RETIRED: briang's OFFICIAL BYO (brew your own) thread! let's talk beer!

[Mavtech]

Quote from JonGoku : Perhaps the same thing, but off ebay [ebay.com]

Would that work ok for a freezer? So, they basically cut the power to the fridge when the temp gets lower than what you set it to? Then, it turns back on when it hits the high threshold? Is that how those work?

[maxxdragon]

Quote from JonGoku : Got room outside the house?

Not much, I've got a little patio with an outlet but It's already got my big smoker grill there. also I'd have to worry about the dogs jacking with it.

[JonGoku]

Quote from Mavtech : Would that work ok for a freezer? So, they basically cut the power to the fridge when the temp gets lower than what you set it to? Then, it turns back on when it hits the high threshold? Is that how those work?

There is plenty of "how to's" out there [google.com] about making a cold box or other fermentation chamber. How to wire one of the Ranco's etc.

[mattman688]

Quote from JonGoku : Perhaps the same thing, but off ebay [ebay.com]

the one i chose had a power cord in and out....that ranco you have there has to be hard wired... i like the ease of not cutting into the wires on the chest freezer...

[JonGoku]

Quote from mattman688 : the one i chose had a power cord in and out....that ranco you have there has to be hard wired... i like the ease of not cutting into the wires on the chest freezer...

If you don't want to hard wire it into the fridge/freezer just hack an outdoor extension cable [harborfreight.com].

Edit: Ranco wiring [rancoetc.com], Zymurgy [auburnbrewclub.org]

[Malachai24]

Quote from mattman688 : the one i chose had a power cord in and out....that ranco you have there has to be hard wired... i like the ease of not cutting into the wires on the chest freezer...

Never do that!! Cut an extension cord in half. Whatever you do, it needs to support the amperage of the freezer.

Between Rybal and I, we have a Ranco, a Johnson analog, and a Love Dual Stage Temperature controller. All work well, depending on your usage. I would of recommended the Love one as they used to be around $40, but I think their cost has gone up recently.

On the Love Dual Stage controller, one supports something like 6amps, while the other is 16amps. We use the 16amps for the freezer, and the 6amps to run a light as a heater.

[JonGoku]

Quote from Malachai24 : Never do that!! Cut an extension cord in half. Whatever you do, it needs to support the amperage of the freezer. Between Rybal and I, we have a Ranco, a Johnson analog, and a Love Dual Stage Temperature controller. All work well, depending on your usage. I would of recommended the Love one as they used to be around $40, but I think their cost has gone up recently. On the Love Dual Stage controller, one supports something like 6amps, while the other is 16amps. We use the 16amps for the freezer, and the 6amps to run a light as a heater.

Oh? I'm not sure I follow your reasoning so could you explain why using a heavy duty extension cord would not work (i.e. the one I linked was rated for 13amps, this one [harborfreight.com] is rated 15 amps)? I'm not en electrician so if you have knowledge in this area let us know before anyone electrocutes themselves.

[Malachai24]

Quote from JonGoku : Oh? I'm not sure I follow your reasoning so could you explain why using a heavy duty extension cord would not work (i.e. the one I linked was rated for 13amps, this one [harborfreight.com] is rated 15 amps)? I'm not en electrician so if you have knowledge in this area let us know before anyone electrocutes themselves.

I was saying don't hardwire it in like Mattman was saying, not your suggestion. Yours will be fine as long as the freezer uses 13amps or less.

[mattman688]

Quote from Malachai24 : I was saying don't hardwire it in like Mattman was saying, not your suggestion. Yours will be fine as long as the freezer uses 13amps or less.

i was saying i wouldn't hardwire it to the freezer...but the link i showed had a temp controller with it already built in...

[Malachai24]

Quote from mattman688 : i was saying i wouldn't hardwire it to the freezer...but the link i showed had a temp controller with it already built in...

Ah, I didn't see your link. Yep, that is basically all you do. So, is it worth $40-50 to have someone wire it up, that is the question. For some people, it is, others can do it themselves.

[briang]

the schwarzbier is fermentin'

[maxxdragon]

Quote from briang : the schwarzbier is fermentin'

I have to say your new avatar creeps me out.

[briang]

Quote from maxxdragon : I have to say your new avatar creeps me out.

sorry, thought you were a dude.

[JonGoku]

Quote from briang : the schwarzbier is fermentin'

Brian you're fermenting in the corny in this pic right? Is this the way you normally do it now? Do you have any issues with head space or does it not make any difference if you use a blow off? Is there such a thing as blowing too much off? If the answer to all that is no, then the only con to doing such would be if you brewed more then 5 gallon and couldn't fit the remaining wort in the keg.

[briang]

Quote from JonGoku : Brian you're fermenting in the corny in this pic right? Is this the way you normally do it now? Do you have any issues with head space or does it not make any difference if you use a blow off? Is there such a thing as blowing too much off? If the answer to all that is no, then the only con to doing such would be if you brewed more then 5 gallon and couldn't find the remaining wort in the keg.

yeah, that's a 10 gallon corny i'm fermenting the lager in. i do lagers in the kegs because it has a smaller footprint in the temp controlled fridge.

i forgot to add foam control drops, so that's why there's so much blowoff. i usually end up with about 9.5 gallons into the serving kegs.