Brew UK Forum | Equipment
"Buiding a brewfridge"
Here is my brewfridge as promised. Now im no electrician so be warned! It works fine and has given me no problems whatsoever over the last year!
It started with instructions! Problem was they were different to eachother so I had to ask for help. Unfortunatly no help was available so I just used one of em and kept me fingers crossed!
Here is a piccy of the fridge to start.
This is the atc800 and 1ft tube heater.
Makin' holes for the wires - fridge, heater, probe and mains.
Here it is wired up. It looks hard but its not. Here is what I done:-
Mains live to 1,3,9 (bridged)
All Neutrals to 8
All earths together via a block
Heater live to 2
Cooler or fans live to 4
ATC800 sensor 6 & 7
And another close up
Fridge open (with bottom barrel moved).
Fridge open with heater in place. I used the door in the end to see if it heats ok and there are no problems. I may move it to the back if need be, but it is a wee bit tight.
And here is the tidied finished product!
The unit is a doddle to set up and the heater on the door seems to be fine. The unit is set for 15c with a 1c temp difference. Should be fine for brewing my lager and conditioning ale!
It has changed a bit though as I aded a new fridge so I could fermet in one and keep a cool temp in the other:-
The large fridge is used for conditioning ale and holding lager bottles when the other is in use. The small fridge is used for brewing and lagering.
Both are connected to the atc800, but only the smaller fridge has a heat element. The atc is set to 13c with 1c either way. The small fridge holds temp really well and does not fluctuate much. The large fridge only comes on when the small fridge needs to and this keeps it from 5 to 10c, which is a little low for ale but it does not bother me too much at the moment and I can alwasy take it off the atc and just plug it straight from the mains.
The brew thats in the small fridge was a coopers european with a double dose of s23. MMMMMMMMMM EGGY!
Piccys-
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Responses
Posted 2 years ago by Member
I am liking that a hell of a lot Nath!
I keep on meaning to build one myself...
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Go for it Varnish, its great to have and very cheap to build. Plus we all know you are a whizz at creating homebrew bits!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Member
holy crap, that is AWESOME!
Wonder where I could put one without the wife seeing it...
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Not in the kitchin!
Boom boom!
Im already thinking of taking that back. Man im sexist!
(disclaimer - Nath812 does not claim in any way shape or form to be a sexist)
:-p
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Member
outstanding work Nath!
I need a new shed!!!
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
So do I now, its slowly being filled with odd non brew items like kids bikes, lawnmoers and such......Very strange, who would have thought to store "garden items" in my brew shed.
Family eh!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
You should see my shed! Completely full of non brewing kit.
I need to get one of those Nath!
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 2 years ago by Member
Its about time we stood up for ourselves. What are we, men or mice?
Squeek.
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 2 years ago by Moderator
Yeah, but then you do have a shop/warehouse full of the stuff!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
Squeek.
I have just secured a brew day for tomorrow though so not all bad. Going to get the mash on tonight then hoping to knock out another double brew.
What shall I brew as this one is not planned. I'm thinking a Tribute Clone and maybe try and reproduce a Tangle Foot.
I'm gonna fire up Beer Smith when I get home later.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 2 years ago by Member
My knees are always sore after securing a brewday :o)
Tanglefoot? Oh you have to share that recipe when you've got it pinned down... please!
Squeak. (This could be my signature!)
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I must be a man. My missus is afraid of mice! (Tommy Cooper circa 1970).
Fermenting:
Condtioning: Twibute Clone
Drinking: 100% wheat, Fixby Gold
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
How many watts is that heater you have Nath?
They now do the ATC800 all wired up to 2 x 4 way extension so you just plug in the heater/fridge, think that will be the way I go.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Just use a 1ft, 60w is plenty powerful enouh when you think a fridge is a sealed unit and not very big. In fact a vivarium heat mat would probably be ok.
They did wired ones when I bought em but the increase in price is way to much for poor folk like me! Just get a couple of 4 way extention leads and a screwdriver and I will come round!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Silly question ? Can i use a freezer as a brewfridge or will its highest temp be too cold ?
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
A lot of people do use freezers so it will be fine. You could bypass the thermostat but the atc will only put the freezer on when it needs to cool so no chance of over cooling. I also doubt (because you only use it for serving) you will need to have a heater as it wont matter so much about the odd degree or so.
I just typed it in google and heres the first link for you to ave' a butchers at.
http://knol.google.com/k/how-to-build-a-chest-freezer-kegerator
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
im confused i thoaght a heater is required if you use for fermenting aswell?
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Sorry for some reason I had a mental block and thought you only wanted to use it for storage not for fermenting! Duh!
Yes you would need a heater also.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Thats cool cheers for help
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Member
right have got me a fridge at last. Can you advise nath or anyone it looks like from the pics the probe and the heater wire just run out the door. Does that hinder closing the door and mean a loss of temp as there is not a perfect seal
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Yep I just put mine through the door as I was using 2 fridges at the time so I needed to swap bits around. All I done was cut the seal a little and all is good. If you are only using 1 fridge I would do a "proper job" (mmmmmmm tasty proper job...) and drill a hole through.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I was thinking that about drilling should i drill through the door as technically their shouldnt be anything to hit in the door ?
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Seeing as your gonna open the door to get the fv in and out I would go through the side. Make a small hole big enough for the sensor wire and the electric wire for the tube heater. I know its a bit hit and miss but there should only be a set of 3 wires to the thermostat so aim away from the area of the thermostat and where you think the wires would be (down from thermostat etc.).
Im sure you will be fine, obviously do it with the thing un plugged and if the worse happens and you cut through the wires (as is did with me and varnish) you could re connect the wires with blocks and leccy' tape.
(note - Im not an electrician and playing wiv electrics can be dangerous -
)
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Have a dumb moment here but when you say thermostat do you mean the actual dial where you set the temp in the fridge .Would i be best doing it on the oposite side to that .But i have read that some fridges have the cooling pipes in the sides.Its a fridge with a frezar compartment in top.
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
And the rest is hit and miss Im afraid. Just be careful and im sure you will be ok. Everyone I know who has made a brewfridge or kegerator seems to miss most problems!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Got a bit of a problem with the fridge i got its rather a tight fit the fv vessel fits just but no room for air lock as the reezer compartment sits quite close to where the lid will be.
Looking at the freezer compartment its a metal plate fed by a coolant pipe would i be able to crimp the pipe and then just rip out the plate it feeds ?
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Instead of an airlock fit a syphon tube to the bung & run that into a milk bottle with a little water in it to keep it air tight.
Just a thought.
Fermenting: Wheat beer
Maturing/Conditioning:
Drinking: Pseudo-Lager, Oatmeal stout & Shop bought stuff
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
+1 to hamish, but there must be a way to take out a freezer compartment....hmmm....time for google!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Nice idea im liking that least i have a workaround now if i cant remove cheers for that.
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 month ago by Member
Hi Nath,
P.S. Happy New Year to all on the forum. Hope 2012's a productive one.
My last 2 brews have been a disaster. One I chucked immediately down the sink from the fermenter, the other I barrelled, but it's got an awful yeast-y aftertaste. I'm letting it condition a bit more before chucking, but am not hopeful. Both brews used 2 different types of recycled yeast. The first was off right from the outset. I pitched the starter even though it smelled fruity. That experiment failed. The second, the yeast had been sitting in the fridge for about 9 months so again, a lesson learned.
Anyway, to the subject at hand; I think a lot of my brews haven't turned out quite as planned due to fluctuating temps. Also, I've always fermented brews in the bedroom wardrobe but have decided to move all into the garage and try and control the conditions a bit more accurately.
I had toyed with the idea of a brew belt, but my garage can get seriously cold and I can see far too much toying and attention needed. I have an old fridge in the garage, which I've been using for conditioning and storing yeast and bottles, but have decided to take the plunge and turn it into a brewfridge.
I was wondering if I could use the following with it (see combined with the 60w tubular heater further down the page):
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Temperature-Controller-quibble-warranty-postage/dp/B005F4OI8G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325589298&sr=8-1
If it looks a little on the expensive side I don't really care; I was given a £200 Amazon voucher for good behaviour by work just before Christmas. Plus, wiring a plug badly is about the extent of my electrical expertise.
So, will this ATC and heater combined with my fridge help me keep a constant 18-20 degrees fermentaion temp in my cold garage?
Cheers,
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 month ago by Moderator
Yes, mine is outside in a shed.
If wiring a plug badly is the extent of your electrical expertise then wait until you try and get your head around wiring an ATC but the price looks about right.
Fermenting: Wheat beer
Maturing/Conditioning:
Drinking: Pseudo-Lager, Oatmeal stout & Shop bought stuff
Posted 1 month ago by Member
Thanks for the quick response, Hamish.
My only concern wass that maybe 60w isn't enough to keep a 20 degree temperature. Do you think 60w is sufficient?
Yeah, the wiring does seem a bit daunting, especially having to wire the ATC into the actual fridge's controls. Still, I think it'll be worth it.
Cheers,
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 month ago by Moderator
Yep, more than enough.
Fermenting: Wheat beer
Maturing/Conditioning:
Drinking: Pseudo-Lager, Oatmeal stout & Shop bought stuff
Posted 1 month ago by Moderator
Hi Barry.
It would be even better if the listing didn't say; 'Currently Unavailable. We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock.'
These are usually available on E-bay and often already wired. There are 2 around; the ATC 800 (if there are any left), and the ATC 800+. The wiring for both is different. The 800+ has no internal power so you need to wire it accordingly.
If you talk to these people about their pre-wired Package 3 you'll find it more expensive, but a lot less hassle. All you do is plug the stuff in.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ATC-800-NEW-DIGITAL-TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLER-PACK-2-/230701742481?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item35b6e53991
Planning: - To get some more brews on now the weather's a bit cooler
Fermenting: - Ginger Beer experiment
Conditioning: - A normal bitter with Styrians
Drinking: - All of it!!
Posted 1 month ago by Member
Hi Saracen. Thanks for the input. Like I say, the choice was all about using Amazon vouchers, as my wallet is looking a little anemic after Christmas.
The reason for the 'Currently unavailable' message is that I bought the 1 remaining unit about an hour ago
As for wiring, it'll be my 'project' for January.
Cheers,
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 month ago by Moderator
Great, Bazza.
We can help you with that.
Basically, the output terminals for both the Heater and the Cooler have no power output. All you need to do is run a wire from the Brown Main Input terminal to one side of both the Heater and the Cooler terminals. They only act as a switch, so if you run power to them, everything will work. I like the idea with that E-bay listing. They've wired it all into a multi-socket extension lead. Great idea.
The circuit in the first post on here is for an ATC 800, and doesn't apply to the ATC 800+.
Planning: - To get some more brews on now the weather's a bit cooler
Fermenting: - Ginger Beer experiment
Conditioning: - A normal bitter with Styrians
Drinking: - All of it!!
Posted 1 month ago by Moderator
Hello!
Sorry for not answering, but the lads have covered it! Mine is an ATC800 so dont follow my (amazing) wiring!
60w is more than enough, remember its such a small place that needs to be heated and its very well insulated. Ive just got another temp controller from ebay for about £10, its an stc-1000, its uber easy to wire up and is nice n small.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 4 weeks ago by Member
Thanks Saracen & Nath for the replies and the offer of help.
It turned out to be an ATC 800+ that I'd ordered, not an ATC 800 as originally thought, so heating and cooling are swapped around and there's 1 less socket.
So the ATC, tube heater and 2 4-socket extensions have all arrived and I'm hoping to get it all wired up this week, then it's straight on to this site for a long-overdue order.
I liked the idea of wiring in two 4-way extensions into the unit so you can be more flexible in changing your heater and cooler.
I have 4 dumb questions:
Nath, from your photo above it looks like you've connected all the earths together with a terminal block; does that mean the whole setup is earthed at the mains input?
The instruction diagram goes on about a capacitor, but am I right in thinking you only need those if you have x-thousand pounds-worth of expensive fish swimming around in your brew?
Nath: The bridging you've done; is that all about just twisting the ends of the live wires together and then inserting them in a shared socket (e.g. 1,3,9)?
Lastly (and most stupidly), am I okay in just wiring a plug with a 13 amp fuse as the main power input of the unit?
Cheers,
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 4 weeks ago by Moderator
Now remember im not an electrician, but the thing has been on for about 2 years now without a problem, so its probably ok. Remember mine is an ATC800 not the ATC800+
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 4 weeks ago by Member
Excellent response, Nath. Thanks!
I started wiring this last night. The last things I have to do are apply the live mains and wires and connect the earths and I should be up and running.
Your instruction diagram above shows a capacitor too, but it doesn't look like they're necessary.
Your unit also has a nice black casing, which mine lacked. Might have to think back to 3rd year woodwork with stylish yet practical in mind.
Also, looking at the instruction diagram you posted and your finished wiring photo, it looks like your live wiring is the opposite of what the diagram suggests, e.g. you've wired the heating live into 2 where the diagram says 1. I've been wiring according to the ATC 800+ equivalent of the above diagram (cooling and heating swaped aropund), but I'll see how it goes.
As long as I don't end up like this I'll be happy:
Cheers,
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 3 weeks ago by Member
Hi all.
This is realted to a brew fridge but not about temperature controllers.
Can i use any fridge? The reason i ask is that a lot of fridges say 16c is the minimum operating temperature. My shed will be much colder than that in the winter. Any thoughts?
Cheers
Fermenting: -
Conditioning: - Turbo Cider, Pinot Grigio
Drinking: - Shop bought stuff
Posted 1 week ago by Member
Just to follow up:
Got my ATC 800+ wired up with no issues and it worked first time. I'm a complete novice at anything electrical, so if I can wire one of these babies up, anyone can. It's connected to 2 4-way sockets with the 60W heater plugged into the 'HOT' adapter and the fridge itself pluged into the 'COLD' adapter.
I'm currently fermenting 2 1-gallon demijohns at 20 degrees. The demijohns contain yeast starter made with WYeast 1968 ESB yeast split 2 ways.
My question is, where is the best place to keep probe & heater, etc in the fridge?
Currently, the heater is on a small ledge at the back of the fridge, about 4 inches above the bottom of the demijohns. The probe itself I keep suspended just above the bottom of the fridge, more or less level with the bottom of the demijohns.
While I'm pretty confident that the temp in the bottom of the demijohns is in and around the 20 degrees set in the controller, I'm a little concerned that, when I move the probe higher up, the temp is 2-3 degrees higher. I don't want to ruin the starter, and eventual brew, with too high a temp in the fridge, but am aware that keeping the temp around 20 degrees in the bottom, where most of the yeast is working, is needed.
When I open the fridge door it feels like a rush of warm air hits me, but that may be due to the temp difference between the fridge and the considerably colder garage where the fridge stays.
Am I going abour this the right way and worrying over nothing? 'Yes' to both questions would be great
Cheers,
-Barry
Mark: To answer your question, my now-brew-fridge had been used as a normal fridge in my cold garage for about 2 years and I had no issues with it. I think the garage temp only gets above 16c for about 1 week in mid July. Hope this helps.
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 week ago by Member
Cheers Barry.
I have just aquired a chest freezer last weekend (very old but seems to work). I've got an STC1000 from ebay and have just ordered all the relevant parts off Screwfix to put together Nath's version. I will be building the temp controller in 2 weeks with the father in law (i'm hopeless with electrics). Also waiting on the electrician to fit an outside socket on my house which I will use to run power to my shed via armoured cable.
Exciting few weeknds ahead!!
Fermenting: -
Conditioning: - Turbo Cider, Pinot Grigio
Drinking: - Shop bought stuff
Posted 1 week ago by Moderator
Its a bit of a tough one, If you heat a small space then it will be harder to control than a larger one. The starter can be done at room temp really, no need to do it in a brew fridge. The beer is a much larger volume so will take longer to cool and heat so the temperature shouldnt fluctuate as much.
As for the positioning - I used to put mine on the bottom after all the testing, but I wasnt too bothered in the end!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 week ago by Member
Hey Nath. Thanks for the resposne.
The reason I decided to do the starters (and the main brew) in the brew fridge is becase it's the only way I can guarantee a constant 'room' temperature. The temperature in our house is never constant. It's up and down all the time in winter as we come and go.
Anyway, I've bagged a brew day for tomorrow (GW London Pride), so I'll see how it goes.
On the heater positioning, do you think it's better to have it under the fermenter, and have the fermenter on a ledge, or does it really matter if it's a few inches above the bottom of the fermenter?
Cheers,
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
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