What do ye think of this from Lidl for €50.
(http://www.lidl.ie/static_content/lidl_ri_ie/images/IE/IE_79925wk1713_01_b.jpg) (http://www.lidl.ie/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_ri_ie/hs.xsl/index_30605.htm)
If you were to hook it up to a temperature controller and (assuming its air tight) just put the wort directly into it to ferment? The CO2 would just seep out wherever you have the cable for the temperature sensor coming in.
How could the CO2 seep out if it is air tight? ???
@delzep - Where you have drilled for the temp probe.
But... This wont work as you have described shane - it would be impossible to sanitize the electronics that are in that lid. It blows air around id say - i dont think it would work.
If you got a sealed container for your wort that fits in it should work.
Seen these before in Halford's and wondered if you could adapt them for a 2 corney kegerator.
Quote from: JimmyM on April 18, 2013, 12:18:52 PM
@delzep - Where you have drilled for the temp probe.
But... This wont work as you have described shane - it would be impossible to sanitize the electronics that are in that lid. It blows air around id say - i dont think it would work.
If you got a sealed container for your wort that fits in it should work.
I wonder if you covered the vents to the electronics with sanitised filter pads (similar to ones on the hood above your oven) would that be enough to stop any nasties from falling into the beer.
You'd buy a fridge second hand for the same price.
Add temp controller and a Heat source and you're done.
Of course a fridge would be perfect! But I live in a tiny apartment and that is unlikely to change even if I move so I'm extremely limited by space.
Do what dempsey was alluding to...
Take the lid off it (i.e. all the cooling gear), throw away the bottom part and build something small (insulated plywood box) to house a corny or a fermenter and make it so that the lid off the jobby can slot back over - I know..... alot of building :)
Alternatively if you're going to be building a box (and keeping it somewhere with an ambient temp above fermentation temps) you could just cool it internally with a an old PC fan and ice - control the fan with your temp controller. The obvious down side of this is that youve to keep replacing the ice :)
Shane, I can see where you're coming from but I can't see that device being convertable even with the mods suggested.
I'm guessing the cooling unit is not a true regrigeration unit but a peltier chip.
If it was big enough to take a fermenter you'd be laughing, at 30L capacity wise its good, but the dimensions just won't work for you.
Are you looking for heating or cooling in general? (Coming up to Summer so I'm guessing cooling)
I think the previous suggestions are your best bet.
For Cooling consider a mini air conditioner...
http://www.amazon.com/Small-Fan-Mini-Air-Conditioner-Original/dp/B002F8IFV6
(As emailed and PM'd but for all to benefit)
I spotted an electric cooler bag that I spotted in Lidl Midleton today.
I have no idea price, but I imagine a hand-craftes styrofoam box with an ice pack and temp control you could be on a winner
I'm thinking rip out the electrics and dump the bag.
Pic below...
Quote from: johnrm on April 19, 2013, 08:35:43 PM
Shane, I can see where you're coming from but I can't see that device being convertable even with the mods suggested.
I'm guessing the cooling unit is not a true regrigeration unit but a peltier chip.
If it was big enough to take a fermenter you'd be laughing, at 30L capacity wise its good, but the dimensions just won't work for you.
Are you looking for heating or cooling in general? (Coming up to Summer so I'm guessing cooling)
I think the previous suggestions are your best bet.
For Cooling consider a mini air conditioner...
http://www.amazon.com/Small-Fan-Mini-Air-Conditioner-Original/dp/B002F8IFV6
The evaporative type is only really effective where humidity is below 30% in Ireland humidity is usually above 50% so the cooling effect would be very limited.
I bought a swamp cooler a few years ago works on the same principle but couldn't feel any difference when it was on or off.
So is the Bag-Cooler peltier chip based?
http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini-Peltier-Refrigerator/
I'd imagine it is. The link looks like a interesting project.
Well, Shane Shiny is mad for this.
Maybe just buy the chip and build from scratch?
Afaik,