Son of Fermentation Chiller

[ridgerunner]

I have done some reading on the net and on here about this fermentation chiller. I know that it will get chilled enough to do ales, but will it get cool enough to do lagers? Does anyone on here still use one of these? Most folks I've talked to use a fridge or freezer to lager. Just wondering what you all thought. Thanks in advance.

[JayShaw91]

I suggest building this instead:
http://suburb.semo.net/jet1024/FermChill.htm

You can fit two carboys in it and it doesn't require any more insulation. You'll need some plywood, an old 12v adapter, a computer fan, and (preferably) an old thermometer. I found a used digital thermometer at a recycle center for a buck. Use Craigslist for anything listed here you can't find, minus the insulation. It's $30 or so and I'd think you'd want a new sheet to ensure its insulation properties.

I am still to build mine, but it'll be soon. I'm working on the kegerator still :)

[TeufelBrew]

I suggest building this instead:
http://suburb.semo.net/jet1024/FermChill.htm

You can fit two carboys in it and it doesn't require any more insulation. You'll need some plywood, an old 12v adapter, a computer fan, and (preferably) an old thermometer. I found a used digital thermometer at a recycle center for a buck. Use Craigslist for anything listed here you can't find, minus the insulation. It's $30 or so and I'd think you'd want a new sheet to ensure its insulation properties.

I am still to build mine, but it'll be soon. I'm working on the kegerator still :)

I researched both and built the Mother. I accidently left the thermostat in the 'on' position and chilled my beer to 55deg. with only one large jug of ice in it. If you keep regular tabs on the thermostat and ice, you can keep whatever you want almost as cold as you want. Here are some pic's of the Mother I built.

[JayShaw91]

That looks nice with the wood on it. Do you have a thread on the site talking about your build of this? That may help Ridge Runner (and me!) and not have to make you re-hash every step of your build process.

So tell me this, without the wood on the outside, is this thing stable enough to move around without risk of breaking things?

Quick question, what is the belt thingy surrounding your fermenter? If the answer to that is in another thread, then that is proof we need that linky :D

[TeufelBrew]

That looks nice with the wood on it. Do you have a thread on the site talking about your build of this? That may help Ridge Runner (and me!) and not have to make you re-hash every step of your build process.

No real thread. Someone else talked about building one and I added my two cents worth. Something about Red Headed Stepchild Fermchiller from combining plans for Son and Mother of Fermchiller. :rolleyes:


So tell me this, without the wood on the outside, is this thing stable enough to move around without risk of breaking things?

After getting it built and the glue dried, I had to mess with it for a few days before putting the birch plywood on the outside. I moved it all over the place and had no issues. Just never move it with anything in it besides the plywood box for ice and the fan.


Quick question, what is the belt thingy surrounding your fermenter? If the answer to that is in another thread, then that is proof we need that linky :D

Wife gave me brew kit early Xmas last year and it was cold in basement. So, not knowing any better, I purchased a brew belt to keep my fermenting beer warm. DUMB I now know, but it works great to hold the thermistor (sensor for thermostat) in place so the ambient air doesn't affect it. Fairly accurately senses the temp of the wort not the air flowing by.

I can look for the other thread where it was talked about a little. I just don't remember what it was off the top of my head.



EDIT:
I just looked back at the site for 38DD Mother Chiller and he has pic's of mine on there now. Just follow his site for basic directions and go with what works for your space, skills and time.

[TeufelBrew]

Searched for "chiller" and this is the thread that Son and Mother were discussed a little.
http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=18621&highlight=chiller

Look at the sites listed for the Son and Mother and decided what works best for your situation. Over half the enjoyment for me was planning and making the box to fit my space and needs. Now it's just another tool until I get the finishing touches done and then it will be furniture with an extra purpose.

[belsonc]

Something about Red Headed Stepchild Fermchiller from combining plans for Son and Mother of Fermchiller. :rolleyes:



What? I kind of like that name. ;)


I haven't gotten to build this yet - right now, I don't have the time to do it. I'm a little swamped on the weekends at this moment, so this has kind of gone by the wayside... But if you can do this, then by all means, go for it. They all have the right idea - look at what's been done, borrow from it, but do what YOU need - not necessarily what they did. :)

[JayShaw91]

Agreed, but I'm not a man who believes in reinventing the wheel, so I just become a copy cat :)

[brazilhead]

So would anyone like to wager a guess as to which of the two designs--mother or son--would be more efficient, everything else being equal? I´m getting ready to go to a 10 gallon production process and it does get quite hot here in the summer, so I´m still debating how well this would work for me.

[TeufelBrew]

So would anyone like to wager a guess as to which of the two designs--mother or son--would be more efficient, everything else being equal? I´m getting ready to go to a 10 gallon production process and it does get quite hot here in the summer, so I´m still debating how well this would work for me.

As you can see from pics, the mother has room for 2 large fermenters. I had about 5.5G of fermenting beer and a 5lbs block of ice in the middle chamber. Fan didn't even turn on. I had to open once in a while overnite to keep the temp in the fermenter from dropping below 60deg. I have yet to fill the ice chambers while fermenting.

[darylM]

i am wondering if the cooling effect would be if the cooling part was above the fermentor since cold sinks.

[TeufelBrew]

So does water and you get condensation with warm air and ice. I have to put a plastic tray under my ice or replace paper towels daily. I don't see how I could ensure now water would drop onto fermenters. If you solve the sealing issue let me know. I'm just not spending time on it now.

[JayShaw91]

Daryl, I talked to a few guys at work about this. The key is that this is supposed to be a closed system, and because it is such a small system it won't help to have the ice on top.

Add in Teufel's thoughts on condensation and I am now firmly in the camp of wanting the ice on the bottom.

[TeufelBrew]

Well,
Mom's got batch #3 in her belly now. It's a Marzen fermenting at a balmy 55 degF. Once I got initial temp down to 55, the ice is lasting about 2 days and keeping at a steady 55. The first beer I made with Mom is conditioning and should be ready next week. At bottling it had NONE of the warm fermentation flavors that I've had in all my other beers. Temp control is my friend.

[JayShaw91]

I'm building my chiller this weekend. :D

[cul8rv8]

bump...

I'm going to be building the mother this weekend. Anybody still using theirs with satisfaction? I have a chest freezer, but that's being used as the kegerator. I have an extra fridge in my garage, but I actually use the freezer and fridge in there for their intended purposes, so trying to ferment ales would not allow the food items in there to survive. I'm ready to actually ferment at correct temperatures, as I think I've got most of my other processes pretty well down.

Then the last thing I need to really be in good shape is a crusher so I can crush my own grains, but that's a little pricey for me right now. Being single with a mortgage I had no business being approved for in the first place makes buying more equipment kinda tough. :) Too bad I don't qualify for the Help for Homeowners program, the government could help pay for my home brewery.