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ddc69
Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Posts: 118
Location: Parkersburg, WV
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 Link Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 8:29 pm Post subject: Peltier cooling on Fermenter Complete |
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I have finally added peltier cooling to my 14 gallon MoreBeer! Fermenter. I had tried it on my 7 gallon Blichmann with success but this one has worked out even better! Check out the ice in these pics.
I used peltier chips, a block heater, and a dual stage controller and it has been controlling temperatures great. If anyone is interested in trying this, I can get a list of materials I used. Most was purchased from Ebay with the exception of the aluminum blocks to mount the chips and heat sinks on.
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| Ice on the inside of the fermenter wall! |
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| Ice on the aluminum block! |
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| Pic of the fermenter before wiring is complete |
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Kevin59
Joined: 03 Aug 2012
Posts: 1047
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Drinking: Imperial Brown Ale
Working on: Oatmeal Stout, IPA
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| Link Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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Very cool !!! (Pun intended...) Congrats !!!
Can I ask how much the hardware to do this set you back?
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huaco
Joined: 05 Apr 2012
Posts: 1506
Location: Burleson Texas
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| Link Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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Haha, that's awesome. Ice in the fermenter wall. Does it circulate inside the vessel very well? I know active fermentation would naturally circulate it, but after that. Does convection take over to slowly mix the thermal mass?
I'd love to do this some day. Heck, is love to have a SS fermenter some day!
Wonder if this would work on Sanke keg walls? Hmm.
What controller are you using? STC-1000 or PID?
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mvakoc
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 152
Location: Evergreen, CO
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| Link Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 11:39 pm Post subject: |
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I want to know more. I have been looking to do this for a long time. I have perfectly good heating control and have been looking into peltier cooling for some time. The blocker for me has been getting blocks made that properly attach the pelters to the conical. I have more beer 14 gallon conicals as well.
You have a source for these blocks already milled? Also, how did you attach it?
Tell me more!
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mvakoc
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 152
Location: Evergreen, CO
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| Link Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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| huaco wrote: | Haha, that's awesome. Ice in the fermenter wall. Does it circulate inside the vessel very well? I know active fermentation would naturally circulate it, but after that. Does convection take over to slowly mix the thermal mass?
I'd love to do this some day. Heck, is love to have a SS fermenter some day!
Wonder if this would work on Sanke keg walls? Hmm.
What controller are you using? STC-1000 or PID? |
I have found for heating a SS conical it takes very little energy to maintain and the large volume of liquid dissipates/spreads the temperature fine.
I control mine (heat) with auber PIds and 60W reptile heaters (heat tape).
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skelley
Joined: 24 Feb 2012
Posts: 210
Location: brookfield, wisconsin
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| Link Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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I also would be interested in how or where you had the heat blocks milled as well as how you attached them to the fermenter. I have two of the ultimates from more beer and love them. I can maintain temps around 37 easily but have trouble getting below this.
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ddc69
Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Posts: 118
Location: Parkersburg, WV
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| Link Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Kevin59 wrote: | Very cool !!! (Pun intended...) Congrats !!!
Can I ask how much the hardware to do this set you back? |
I have probably $250 bucks in the 14 gallon fermenter cooling.
As for the aluminum blocks, I bought bar stock online and had a local guy mill it for me at no cost as a favor.
I have been using this on my 7 gallon Blichmann for a while and have no problem with cooling dissipating in the wort/beer during or after fermentation.
I have the blocks attached to the fermenter, as shown in one of the pics, with ss banding that can be made into any size clamp. I used heat transfer paste not only on the peltier cooler but also between the aluminum block and the fermenter wall. I use a 500W computer power supply to power the 4 peltiers used on the 14 gallon fermenter. I also used a dual stage control products controller for this project. They are cheap and seem to work pretty well.
If interested, and when I can find the time, I could put some instructions together with links to parts I purchased on ebay, etc...
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huaco
Joined: 05 Apr 2012
Posts: 1506
Location: Burleson Texas
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| Link Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, please. A detailed list would be great.
So these fermenters are at ambient temp but the beer is kept at any temp you darn well please? How far off ambient are you able to go on the 14 gallon vessel?
Any problem with condensation?
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Kevin59
Joined: 03 Aug 2012
Posts: 1047
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Drinking: Imperial Brown Ale
Working on: Oatmeal Stout, IPA
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| Link Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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| huaco wrote: | | Yes, please. A detailed list would be great. |
+1 Thanks ddc69!
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skelley
Joined: 24 Feb 2012
Posts: 210
Location: brookfield, wisconsin
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| Link Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, I would love that. Is the grinding something any local metal fabricating shop could do? Are the block aluminum?
I have been using mine for a couple of years and have had no problems with too much condensation although it is present. I can get around 30-35 degrees below ambient temperature, how about yours?
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sirmellor
Joined: 19 Feb 2013
Posts: 16
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| Link Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 11:22 pm Post subject: |
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I would also be very interested in where you sourced the parts from. I have saved this document from Rob Swanson on building a temp controlled device, http://conical-fermenter.com/TemperatureControlledBuildSetup.pdf
But an up to date parts list would be great!
Thanks, Richard
Last edited by sirmellor on Wed Jan 29, 2014 11:26 pm; edited 1 time in total
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huaco
Joined: 05 Apr 2012
Posts: 1506
Location: Burleson Texas
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| Link Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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This only brings up a 404error
Can you simply post the PDF?
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sirmellor
Joined: 19 Feb 2013
Posts: 16
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| Link Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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Try the link now?
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ddc69
Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Posts: 118
Location: Parkersburg, WV
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| Link Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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| huaco wrote: | Yes, please. A detailed list would be great.
So these fermenters are at ambient temp but the beer is kept at any temp you darn well please? How far off ambient are you able to go on the 14 gallon vessel?
Any problem with condensation? |
So I did a water test on the 14 gallon fermenter lastnight. I put 13 gallons of tap water in it at 69F. The ambient temperature was steady at 66F the entire time. When I checked the fermenter this morning, it was at setpoint of 33F giving me a 33 degree drop from ambient! I may be able to do more but I didn't want to go below freezing and didn't have time to heat up the room to raise ambient. I will probably heat up the room and see just how far I can go but when I plot the temperature drop over time, I was still in a pretty linear pattern and not getting to the asymptote at 33F which seems to imply I have more room to go.
Last edited by ddc69 on Thu Jan 30, 2014 4:08 pm; edited 1 time in total
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ddc69
Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Posts: 118
Location: Parkersburg, WV
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| Link Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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| huaco wrote: |
This only brings up a 404error
Can you simply post the PDF? |
I also used Rob Swanson post as my starting point. Attached is the PDF. My work is similar but with some differences. I will try to put something together over the next few days and post.
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TemperatureControlledBuildSetup-download.pdf |
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1.03 MB |
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Kevin59
Joined: 03 Aug 2012
Posts: 1047
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Drinking: Imperial Brown Ale
Working on: Oatmeal Stout, IPA
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| Link Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the PDF!!! 
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huaco
Joined: 05 Apr 2012
Posts: 1506
Location: Burleson Texas
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| Link Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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Yep, I'm already looking at materials and costs to make one for a snake keg fermenter I have.
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ddc69
Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Posts: 118
Location: Parkersburg, WV
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| Link Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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So, I realize this is not step by step instructions but hopefully it gives enough insight to spark your creative side. Hope this helps but it's the best I can do with work being as crazy as it is right now.
Update: I raised the room temperature and maxed out the coolers. I am able to get 39F drop below ambient. From what I have heard from users of the MoreBeer! ultimate conical, this is just as good or better!
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Peltier Fermenter Cooling Project.docx |
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898.92 KB |
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huaco
Joined: 05 Apr 2012
Posts: 1506
Location: Burleson Texas
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| Link Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 3:29 am Post subject: |
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So, I'm assuming that these TEC devices are much more energy efficient than running a refrigerator?
What is your energy consumption?
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Discdoc
Joined: 03 Nov 2013
Posts: 25
Location: Indianapolis, IN
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| Link Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:53 am Post subject: Aluminum Block Size |
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What size are your aluminum blocks. Are they the 1" thick by 4" wide and how long ? Thanks for all your post and help.
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