) so i havnt really come across a stage where i'v thought 'i could really use a fridge' yet.the only thing i can think of is putting my beer in once it's ready, but if there are better uses for it i'm open for suggestions.
how to put a fridge to good use.
-
Hatchet Juggla
- Posts: 61
- Joined: Friday Sep 01, 2006 1:36 am
- Location: Melbourne
- Contact:
how to put a fridge to good use.
we just got our fridge back from the fridge fixy man, so theres an old crappy fridge sitting around. it works, but the seal is all busted up. if i fix this, what should i use it for? I'm far too broke to set up a keg system. i'm brand new to brewing (my 1st is still fermenting ) so i havnt really come across a stage where i'v thought 'i could really use a fridge' yet.
the only thing i can think of is putting my beer in once it's ready, but if there are better uses for it i'm open for suggestions.
) so i havnt really come across a stage where i'v thought 'i could really use a fridge' yet.the only thing i can think of is putting my beer in once it's ready, but if there are better uses for it i'm open for suggestions.
011100110110001101100101011011100110000101110010011010010110111101100010
Oh yes indeed... start with this link
http://homebrewandbeer.com/forum/viewto ... mp+control
I have an old Chest freezer and these are perfect too.
Cheers
SUBREW
http://homebrewandbeer.com/forum/viewto ... mp+control
I have an old Chest freezer and these are perfect too.
Cheers
SUBREW
Not too sure how this would work in practice, but I just got the idea of measuring SG indirectly by just weighing the fermenter. Has anyone tried this before. I mean, you know how much wort is in there (say 20L) and you can put your fermenter on some scales and get the weight (or more correctly, the mass!). divide mass by volume and you get density in kg/L, which is exactly the same as SG.
Anyone got an idea about the error margins in this, and whether they's really matter?
Anyone got an idea about the error margins in this, and whether they's really matter?
I left my fermenter in my other pants
I normally only measure SG when I'm racking and about to bottle 
As was suggested I have the fermenter raised up from the bottom of the freezer on blocks and just reach in and take a sample.
Chest Freezers are good IMHO because even if the have a crappy seal, cold air by it very nature sinks and the weight on the lid makes the seal pretty good.
Also opening the lid of a chest freezer does not cause as much disturbance to the cold air as opening a door of a fridge. They can also chill down a over hot batch real quick before you pitch!!
I use with a ADLO heat device and its real simple plug and play!
Cheers
SUBREW
As was suggested I have the fermenter raised up from the bottom of the freezer on blocks and just reach in and take a sample.
Chest Freezers are good IMHO because even if the have a crappy seal, cold air by it very nature sinks and the weight on the lid makes the seal pretty good.
Also opening the lid of a chest freezer does not cause as much disturbance to the cold air as opening a door of a fridge. They can also chill down a over hot batch real quick before you pitch!!
I use with a ADLO heat device and its real simple plug and play!
Cheers
SUBREW
I do not have the knowledge to confirm this, but I have heard that using a chest freezer as a brew fridge can destroy the freezer.
The reason being that they are designed to run at below freezing, and brew temps, of between 10-20 degrees are running it outside that zone it is designed to run at. That I heard from a fridge guy, but could not confirm.
Maybe others can confirm or deny this theory.
I got a brew fridge for Fathers Day, and shall be putting it through its paces with my Adloheat 0-40 device very soon.
The reason being that they are designed to run at below freezing, and brew temps, of between 10-20 degrees are running it outside that zone it is designed to run at. That I heard from a fridge guy, but could not confirm.
Maybe others can confirm or deny this theory.
I got a brew fridge for Fathers Day, and shall be putting it through its paces with my Adloheat 0-40 device very soon.
"Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer." - Dave Barry.
Yep, I've heard that theory and the opposite, That freezers are used to working much harder, so asking them to keep at 10 deg is easier on them.
All I can add is that I've used the current set up for 2 years and the freezer must be at least 15 years old... with no problems... and the price was right.... Free
All I can add is that I've used the current set up for 2 years and the freezer must be at least 15 years old... with no problems... and the price was right.... Free
I have heard of many others who use chest freezers.SUBREW wrote:Yep, I've heard that theory and the opposite, That freezers are used to working much harder, so asking them to keep at 10 deg is easier on them.
All I can add is that I've used the current set up for 2 years and the freezer must be at least 15 years old... with no problems... and the price was right.... Free
Can I say:
Myth - Busted.
"Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer." - Dave Barry.
You will find that freezers are designed to run constantly not be turning on and off which is what a temp controller will do, fridges on the other hand can turn on and off without to much botherscblack wrote:I do not have the knowledge to confirm this, but I have heard that using a chest freezer as a brew fridge can destroy the freezer.
The reason being that they are designed to run at below freezing, and brew temps, of between 10-20 degrees are running it outside that zone it is designed to run at. That I heard from a fridge guy, but could not confirm.
Maybe others can confirm or deny this theory.
I got a brew fridge for Fathers Day, and shall be putting it through its paces with my Adloheat 0-40 device very soon.
Not sure why just what ive been told, ppl even get a bit iffy when they have to move house because obviously you have to turn the freezer off then Being a Fridgee the only way you'll really damage the freezer is having it 'cycle' on and off too many times.
Running at higher fridge temps actually allows it's compression ratio to be somewhat better because the gas is not being pumped from a very low pressure to a very high pressure.
So try to aim for about 15minutes on 45minutes off and you'll be fine. Having it start and stop more times in the hour than that will cause damage.
Depending on the termostat being used you may just have to suck it and see how it goes. I personally run a chest freezer as my bar/tap fridge and it works a treat with a digital (programable thermostat) fitted. just needed a bit of toying with cut in and cut out temperature. This is often expressed as deadband and most instruction that come with the thermostats cover it pretty well. Plus I have a nice display to look at to see what temp it is.
Running at higher fridge temps actually allows it's compression ratio to be somewhat better because the gas is not being pumped from a very low pressure to a very high pressure.
So try to aim for about 15minutes on 45minutes off and you'll be fine. Having it start and stop more times in the hour than that will cause damage.
Depending on the termostat being used you may just have to suck it and see how it goes. I personally run a chest freezer as my bar/tap fridge and it works a treat with a digital (programable thermostat) fitted. just needed a bit of toying with cut in and cut out temperature. This is often expressed as deadband and most instruction that come with the thermostats cover it pretty well. Plus I have a nice display to look at to see what temp it is.