Inexpensive fermentation chiller

[shanky]

Supplies needed

1 Plastic Trashcan/Lid able to hold your fermenter
1 Grill Cooking grate (Something like http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... reNum=8125" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow)
that is big enough to fit in the trashcan snugly
1 Blanket
1 Thermometer
Ice cube trays.

Assembly is simple, put the blanket inside of the trashcan and drape the excess outside the top. This will insulate it from the heat ouside
Fermenter rests ontop of the blanket, inside the trashcan.
Place the grill grate above the fermenter snugly inside the trashcan.

Use is simple. Throw your mash into your fermenter, assemble your chiller and throw an icecube tray loaded with ice ontop of the cooking grate. Slightly cant the lid open so hot air can pass over, allowing for the cold air to fall into the bottom of the trashcan. Place in a dark room and change the ice out ever 6-12 hours or so.

I've found one loaded tray will keep the temperature inside the fermenter at 60deg when external temperature is around 85. Depending on yeast, and remebering that fermentation will itself create heat inside the fermenter, add or take out some ice cubs.

Overall cost? About 30$

Post your ideas too! I just bought a refrigerator temperature controller from ebay for 22$ so i've got more room for my lagers so those always work great. Normal they cost you around 60$ minimum though.

[Bob E]

http://home.elp.rr.com/brewbeer/chiller/chiller.PDF
http://suburb.semo.net/jthornton/FermChill.htm

I've been thinking of building something along these lines, but I think If I keep a lookout for a good deal on a temp controller and an old fridge/freezer I'll be time saved and money ahead.

Don't miss the temp controller page from the second link
http://suburb.semo.net/jthornton/Controller.htm

So far I've been using a window a/c in a small room. And now I've got the heat supply to the room cut off and using the doorway to regulate the temperature

[shanky]

Very cool idea. Looks expensive though. I've seen a guy modify an iceburg icechest which worked very well as it is airtight and insulated. Think he said the cost was about 60-80$

I cant run my ac all day long too much money down the drain

[theholymackerel]

I use a tiny kiddy-pool (8$ at Walmart) and two large thin cotton beach towels (3$ each at walmart).

Put one or two fermenters into the kiddy-pool and fill with water. Cover the fermenters with the towels tryin' not to get multiple layers. The water filled pool greatly increases the thermal mass of the fermenters and the towels provide gentle coolin' by wickin' the water up to be evaporated.

The only maintence is to top off the water every two or three days. No ice, electricity, or fancy builds required.

[duds2u]

THM
I use something similar. Instead of a kiddy pool I use a large pot plant tray and sit the fermenter in that. I drape an old wet towel over it. I then pour water into until the indentation in the fermenter lid is full and just keep an eye on the dampness of the towel. If it really hot I also use a fanto blow air over it to increase the evaporative cooling.

[Uncle Jesse]

I used to put a towel around my carboys and put them into the bath tub with a foot or so of water. I'd put a fan on them to keep them cool. Used to make my Kolsch that way.

[shanky]

Great ideas! keep em coming

to the novices, controlling the fermentation temperature is the KEY to great tasting alcohol of any kind. As soon as you let those creatures stress out, you might as well let it ferment to vinegar!

Keys to cheap cooling

1: Evaporative cooling is way more effective than any form of cooling you can produce (ie look how much you cool down when you sweat)
2: Cold air sinks
3: If your smart about it you wont have to spend much money at all!