Fermentation chamber

[Inkleg]

The coils run just behind the front and back panels and will get VERY warm. If you look inside you will see condensation forming where they run. I recommend an EVA Dry 5000 to help with condensation. I have a computer fan attached with Velcro in mine. Helps circulate air in there for more steady temps and draws air across the EVA Dry. I'll post some pictures and links when I get home. It work right now.

For others following this thread. Will at The Black Box like I linked to a few posts above, has regular
STCs on sale for $10.

[Inkleg]

Oh, I forgot to say on you're new addition.

I'm working on Ron Whites Land Rover right now. Yes that Ron White, even has cigar scissors laying on the center console.

[Beer-lord]

If used a a fermentation chamber, mostly in the mid 60's, do you think the dehumidifier is still needed?
Sounds like a great idea too.

[Inkleg]

Since it's not a "frost free" freezer I'm gonna say yes.

[Beer-lord]

LOL, what was I thinking? Don't answer that.

[Kealia]

I'm working on Ron Whites Land Rover right now. Yes that Ron White, even has cigar scissors laying on the center console.

THE TATER?!?!

Paul, congrats on the new addition. I use a wine fridge with a JC for my fermentation chamber. It works for up to a 5G carboy/bucket and since I don't brew that often it's fine for space needs. I also unplug it and air it out/dry it out between uses so I haven't needed a dehumidifier myself.

If only I had more friends and brewed more.

[Beer-lord]

I need to quickly get a temp controller. In less than 4 hours this thing is already 31 degrees. Even on the lowest setting of 1, it still freezes.
Guess I better make my mind up fast and get one. I plan on brewing next weekend.

[Kealia]

In the meantime, got anything that needs to be cold crashed?

[Beer-lord]

I made a decision today and ordered the Fermostat. Way overpriced and over needed so I did it anyway. I love the techie stuff and I can try it for 60 days and if I don't like it, Caleb said I can return it.
I set the unit below 1 and it still freezes.
I hope my Fermostat will be here by Thursday in time for my next brew day on Saturday.
I may have to do a few back to back brews soon due to a minor knee surgery in 2 weeks. Can't let the pipeline get too low during football season. That's just not American.

[gwcr]

Congrats on the purchase. The CL guy finally got back to me, so I now have the freezer sitting in my basement. I decided to order the STC-1000 that is flashed for reading in F from blackboxbrew.com. Shipped today so hopefully I can do the build and brew this weekend too!

[BigPapaG]

@ Beerlord

Get some things in it and it may not freeze up... It needs some volume to cool... Pet bottles filled with eater, carboys that need cold crashing, kegs that need cooling, etc.

@ gwcr

Wish I knew about that one when I got mine... Now I need to either find someone with an arduino or a way to flash it from a pc... Or I stick with Celsius...

[gwcr]

Finally got the STC-1000+ wired up this past weekend. Tested with multiple thermometers and it is spot on. So I brewed up a batch of my Irish Red. I use S-04 with it, and it usually takes off fast and furious. This was no exception. I taped and insulated the probe to the side of the bucket for a more accurate reading, and left another digital thermometer in the freezer to see what the ambient temp was. During the height of activity the ambient temp dropped to 58* (that I saw) in order to keep the bucket at 63*. Now that the activity is dying down, there is only a 1* difference in ambient and bucket temp and I expect them to be the same in another day or two. I always knew there was a difference between ambient and fermentation temperature, but this really convinced me that a fermentation chamber is a necessity for me if I want to brew from May-September. Best investment I have made so far.

[RickBeer]

Great info. That's why we've all believed, nice to see it factually.

I hope to bring home my in-law's freezer this weekend and brew sometime next week, I like the idea of maintaining a temp vs. using the basement's temp and knowing it will go up and then back down (even though at a Winter 62 it doesn't get near 70, stable is better).

[philm00x]

Congrats on the ferm chamber, Paul! And also, when did the STC-1000s start coming in Fahrenheit scale?! It would be so much easier for me to use that instead of my model that is in Celsius (which forces me to do math).

[Beer-lord]

I'm not sure if your STC question is to me or not but I bought the Fermostat and so far, am loving the crap out of it.
Set it and forget it.

Fermostat.JPG (163.47 KiB) Viewed 1480 times