[thegooch52]

Hello,

I'm new to homebrewing and would eventually like to brew lagers and the like. I'm looking for a way to rig up a fridge or deep freeze to maintain the desired temps during fermentation. I've seen quite a few different designs. I'm looking for the best way to be able to essentially set it and forget it as I don't have a lot of time to keep constant check on it. I figured you guys would have knowledge/experience and be able to point me in the right direction.  Thank you for your time!

[jaftak22]

We'll if you don't already have a fridge for a fermenter buy one off craigslist unless you wanna pay for a new one. You can buy a Johnson digital temp controller from just about every homebrew website. Just follow the directions and you got a fermentation chamber. But I am pretty sure you can make a temp regulator if you don't wanna buy one. There not that expensive though, maybe $70 bucks.

[Jeff M]

http://www.amazon.com/Johnson-Digital-Temperature-Controller/dp/B0064O93L8

Id get the digital version, but there is an analog version made by Johnson.  The digital version can be set so there is less temp difference (+/-).   There are other brands but this seems to be the most common.  i have mine hooked up to an old college mini-fridge to store hops and another setup to a chest freezer to hold at 40F.  works great!  Any decent LHBS should have them in stock. 

[thegooch52]

Thanks guys. I already have a deep freeze. Will I need something to heat it if the temp drops too low?

[yso191]

I recommend a dual stage controller so that you can heat or cool.  I currently use a kegerator as a fermentation chamber with a heating wrap inside it.  I have the temperature probe from the controller inside a Thermowell which is siting in the fermenting beer.  That way it is measuring and controlling beer temperature, not the air surrounding.  With this setup I control the temperature of my fermenting beer within a one degree fluctuation.

[thegooch52]

Sounds good. I'll need to be able to heat and cool because I live in Arkansas. Monday the high was 11 degrees. Today is Sunday and it's 65. Lots of fluctuation