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G'day

I've just scored myself a working freezer/ice chest. It was free too I might add. Thanks Dad.

Is there an easy way to regulate the inside temperature to make it suitable for fermentation?

I'm new to brewing and I'm no electrician. Keeping it simple will be a requirement, otherwise I'll just be throwing ice blocks in the switched off freezer and hoping for the best.

Cheers

There is in an excellent device called a Fridgemate - does exactly what you're talking about. Do a bit of a google and you'll find out heaps about them and where to buy one. They require a little bit of wiring to be done but you don't need to be a sparkie - very simple. You can also get another device called a Tempmate which is basically the same thing but you can run a fridge and a heat pad/belt from the same device (personally I have a Fridgemate and swear by it but lots of people feel the same about the Tempmate).

If you couldn't be arsed with either the frozen bottles will still almost certainly provide a big step up in your process. Awesome score there!

Thanks for that. I'll look into it right away.

I thought I'd share this little link with you all. I came across it during searching. A nice little setup. I'm not real sure about the polystyrene board though.

Anyway, thanks again Bum. I'll keep you posted.

That's often referred to as a "Keezer" (keg freezer) and they do look pretty shmick. Not so sure I'd want to be fermenting at serving temps (or vice-versa). It'd be good for lagering/CCing, though, I am sure.

[EDIT: Looked a bit closer and saw he heats up one side of the polystyrene when fermenting? Bugger that - sounds like a great way to stuff the freezer to me]

Bum wrote:There is in an excellent device called a Fridgemate - does exactly what you're talking about. Do a bit of a google and you'll find out heaps about them and where to buy one. They require a little bit of wiring to be done but you don't need to be a sparkie - very simple. You can also get another device called a Tempmate which is basically the same thing but you can run a fridge and a heat pad/belt from the same device (personally I have a Fridgemate and swear by it but lots of people feel the same about the Tempmate).

Forget the fridgemate, it will only control the temp if it is trying to get too warm, if you live in a region with cold winters you will need a heater too.
Go the Tempmate, for only a few extra dollars, It will control both heat & cold. just dial in the temp you want & forget it no matter how hot or cold the weather is!

http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=2592

I use an old deep freezer too, but mine is not working, to cool it I use the tempmate to pump cold water from my beer fridge into the brew box & through a heat exchanger, for heating I have a bunker light in there with the lense blacked out,

You will be able to plug the freezer, directly into the tempmate for cooling.





Here is the wiring diagram.





Cheers, Mick.

Nice setup there billy. Shame about the busted freezer though.

I think the Tempmate is the one for me. It's been known to get down to zero degrees here overnight in the winter. I'm just worried about the wiring I really don't want to be barbequed.

I use a TempMate, and it works very very well. It's the only unit which will automatically switch to cooling or heating as needed, within the one unit.

I followed the diagram in Billybushcook's post, and I'm no sparkie whatsoever, but I managed to wire mine up just fine.
The source of the diagram is here, along with some others which might make it even clearer:
http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum// ... ntry367165

What do you use as a heat source warra?

I've not used a heat source as yet, as I don't generally need it where I live.
However, I'm planning on getting a heat pad from CraftBrewer before next winter, as some of my temperatures did get to borderline bottom limit for my fermentations.

Got my TempMate yesterday! Woohoo!

Now I just need to wire the damned thing.

By the way, very efficient service by CraftBrewer. Ordered Friday morning and received it sometime on Tuesday.