14 replies to this topic

[Recklessdeck]

So I finally did it, I got a craigslist chest freezer for 60$ and ordered my temp control unit! Proper fermentation temps here I come! I'm really excited, this is like the last piece of the puzzle for me. This thing is huge, too, I'll easily be able to fit four primary buckets and still have room for kegs, etc.My one concern is that in order to get the damn thing out of the basement where I found it, We had to tilt it on its side. I know that this is bad for fridges, but will my freezer be affected? Either way the thing has to sit till ups brings me my controller, so it will have time to sit. Please reassure me I didn't damage this beautiful new toy of mine.

[gnef]

You won't know if you have damaged it until you turn it on. You are good that you are letting it rest before turning it on. I think the general rule of thumb is to let it sit for at least twice as long as it was transported. I usually like to let mine sit for a day or two before plugging them in.How old is the freezer? The older it is, the more likely something was damaged, or that you have reduced the working life of the freezer. If it is on the newer side, more likely it is ok. It is always luck of the draw when working with used refrigeration appliances. I bought a 22 CF chest freezer for 75 dollars a few years ago, and it lasted about 2 years for me. Still a good value, but I am thinking of buying my next chest freezer new.Best of luck! What temperature controller did you decide on? If it is digital, something you can do to help the compressor last is to set the minimum time between cycles to be at least 15 minutes, otherwise you may cycle the compressor to frequently which can burn it out.

[stellarbrew]

Congratulations. IMO, your last puzzle piece is one of the most important one. I think you will be very pleased with the postive effect tight fermentation temperature control has on your beer.I agree with what gnef said. Let it sit for several days to let the oil fully drain back down before you plug it in.

[ncbeerbrewer]

+1 on the above comments. Let it sit while you wait for your controllerYou won't believe the effect that temp control can do for brewing. You are going to love it. You can dial it in and it will be really consistant. Congrats on the plunge/score. For that price thats sweet to you can ferment that many and still have room for kegs. All I use are chest freezers and I love it. Good Luck!!

[Recklessdeck]

Thanks for the advice everyone. This was my 2-year start-of-brewing anniversary gift to myself, so I can only hope it works out. gnef, I actually went for the pre-wired johnson controls model. I know, I know, in the long run I'd be happier if I finally sat down and studied electronics, and wired up a PID, but with summer school, work, and plenty of other brewing projects (I have ten gallons that need bottling/kegging and another 10 to make come monday), a temp controller that is not a DIY project is worth the extra 15$ to me right now.Just for the record, though, I had a lot of luck over the past two years by choosing beer styles to make that corresponded to the season. Ales in fall/spring, belgians in the summer, and hybrids and one lager over the winter. Frankly I doubt anyone would know just from taste that my ales were made without temp control (at least no one has yet). For those of you without temp control, I cannot recommend enough that you brew beers that will work with your ambient temperatures, as opposed to whatever you want.

[3rd party JKor]

I just got a new CLC (craig's list chestie) over the weekend. I didn't have to completely tilt it to get it out of the seller's basement, but it was at about a 45° angle. Plus, it took a pretty good beating on the way home. I had to rent a U-haul trailer to pick it up, and the suspension on those things is as stiff as hell (if it even had one at all). I could see it bouncing around back there. I was living and dying with every bump in the road. When I got it home I let it sit overnight and it's working fine. WHo knows how long it will last. The last CLC lasted 2yrs. If this one doesn't last at least that, I'm going all new. The new ones last forever if you don't move them around. Literally decades.A PID is just about useless for a fermentation fridge. No reason for it, IMO.

Edited by JKoravos, 18 June 2009 - 06:02 PM.

[stellarbrew]

A PID is just about useless for a fermentation fridge. No reason for it, IMO.

I agree that there is no reason why you would need a proportional, integral, and derivative controller for cycling a fermentation refrigerator'freezer. The compressor is either on or off. And you certainly would not want to to try rapid cycling to ramp the temperature like you might do in a process electric heating application using an SCR. However, I think an electronic control is useful for this application, in that you can adjust your switching differential/deadband in order get the control precision you desire, while limiting the cycle frequency. You can get an industrial digital temperature controller (without PID) used, cheaper than one of these analog cap and bulb types, and you get the added benifit of having the actual temperature reading of the inside of fridge displayed outside.

Edited by stellarbrew, 18 June 2009 - 06:35 PM.

[3rd party JKor]

I agree that there is no reason why you would need a proportional, integral, and derivative controller for cycling a fermentation refrigerator'freezer. The compressor is either on or off. And you certainly would not want to to try rapid cycling to ramp the temperature like you might do in a process electric heating application using an SCR. However, I think an electronic control is useful for this application, in that you can adjust your switching differential/deadband in order get the control precision you desire, while limiting the cycle frequency. You can get an industrial digital temperature controller (without PID) used, cheaper than one of these analog cap and bulb types, and you get the added benifit of having the actual temperature reading of the inside of fridge displayed outside.

A PID control works fine, it's just not necessary. My analog Johnson has a deadband of about 2 degrees. That amount of swing has no effect on fermentation. That being said, if I was buying a new controller, I'd get a PID from eBay because it's cheaper and I'm very familiar with how they work. I can see why someone who isn't familiar with PIDs would be intimidated, though.

[harryfrog]

I paid the extra $10 for the dual control digital Ranco controller and love it. I'm looking forward to using it to add heat in the winter (if needed) and love the programmable swing on the controller for controlling compressor cycling. Plus, it's high class how they cut a 10' green extension cord and sell it "pre-wired".

[Deerslyr]

What is this basement you speak of???Just out of curiosity... do you have a basement?? Thought those were perfect for fermenting.

[Recklessdeck]

Nope, no basement...Well, Got my temp controller today, plugged it into the freezer, and it fired right up! This freezer is a "commercial" model, don't know if that says anything about the quality, but it took a beating in the move and is still working like a champ. Right now I got 10g of porter cold crashing in there, and I should be brewing again before the weekend. Looks like a good investment so farP.S. do you all just run the temp probe between the lip and lid of the freezer? Does this break the seal or anything?

[ncbeerbrewer]

Nope, no basement...Well, Got my temp controller today, plugged it into the freezer, and it fired right up! This freezer is a "commercial" model, don't know if that says anything about the quality, but it took a beating in the move and is still working like a champ. Right now I got 10g of porter cold crashing in there, and I should be brewing again before the weekend. Looks like a good investment so farP.S. do you all just run the temp probe between the lip and lid of the freezer? Does this break the seal or anything?

Sounds like you are doing great then Reckless. Commercial freezers are normally better quality too I believe. I think you are fine with your temp probe between the seal of the door and the freezer. I do that on all three of my freezers, a cord that small does not effect the seal or temp control either as I have seen. I even fun a gas line in between the seal of my lagering freezer when I carbonate a keg waiting to get into my kegerator. You will have it filled up for sure too.

[Stout_fan]

Be sure to silicone seal all the seams. That way it wont rust you will postpone the eventual destruction of the freezer from rust to a later date. Hopefully after the compressor dies of natural causes.

[Recklessdeck]

Be sure to silicone seal all the seams. That way it wont rust you will postpone the eventual destruction of the freezer from rust to a later date. Hopefully after the compressor dies of natural causes.

good advice, I already discovered a pool of spilled liquid in one of the corners, this really makes sense given that we use these thing above freezing.

[3rd party JKor]

Be sure to silicone seal all the seams. That way it wont rust you will postpone the eventual destruction of the freezer from rust to a later date. Hopefully after the compressor dies of natural causes.

+1