Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi All,

Recently, I decided to make a fermentation chamber using an old fridge we had in the garage. Here's what I did.

I purchased an STC-1000 dual-stage temp controller online, then built the controller box with additional parts from Jaycar.
I went to our local pet supply store & purchased a 100W ceramic heat lamp and base, then created a timber base. Actually, I purchased a 50W lamp to begin with, but found it was too inefficient. I drilled a hole in the side wall of the fridge, so I could feed the unterminated power cable through to the lamp.
Next, I removed the fridge door seal and the door insert. I have seen some doors that are actually blow-molded with fiberglass, luckily I didn't have this problem.:handgestures-thumbupleft: Once the door insert was off, it was time to re-attach the door seal.

Continued in second post...

Finally, I ran the temp probe. This hangs in the center of the fridge. I have a second thermometer in the fridge, so I can verify ambient temps are correct, but I'll take this out eventually. The chamber can hold 2x 30L fermenters inside.
Because the door seal is only effective when the fridge is running, and is a bit degraded, I've also attached an occy strap to keep the seal tight. Keeping it simple. ;-)
The Temp Controller box sits on top of the fridge.
If I was to do the project again, there's a few things I'd do differently.
1. Get a larger fridge. (I already had the fridge)
2. Get a fridge without a freezer section or with a separate freezer section, at the bottom.
3. Find a better method for cutting the plastic project box. Mine got pretty scratched up.
4. Flip the STC 180 degrees. Mine is upside down for the box, I did this to keep it simple, but I'd prefer to use the rubber feet on the box.

Nice work!

Such a handy bit of kit to have :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Nice mate, simple but very affective :handgestures-thumbupleft: , ive always wanted to do that for warm washes and cold. What sort of temps is that bulb producing in there?. Be good back up to grow something if you get sick of distilling :laughing-rolling: .

Good work grehund, do you have a wiring diagram for that controller?

Thanks guys.

McStill, We used the wiring diagram provided by RustyT47 in this YouTube video. Link goes right to the wiring diagram time code.

These things are great! I have built 8 of them now, all my mates are using them. I only really use them for my beers so I can brew any time of year, love being able to brew lagers in the middle of summer! :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Thats fuckin awesome dude :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Nice, I have 3 STC 1000 now :P 2 for fermenting fridges and one for my keezer :P looks like the same fridge I have but I use duct tape to hold the door shut lol

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid= ... &_from=R40

Bought this - wired output relay to extension plug and plugged fridge into that. Turn the thermostat to max and put the thermocouple into the fridge door. You dont really need heating as the fermentation does that. Trick is to start slightly below your temp setpoint

Try this link

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PID-Digital-Tem ... 4126629%26

batbrew wrote: You dont really need heating as the fermentation does that.

You need it if trying to make ales in winter ;-)

yep running a dual control is better set and forget :P