on feedback from other brewers using it - mounted to the door on a security camera mount and I feel much more comfortable with it. Casing stays cool to the touch (unlike the can).
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mjo2125
Joined: 27 Feb 2017 Posts: 248 Location: Dayton, OH
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Link Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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thanks - would you happen to have any wiring schematics of how you hacked the fridge?
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Anticlimaddox
Joined: 05 Feb 2016 Posts: 85 Location: Harrisonburg, VA
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Link Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2018 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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mjo2125 wrote: | thanks - would you happen to have any wiring schematics of how you hacked the fridge? |
I wouldn't say I "hacked" the fridge as much as I just drilled 3 holes that voided the warranty. . Where those holes can be will vary from freezer to freezer. I know where NOT to drill or cut on this Frigidaire model.
Holes were one each for the temp probes, and one for the heater's cord - all 3 of which hook to the brewpi (along with the freezer plug) on the outside of the freezer itself. I didn't mess with the freezer's actual thermostat.
Here's some photos...
That's a fermenter full of Kal's American Amber Ale plunking away currently.
This is the Lasko Heater mounted on a security camera mount ($10 on Amazon)
BrewPi:
BrewPi Innards:
Hope that helps.
// b
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Ozarks Mountain Brew
Joined: 22 May 2013 Posts: 737 Location: The Ozark Mountains of Missouri
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Link Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 12:00 am Post subject: |
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Ive never needed heat the yeast is my heat, the more heat you add the more your cooling, and it just stays on and on, my chamber only kicks on once or twice a day with no heat
_________________ "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
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Anticlimaddox
Joined: 05 Feb 2016 Posts: 85 Location: Harrisonburg, VA
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Link Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 12:02 pm Post subject: Not "needed" |
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I agree heat is not a necessity, its a luxury. You can absolutely just use your chamber to keep the yeast heat in check. I just like the absolute control and I like to make stuff. It is nice to be able to ramp and hold temps for a diacetyl rest, increase temps to explore the flavors yeast can bring at different temps - for example in say a quad - I have a recipe that while I bump the temp up 3 degrees a day for a week, it is like adding ingredients.
I'm also a huge fan of the brewpi over your typical temp controller - it lets you hold temps within .01 degree of your set point. I just took a look and over the last 24 hours it has held temp at 67 and kicked the heat on once and the freezer 4x, all for under 5 min at a time. It is more active as it regulates the temp at the start of fermentation, then when it settles (like now) its pretty quiet. Added perk - it also records the history of your temps over time so it is repeatable.
So necessary? - nope.
Awesome? - yep.
Cheers!
// brian
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dp Brewing Company
Joined: 08 Jul 2013 Posts: 664 Location: Midwest
Drinking: Chocolate Taco, Raspberry Mango Cider, American X, Sandy Dunes
Working on: Nothing
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Link Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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That is awesome! Thanks for sharing. I always like seeing what other people are doing. Gives me some ideas. Most of the time my wife thinks I'm up to no good but I like to always have a project.
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Anticlimaddox
Joined: 05 Feb 2016 Posts: 85 Location: Harrisonburg, VA
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Link Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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Agreed. Always seem to have a backlog of projects. Cheers!
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