Can I change a chest freezer into a brewing fridge?

[ben9393]

I was wondering if you can change the thermostat in a chest freezer so it can be set to 22c so I can brew all summer?

[Dave S]

I was wondering if you can change the thermostat in a chest freezer so it can be set to 22c so I can brew all summer?

You don't change the thermostat, you get a temperature controller such as a STC1000 and put a heater such as a 60W tube into the freezer. The controller switches between heater and freezer around its set temperature

[Rhodesy]

I was wondering if you can change the thermostat in a chest freezer so it can be set to 22c so I can brew all summer?

You don't change the thermostat, you get a temperature controller such as a STC1000 and put a heater such as a 60W tube into the freezer. The controller switches between heater and freezer around its set temperature

I done this with great effect, chest freezers keep the heat in if you can make sure you get the wiring of the heater/temp probe in without affecting the insulation. Drilling the side of them is not advised as the cooling pipes are in the sides, can you test where they are with some water and then cool but always a risk.

I used mine as a 2nd brew/lagering fridge before moving to Corny kegs, its now a Keezer with a DIY wooden collar which although looks patch does the job and allows me to store 4 x 19L kegs and up to 2 x 9L kegs at any time. Very versatile things and the STC you can pick up cheap. If you are like me and not into wiring things up since I bough my 2 STC1000's wired you can now get 'Inkbird' pre wired controllers which look good and very reasonably priced on amazon.

[ben9393]

Is there a decent guide anywhere it was between doing this and making a shed with an a/c system but cost wise that's not sensible. I though you'd be able to change the controller to one you can set to 22 without a heater.

[Rhodesy]

Is there a decent guide anywhere it was between doing this and making a shed with an a/c system but cost wise that's not sensible. I though you'd be able to change the controller to one you can set to 22 without a heater.

There are all sorts of guides to adding collars or building temperature control units like the STC. As the freezer is insulated it won't bring much outside heat in and likewise will hold heat well. You need a heating source to maintain the heat and also cool down if it overshoots. The controllers are really simple to use, you plug the heather to the heat source and the freezer to the cooling source, choose your temperature and it heats/cools as required based on the probe reading (usually taped to the FV with some insulation).

I have a larder fridge as my main fermentation chamber and the Keezer for storing my kegs, works a treat.

[Kyle_T]

Turn it into a bar, much better!

[Dave S]

Is there a decent guide anywhere it was between doing this and making a shed with an a/c system but cost wise that's not sensible. I though you'd be able to change the controller to one you can set to 22 without a heater.

There are all sorts of guides to adding collars or building temperature control units like the STC. As the freezer is insulated it won't bring much outside heat in and likewise will hold heat well. You need a heating source to maintain the heat and also cool down if it overshoots. The controllers are really simple to use, you plug the heather to the heat source and the freezer to the cooling source, choose your temperature and it heats/cools as required based on the probe reading (usually taped to the FV with some insulation).

I have a larder fridge as my main fermentation chamber and the Keezer for storing my kegs, works a treat.

Also you don't always want it at the same temperature. It is usual to crash cool once fermentation has finished to drop the remaining yeast and other things out of suspension. The temperature control route allows great flexibility.

[AnthonyUK]

I replaced the thermostat in my freezer which I mainly use for corny dispensing.
This is the basic circuit.



This is the result with individual switches for heating and cooling



I wouldn't consider building a standalone controller now though with the Inkbird controller available.

[Haydnexport]

could i do that with my kegerator anthony? i think the thermostat is broke anyway as it only goes down to 6c

[AnthonyUK]

could i do that with my kegerator anthony? i think the thermostat is broke anyway as it only goes down to 6c

I think most are of a similar design. You are basically using the temp controller to switch the compressor relay directly.

[marinali29]

Hi all, I found there're another 2 giveaways from inkbird just now. This time,they offer ITC-308S+ 12" long sensor.

See the thread here.

http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showt ... hp?t=60563

[orlando]

I wouldn't, as you have heard most think freezers make better keezers and convert fridges to fermentation chambers. You maybe a big strong lad for all I know so hauling 25 litres or more into one might be a breeze, but there will be a point in doing so when one slip, hopefully not a disc, and there is a lot of hard work clearing up after a lot of hard work to make the beer.