A few weeks ago I discovered these chillers while drooling over the brewjacket immersion chiller. Basically these allow you lager without taking up valuable fridge space. They lower the temperature of the brew to lager fermentation temps by means of a thermoelectric chiller.
The brewjacket system is a crazy price so I decided to go with the IceProbe after doing some research.
http://www.novatecproducts.com/iceprobe.htm
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s180/nigerford/beerstuff/F5FB2A70-EC1C-42A3-95BE-33A414E6CB60_zpszufotfbi.jpg) (http://s152.photobucket.com/user/nigerford/media/beerstuff/F5FB2A70-EC1C-42A3-95BE-33A414E6CB60_zpszufotfbi.jpg.html)
It is a self contained chilling system that in is easily installed with only the need to drill 1.25 inch hole.
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s180/nigerford/beerstuff/70A25B9D-0A55-48E5-8820-AFC7014A3271_zpszpbk1zhg.jpg) (http://s152.photobucket.com/user/nigerford/media/beerstuff/70A25B9D-0A55-48E5-8820-AFC7014A3271_zpszpbk1zhg.jpg.html)
The specs claim one can maintain a temperature differential of up to 20F (6.5c) in a 10 gallon aquarium (yes they are aquarium coolers that are also used in water coolers and are food safe). I brew 5gallon batches so should be perfect.
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s180/nigerford/beerstuff/C665D3FF-11DC-4CAF-A508-A56B25B178A5_zpsihiowrqf.jpg) (http://s152.photobucket.com/user/nigerford/media/beerstuff/C665D3FF-11DC-4CAF-A508-A56B25B178A5_zpsihiowrqf.jpg.html)
The power supply that comes with it is rated for 120v so I have a new one on the way so should be doing full test on it in the next few days. I plan on testing it with 23L water in a standard fermenter and then insulated.
I have an STC temp controller ready to go with it as well.
Ill report back in a few days when I have more info.
Ice probe came from Amazon. Power supply came from a place called freetv.ie
Did you get sorted with a power supply Nigel?
Yeah I ordered online from so should have it in a day or 2.
Really interested in how this will turn out! Likes like another diy project if it works well!
Few more pics.
The fan that disperses the heat drawn from the brew.
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s180/nigerford/beerstuff/0C730F8F-634B-4E0A-B3E3-44EDA09C55D8_zpsrt8skxsg.jpg) (http://s152.photobucket.com/user/nigerford/media/beerstuff/0C730F8F-634B-4E0A-B3E3-44EDA09C55D8_zpsrt8skxsg.jpg.html)
The bulkhead fitting.
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s180/nigerford/beerstuff/A47BD10E-5B79-413C-A1E6-879A50406D0C_zpsqhsxshxx.jpg) (http://s152.photobucket.com/user/nigerford/media/beerstuff/A47BD10E-5B79-413C-A1E6-879A50406D0C_zpsqhsxshxx.jpg.html)
Does it circulate the beer? Or do you have to have a pump to circulate it?
Quote from: Vermelho on March 09, 2015, 07:48:32 PM
Does it circulate the beer? Or do you have to have a pump to circulate it?
Was thinking the same thing. When fermentation begins I guess movement due to yeast activity will help. I wonder if it would be better positioned higher up for when there is less activity? Theory being that warmer liquid will rise.
No pump needed. The movement caused by fermentation should be enough.
I put it in a narrow wine fermentor to try put the cooling element as close to the middle as possible which should help the movement of things.
I've been playing around with similar type applications for a while now, and the biggest problem is keeping the temp where you want it before the fermentation kicks off. Once the yeast starts moving there's no trouble, it's just those critical hours before that - keeping a batch cool is a little harder than heating because a heater at the bottom will cause the hotter liquid to naturally rise and create a bit of mixing whereas cooler liquid just sinks to the bottom. I'd advise as much insulation as possible because your batch will naturally move towards the ambient temp and we're just gettting beyond lager temps now, but not so much that a device like that couldn't handle it. Be interested to see how you get on, my messing around with Peltiers has been up and down - insulation in the critical areas is the most important thing.
New power supply arrived today so I have the first test on.
Chilling / heating will create convection currents that will help move the liquid around, too.
-I'm wondering if you could use these with a home-made glycol resevior and an appropriate sized aquarium pump to make a really simple glycol chiller.
Think of a an 8 liter insulated drink cooler like this: with a small pump inside and one of these iceprobe chillers installed in it with about 7 liters of glycol. -http://www.amazon.com/Igloo-Beverage-Cooler-Gal-Yellow/dp/B00002ND4X
You could connect a modified STC 1000 controller to it and pump the glycol through a stainless or copper immersion chiller and you'd have an awesome, fairly inexpensive and easy-to-build glycol cooling system. -Upsize it to a full 5 gallon reservior and maybe 2 IceProbes and you could chill multiple fermenters simultaneously if you implemented more complicated actuator control to turn on the flow to individual fermenters.
Adam
Ehmmm, that's pretty much my setup
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,5811.msg74012.html#msg74012 (although I've developed a bit since then)
There's no need for an iceprobe chilller or glycol though, if you just use a chilled cooler box (also Peltier technology) with water in it, you're good, although I usually put two ice bottles in there to start with a cold temp (great for prechillng down to a low temp prior to pitching). Don't use a copper coil, copper in a fermenter is bad news. I got my SS coil made up but HBW are selling them now, so it's all off the shelf, easy to get stuff and gives excellent temp control within reason - I still keep to lagers in the winter, but with better insulation I could possibly stretch that out a bit.
Haven't looked at multiple fermenters, have thought about, but currently switching the above setup to 12V as I've been evicted to the shed.
I started researching the chiller to cut down on my brewing footprint so trying to keep it as self contained as possible.
Trial day today. I insulated the fermenter with around 5m of small bubble wrap and put 20l of water in at apox 15c and let it do its thing.
Its dropping steadily and is sitting at 11.2 now. About 2 hours later. I'm going to let if go to see how low it can drop before adding temp control.
I have grains all milled for a lager brew day tomorrow so will report back.
Watching this closely Nigel!
Also watching closely. Particularly interested in its performance over the summer.
Whenever I read the title of this thread I can't help but think of Ghostface Killah. Sorry, off topic but needed to get that off my chest.
If you have an active ferment or a re-circ pump then it doesn't matter if you fit the IceProbe near the bottom.
However it would be better to fit it nearer the top of the liquid level as cooled water sinks and you will get a good naturall circulation. Same logic as fitting a heater at the bottom (hot water rises)
So fit near say the 3/4s full point
HTH: WIll
Quote from: Dr Horrible on March 10, 2015, 07:10:33 PM
Ehmmm, that's pretty much my setup
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,5811.msg74012.html#msg74012 (although I've developed a bit since then)
There's no need for an iceprobe chilller or glycol though, if you just use a chilled cooler box (also Peltier technology) with water in it, you're good, although I usually put two ice bottles in there to start with a cold temp (great for prechillng down to a low temp prior to pitching). Don't use a copper coil, copper in a fermenter is bad news. I got my SS coil made up but HBW are selling them now, so it's all off the shelf, easy to get stuff and gives excellent temp control within reason - I still keep to lagers in the winter, but with better insulation I could possibly stretch that out a bit.
Haven't looked at multiple fermenters, have thought about, but currently switching the above setup to 12V as I've been evicted to the shed.
Wow, incredibly embarassed that I didn't think of the cooler boxes with the peltier already included...
Adam
I only thought of it myself recently enough - made life a lot easier! Mind you, the ice probe chiller would be more efficient as it's direct contact, but a cooler box is cheap and readily available (60EU in Halfords).
I'll be interested to see how the iceprobe chiller gets on with an active fermentation compared to my setup, be good to get a rough figure on the typical heat output of a fermentation.
Update.
First batch is sitting under my kitchen table at a happy 12.3c in a 20 odd degree kitchen.
Fermenter is wrapped bubble wrap than insulation tape.
Thermowell is a sealed 10mm pip with temp controller to the ice probe. I haven't seen it turn off yet.
More updates to come.
Is 12.3 the temp you are looking for? or could you drop it if you want?
Temp controller is set to 12 so not far from the set pint.
sounds like a successful project. thanks for sharing..
Nigel, do you mind saying where you got the gear to do all this including the power source for a 120V device?
Ice probe came from Amazon. Power supply came from a place called freetv.ie
Sounds like a really good solution for anyone tight on space for a ferm fridge.
That's it. Can also be used for crash cooling or just brewing when we get a bit better weather.
Checked on the brew today and its a few points from done so turned off power. Dry hopping a D rest for the weekend then bring it back down before it goes into keg for lagering. Very clean and no diacetyl in the sample but should help clean it up some more.
Free time and a full glass can be an expensive pastime.
Ordered another and a conical so should have a Whopper of a fermenter in a few weeks.
So this would work at around 18-20c too, right, but it won't heat?
Any chance you would stick up links to the cooler and power supply that works with it. This looks like exactly what I need to avoid over heating yeast
The one chiller I have will drop 23L @ around 20 to around 13 so looking forward to getting the 2 going.
I'll dig out the link to the parts when I get home.
Why not read the first post in this thread?
If you click on the link you will notice it has no pricing. Also no info on the power supply required.
Was sure i posted it already.
Quote from: nigel_c on May 01, 2015, 09:52:56 AM
Ice probe came from Amazon. Power supply came from a place called freetv.ie
Yeah it tried that free.ie link but was not sure which one suited. No big deal, its a bit expensive for me at the mo. I'm gonna build a custom jobbie. Will post up the stairs nfo in case anyone wants to follow suit
I updated OP to remove any confusion.
This has dropped in price
(http://charts.camelcamelcamel.com/us/B001JSVLBO/new.png?force=1&zero=0&w=725&h=440&desired=false&legend=1&ilt=1&tp=all&fo=0&lang=en)
Haha you can spot the spikes when I bought my 2. ;D
Bit of an update on this.
I've been happily running this in an insulated fermenter and turning out a few lagers. Got bored and after a few beers the other day i decided it was time for another upgrade so I drilled out my FastFerment conical and fitted the 2 chillers.
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s180/nigerford/beerstuff/5D9CE1E9-5D11-48E7-B3DC-B48778B73DE0_zpssngzif1y.jpg) (http://s152.photobucket.com/user/nigerford/media/beerstuff/5D9CE1E9-5D11-48E7-B3DC-B48778B73DE0_zpssngzif1y.jpg.html)
Since pic I've insulated it and did a water test. In the heat we've been having the last few days the fermenter got down to just below 6c with 23L water. I'd call that a good result.
Getting closer to having your own home grown dalek everyday :) that thing us the business!
More like BeerBeer8 then a dalek. Must give it a nice paint job.
Conical on steroids, looking sweet
If it keeps a 0.4c swing I'll be a happy camper.
Fucking awesome! Someone has to go and do the leg work for these type projects and Nigel has truly put in the effort. Thanks I'll try the links now and check out prices , hopefully not crazy. Surely someone can rebuild and patent this??? I've seen ss brewtech chronical but the wife would want financial explanations. ..
I notice they have their own cold water temp controller that ranges 7oc to 18oc
Nigel can you get this down to 1C :-\
Hmmm comes int at 164dollars before possible customs. Not cheap