Cooling a Fermentor

IanRMartin · Post by **IanRMartin** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:00 pm

QUOTE (jasonaustin @ Jul 18 2006, 04:23 PM) As mentioned in my brew day thread, I have kept records of temperatures during the primary fermentation in my (Ken Schwartz) chiller.Ã‚Â Not sure how useful/interesting this will be, but I kept the records so I may as well share the results.

As you can see the brewery/garage got very hot during the days, but the chiller performed well and kept the wort at a reasonably steady 19 degrees.Ã‚Â The chiller temperature actually varies by about 2-3 degrees (due to how the thermostat works), so the chiller temps are the average of the min and max temps between each reading.

During the 3.5 days of taking readings I changed the ice (2 x 4pt milk containers) twice.
Nice chart

I wish i could maintain steady temps like that, at the moment the last few days has been a real struggle!

Just shows that chiller design works very well, Nice one :beer

Immy's Dad · Post by **Immy's Dad** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:07 pm

When move and get my new shed, one of them beauts is on my list of things to do!

I can't wait. Nice graph btw, very professional.

Bigster · Post by **Bigster** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:08 pm

Fantastic results JA :beer

Just been reading up on this Ken Schwartz chiller thing. I feel a construction job coming on

he mentions equivalent of Ã‚Â£40 to knock this up from new - from your experience does that sound realistic?

jasonaustin · Post by **jasonaustin** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:16 pm

Think Ã‚Â£40-Ã‚Â£50 would be pretty near the mark. I had some of the bits so cost was about Ã‚Â£25. Have dug out receipts:-

Polystyrene 1200x600x50mm 2@6.49
Polystyrene 1200x600x25mm 1@3.49
No Nails glue 2@3.99
SPDT room stat 1@10.00 *
80mm case fan 1@4.00 *
12v adaptor 1@10.00*
Panel Mount socket 1@1.06 **
12v LED 1@0.32 **
LED Clip 1@0.08 **

Total: Ã‚Â£49.91

* I already had these bits, so prices are estimates
** optional

You might not need so much polystyrene if you only need to accommodate a 25L fermenter. Mine was designed around a 60L one.

Bigster · Post by **Bigster** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:04 pm

Thanks very much for that JA. :beer

Judging by my previous HB constructions you may be in for some more questions

Bigster · Post by **Bigster** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 10:08 pm

Chiller construction coming on a treat - all made just need to make the thermostat kit from maplins and connect it to the fan and 12v adapter.

Will post pictures when finished - I will be brewing again soon at this rate :pink

brewsters millionths · Post by **brewsters millionths** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:01 pm

how'd you get on bigster?

Post by **Andy** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:39 pm

you do like digging out those old threads don't you

brewsters millionths · Post by **brewsters millionths** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:15 pm

hey, i wasn't here

bully

Bigster · Post by **Bigster** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:06 am

Brewsters

Here it is - used it a few times this summer , a great addition to my brewarage

SirKennethChiller

brewsters millionths · Post by **brewsters millionths** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:03 am

excellent bigster.
those shots clear up a few points as well.
have you tried it at lager fermenting temps yet?

Bigster · Post by **Bigster** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 2:34 pm

Not sure what lagering temps are but for I did turn it up to full blast and seemed to mantain 12c

brewsters millionths · Post by **brewsters millionths** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:01 pm

a steady 12c would be ok for lagers

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Cooling a Fermentor