Beer Forum

So after having enough battling of up and down temps and ice packs and space heaters i pulled the trigger on a Ranco 2stage controller. I want to be able to keep at least 2 6.5 carboys going at a time. I need some opinions though.
It doesn't seem like i could get more than one carboy in a fridge at a time but for those of you who do please chime in here.
also...
Should i just build a box? i've got an a/c unit lying around and i can build a fermbox with plywood and insulation and blah blah....
Sooo...
i just finished off an entire bowl of homemade guacamole and naturally my 5th beer into this Sessionless sunday...

fuhme420 wrote:It doesn't seem like i could get more than one carboy in a fridge at a time

Well, that would depend on your fridge dimensions. Many probably will only fit one...

fuhme420 wrote:Should i just build a box? i've got an a/c unit lying around and i can build a fermbox with plywood and insulation and blah blah....

You could always go for a Jamil style shed! http://www.mrmalty.com/brewstuff.php

I've seen where some have been able to modify the inside of the door panel of a fridge or upright freezer to accommodate two carboys. We ended up buying tall and slender 6 gallon (23 Liter) carboys that fit in our upright freezer.

Personally I'd build the box and control it with either the A/C unit or the ice jugs/fan/thermostat system (google 38 DD Mother of Fermentation Chiller), especially if I were mostly brewing ales or hybrid style beers. I'd save the Ranco for controlling a freezer (upright or chest) at fridge temps for use as either a kegerator, cold storage/conditioning unit or as a dedicated lager fermentation device.

Get a chest freezer off of Craig's List. Scope it for 4 - 6 carboy size. This is one area where you don't want to buy twice.

I use my fridge to cool/serve kegs and a couple chest freezers for fermenting and lagering. I coulnd't be happier.

~widget

fortunately i already have a 3 tap BeverageAir setup.
I think i might go with the chest freezer and just hit the back exercises at the gym more... i really wanted to utilize the a/c unit but building something the same size as a chest freezer will most likely cost more than buying a used one off craiglists and its plug and play with the Ranco.
the a/c unit is digital i believe and will take some tinkering to get it dummied up.

thanks for the input all.

The chest freezer will be cheaper to run also.

~widget