STC1000 Controlled Fermenting Cabinet

Front view all sealed up

I have come to the conclusion that Larder Fridges (the tall ones with no built in freezer) are like the proverbial Rocking Horse shit here in France.

I've been trying to get hold of one or two, secondhand fridges to convert into Fermenting Cabinets.

You may be familiar with the concept of an FV Cabinet or you may not so in case you don't know here's a quick explanation.

Yeast performs better at certain temperatures and if the temperature of the environment in which the FV is located varies the yeast can do funny things. Fermentation times can vary, flavours can develop differently and well... generally it takes away another level of consistency when trying to reproduce recipes.

So, take a fridge for cooling, a small heater - for heating and wire the two into an external temerature controller such as the STC-1000

Place the heater in the bottom of the fridge and your FV on a shelf above - probably advisable to build your own shelving system to fit in the fridge.

The controller is set to eg 18C and if the sensor (supplied with a nice long wire) in the fridge detects it is warmer than that it'll switch the fridge on... If the temp drops too low the STC1000 will switch the heater on. Because the fridge walls are insulated neither the fridge or heater have to run for long to keep a perfectly stable temperature for your yeast.

My dilemma was I couldn't find a suitable fridge, so I used a smaller, old one and built a large extension for it from PU Foam insulation panels.

MK1

Under construction. The PU foam screws together easily using some flat headed decking type screws. A steel rule, sharp knife and a tape measure. The foam cuts easily and cleanly.

Rear view, the old fridge built into the back. Temp reading 21.6 and the cooling light is on as the fridge brings the temp down to 18.5C. Alesis DM10 electronic Drumkit is not part of the set up :)

Home made Conical Fermenter project

A Conical Fermenter yesterday.

I've been looking at conical fermenters recently but the price has kept me away. All I really see is a pretty basic thing really, couple of valves, one for the beer take off I guess and the other - bottom one - for draining of the yeast sludge that settles out during fermentation... An airlock, possible even a sightglass but for a plastic one there's probably no need if you can see the liquid level ok through the tank wall.

How hard could it be to make one?

My Mrs pointed out the similarity between the fermenters I was looking at on The Google and a water dispenser we used to have for our chickens - we then got some Geese that promptly destroyed the dispenser. I've now found out they're call poultry drinkers and they look like this:

Plastic Poultry Drinker... A Conical Fermenter in the waiting.

A bit of cutting and drilling for a couple of valves and I think we'd have a pretty close deal and at around £35 (GBP) for a 30l drinker I could make four for the cost of a factory built fermenter. Looking at the photo above I'd need to find a drinker with a wider lid as to fit the valves there's a need to get an arm inside to tighten the back nut on.

Of course it's me and it's DIY so no doubt it'll go somewhat pear shaped but hey ho, that's half the fun isn't it? Hmmmmmn...