Fridge/Freezer and fermentation chamber ?

[sjnovis]

Hello Everyone.

I am a new kid on the block here and would be grateful for some advise with fermentation fridges.

I have read a lot about using an STC1000 to control a fridge and small heater which I understand, could any advise in a 70/30 fridge freezer would work?

We are about to buy a new fridge freezer, which will free up the old one, this has separate door for the fridge and freezing compartments. With the fridge in the bottom and freezer on top.

I am wondering that as it has a separate freezer compartment, will that waste a lot of energy trying to cool the freezer, when the fridge is turned on in cooling mode. Thinking about it as I type, its about 15 years old, so is probably very in-efficient anyway.

If any one has any experience and advise, that would be welcomed.

[sbond10]

From what I've read most fridge/freezer s have one compresser to cool both unless yours has two then yes it will be cooling both top n bottom.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

It will try and cool the freezer as well, but the fridge is not on that often in normal fermentation so it probably isn't really worth worrying about.

[sjnovis]

many thanks for the replies, I will give it a go, it'll go into my shed/workshop/brewery/man cave, so when not fermenting can be used as normal for beers etc....

[gobuchul]

If your freezer has an adjustable thermostat turn it up to the highest temperature.

I read somewhere ages ago, that if you have a lot of empty space in a freezer then fill it with bags full of loose newspaper, apparently saves energy.

As above, the fridge doesn't kick in very often anyway when fermenting at 20C. Especially if the fridge is in a garage over the winter.

[sjnovis]

That sounds good advice - I have lots of bubble wrap at home I could fill the freezer compartment with, many thanks