user 78027
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- Apr 15, 2011
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I have been struggling to solve several problem and have finally decided what to do. I have severe arthritis in both hands so lugging around 6 gallon or even 3 gallon glass carboys is a problem. I also like variety, I brew in 2.5 gallon batches and will someday do more, but this is where I want to be right now. Another problem is that I am stuck in the garage, I have no basement and there is no way I can brew in the house. The solution that I came up with this weekend is based on Huaco's thread
3 Temp Fermentation Controller 1 chamber
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/3-temp-fermentation-controller-1-chamber-388549/
Here is the plan, I am starting it this week and any suggestions, feedback, or that won't work will be appreciated as it is a fairly expensive project.
First I bought a freezer for my garage, Frigadare 9 cu ft. The sign at lowes says it is 9 cu ft, but the online add says 8.8. Anyway that doesn't matter. The base area is 16.25 inches x 24.5 inches. It has an 18 AWG power plug so this will simplify the wiring of the controller.
The area will fit 6 3 gallon Better Bottle fermentor bottles, they are 7.5 inches on a side, in a 3x2 configuration with plenty of room left for insulation between the bottles.
It will also fit 1 6 gallon BB Fermentor bottle and 2 3 gallon BB's.
I will use Huaco's 3 station and build a 6 station controller, not all at once, I only need a 3 level version to start with. Then as I get more money I can build out the rest.
Each bottle will be setup in one of the two choices, I don't have a bottle so I don't know all the size information.
a) 6" reptile heat tape around the center, I figure that it is about 28" around at the center. The 6" tape is 12 watts per foot and 2.5 foot is more then enough heat. Maybe I will just do 2 sides.
or
b) 4" reptile heat tape around the bottom, heat rises so this might be the best idea. The 4" heat tape is 6 watts per foot and the perimeter is 30" long. This is 2.5 feet or 15 watts.
Whichever I do, I will wrap each bottle in Reflectix insulation.
For the thermowells, but think I can get away with the 3/8 version which will save a little cash.
For the cap I will use the Standard Carboy Cap
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/3-5-6-gall-carboy-cap-orange.html
with the thermowell in the center hole. Thats a reason I think I can get away, need to get away with the 3/8" od thermowell.
An additional thing I thought about doing is building a device with an arduino like processor that I can stick a temperature probe, DS18B20 which measures the temp in 1/16 degree increments in Celsius. I can keep track of the temperature swing etc so I know if I need better insulation, ...
I hope to have a started version, I have ordered the freezer and 3 of the controllers and if this is successful I will then do the other 3.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated and I will update this as I make progress.
3 Temp Fermentation Controller 1 chamber
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/3-temp-fermentation-controller-1-chamber-388549/
Here is the plan, I am starting it this week and any suggestions, feedback, or that won't work will be appreciated as it is a fairly expensive project.
First I bought a freezer for my garage, Frigadare 9 cu ft. The sign at lowes says it is 9 cu ft, but the online add says 8.8. Anyway that doesn't matter. The base area is 16.25 inches x 24.5 inches. It has an 18 AWG power plug so this will simplify the wiring of the controller.
The area will fit 6 3 gallon Better Bottle fermentor bottles, they are 7.5 inches on a side, in a 3x2 configuration with plenty of room left for insulation between the bottles.
It will also fit 1 6 gallon BB Fermentor bottle and 2 3 gallon BB's.
I will use Huaco's 3 station and build a 6 station controller, not all at once, I only need a 3 level version to start with. Then as I get more money I can build out the rest.
Each bottle will be setup in one of the two choices, I don't have a bottle so I don't know all the size information.
a) 6" reptile heat tape around the center, I figure that it is about 28" around at the center. The 6" tape is 12 watts per foot and 2.5 foot is more then enough heat. Maybe I will just do 2 sides.
or
b) 4" reptile heat tape around the bottom, heat rises so this might be the best idea. The 4" heat tape is 6 watts per foot and the perimeter is 30" long. This is 2.5 feet or 15 watts.
Whichever I do, I will wrap each bottle in Reflectix insulation.
For the thermowells, but think I can get away with the 3/8 version which will save a little cash.
For the cap I will use the Standard Carboy Cap
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/3-5-6-gall-carboy-cap-orange.html
with the thermowell in the center hole. Thats a reason I think I can get away, need to get away with the 3/8" od thermowell.
An additional thing I thought about doing is building a device with an arduino like processor that I can stick a temperature probe, DS18B20 which measures the temp in 1/16 degree increments in Celsius. I can keep track of the temperature swing etc so I know if I need better insulation, ...
I hope to have a started version, I have ordered the freezer and 3 of the controllers and if this is successful I will then do the other 3.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated and I will update this as I make progress.