Thought about one with fans and a thermostat but the costs are prohibitive (close to 100 bucks over here!) so went for a box that should provide some sort of convection on its own (the design also allows the connection of fan and thermostat at a later date if the thing doesn't work!).
So, here it is!
(You should also be able to see it in its full glory here - requires Google SketchUp)
Might be a bit OTT for what I need right now but if it holds together then could last for years!
The idea is the ice in the top chamber (either frozen plastic water bottles or plastic 'bricks' full of ice) send cool air over the fermenting beer pushing the warm air out the back and up the 'rear passage' and back over the ice. That's the theory anyway.
Will be back soon with pics of what it REALLY looks like.
The only real problem I see is if the brew gets too cold, say below 15c, then it will stop or slow right down and you will have to remove it from the box to get it going again? You need a temperature operated flap to stop the cold air getting in at say 20c......
ReplyDeleteA temperature operated flap? I could maybe build a robot that opens the lid when it gets to 16oC? Reckon the ice will only last a day or two and if it gets too cold then no need to repopulate. The natural energy from fermentation will keep it stable.
ReplyDeleteerm.. what's the point? Why not just let fermentation happen and then put the beer in the fridge. Or are you saying it's too hot for fermentation? I doubt that...
ReplyDeleteI've gone the other way and ordered a heat belt as my house is tto cold for fermentation at the moment.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Home-Brew-Wine-Making-Electric/dp/B001PQU73S/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1299760216&sr=8-10
The 'best' fermentation happens at around 18oC (especially for lager) and a stable temp also helps - even a few degrees lower. My last unattended ferment got close to 24 at times (and maybe went higher) which is the top end really so yeah it can be too hot.
ReplyDeleteAll that is what I've been told. What I know is that I can build it :)
I'm also going to need to keep it warm in the winter as I 'have' to brew in the garage now and temperature swings can be massive day to day here.
relegated to the garage. Typical. Women have their priorities all wrong.
ReplyDelete