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Date: 25 May 2006 05:35:15
From: Kidder
Subject: Kegging fridge temperature
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I'm getting ready to finally make the leap to kegging this weekend. The
problem (perhaps I'm overreacting) is the fridge that I'm kegging in is
at around 26-30F constantly. It's extrememly difficult to get it past
30F. It's an old Coldspot from the 50's and it does live up to it's
name. The adjustment dial is set between 1 and VAC so it's set to the
warmest it can go. The highest it goes is 9 so I assume that's the
coldest setting. Whatever 'VAC' is I don't know.
Will this 26-30F range be a problem for my beer and/or CO2 tank? I plan
on putting the tank in the fridge along with the corny. I think the
freezing point of CO2 is much lower than that so I doubt it'll be a
problem. But then again I worry quite a bit when new things are thrown
my way. The constantly supply of bottled beer I have in there never
freezes so I'm not too concerned about the beer.
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Date: 25 May 2006 09:30:58
From: Kidder
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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On a side note, this morning the fermenting temperature was 72F. Before
work I moved it to my basement which is a cool 58-60F. Hopefully I've
avoided any fusel and/or esters created at that 72F temperature. I can
tell you that was the highest it reached.
I brewed a porter last year and it reached a good 75F during the
primary........headaches from hell I tell you. And that was after one
beer.
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Date: 25 May 2006 14:05:46
From: Gerard Eberlein
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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"Kidder" <traviskidder@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1148574658.916763.250010@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> On a side note, this morning the fermenting temperature was 72F. Before
> work I moved it to my basement which is a cool 58-60F. Hopefully I've
> avoided any fusel and/or esters created at that 72F temperature. I can
> tell you that was the highest it reached.
>
> I brewed a porter last year and it reached a good 75F during the
> primary........headaches from hell I tell you. And that was after one
> beer.
>
Are you referring to the actual wort temperature or to the surrounding air
temperature?
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Date: 25 May 2006 08:41:56
From: Kidder
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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I cannot imagine hauling that fridge out of my basement and up the
stairs. It's built like a tank and probably weighs as much. I'd love to
have a chest freezer and convert into a multiple keg-erator. Perhaps in
the future.
I've never checked out Craigslist, is it essentially an online
classifieds engine?
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Date: 25 May 2006 13:23:05
From: Bob
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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"Kidder" <traviskidder@yahoo.com > wrote in message news:1148571716.298680.294390@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I cannot imagine hauling that fridge out of my basement and up the
> stairs. It's built like a tank and probably weighs as much. I'd love to
> have a chest freezer and convert into a multiple keg-erator. Perhaps in
> the future.
>
> I've never checked out Craigslist, is it essentially an online
> classifieds engine?
>
That's right. It seems to be the only one anyone uses around here. They have
listings localized for a large number of larger cities.
http://www.craigslist.org/about/cities.html
Bob
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Date: 25 May 2006 08:11:05
From: Kidder
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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I'll set it to 9 this evening and what that does. When I turn the dial
up slightly it sounds like the fridge 'kicks on' though, so I assumed
it was getting colder as I turned it up.
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Date: 25 May 2006 10:56:38
From: PJ
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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It seems to me (IF it is a refrigerator and not a freezer) that the control
of '1' is the coldest setting. Normally, a refrigerator would operate in the
low to mid 40's otherwise all the vegetables would freezer burn in short
order. Have you tried to turn the setting the other way (towards 9)?
If that doesn't work, John's suggestion is your best bet.
"Kidder" <traviskidder~~~ > wrote in message ...
> I'm getting ready to finally make the leap to kegging this weekend. The
> problem (perhaps I'm overreacting) is the fridge that I'm kegging in is
> at around 26-30F constantly. It's extrememly difficult to get it past
> 30F. It's an old Coldspot from the 50's and it does live up to it's
> name. The adjustment dial is set between 1 and VAC so it's set to the
> warmest it can go. The highest it goes is 9 so I assume that's the
> coldest setting. Whatever 'VAC' is I don't know.
>
> Will this 26-30F range be a problem for my beer and/or CO2 tank? I plan
> on putting the tank in the fridge along with the corny. I think the
> freezing point of CO2 is much lower than that so I doubt it'll be a
> problem. But then again I worry quite a bit when new things are thrown
> my way. The constantly supply of bottled beer I have in there never
> freezes so I'm not too concerned about the beer.
>
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Date: 25 May 2006 07:51:42
From: Kidder
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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Oh yeah I definitely agree. I'm used to drinking 60F imperial stouts
and barleywines. I'm brewing an American Lite right now, basically for
my girlfriend's family (to convince them I can brew their 'normal'
beers). After this batch I'll be brewing real beers that would taste
much better at warmer temps. I guess I could just let the pint warm up
a bit after dispensing it.
I'm thinking the temperature control dial needs replaced or looked at
because it's not responding very well to adjustments. What do you
expect for a 50 year old fridge?
Will this temperature range be a problem for the CO2?
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Date: 25 May 2006 15:39:45
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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On 25 May 2006 07:51:42 -0700, <traviskidder@yahoo.com > wrote:
> Will this temperature range be a problem for the CO2?
I don't think so. I'm not a chemist, but from looking at a phase
diagram for CO2, it looks like it would need to get down to somewhere on
the order of -50C for CO2 in a tank to freeze.
John.
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Date: 26 May 2006 08:47:12
From: Mark R
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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"John 'Shaggy' Kolesar" <spam@shagg.net > wrote in message
news:slrne7bjvi.n0e.spam@weizen.shagg.net...
> On 25 May 2006 07:51:42 -0700, <traviskidder@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Will this temperature range be a problem for the CO2?
>
> I don't think so. I'm not a chemist, but from looking at a phase
> diagram for CO2, it looks like it would need to get down to somewhere on
> the order of -50C for CO2 in a tank to freeze.
Yeah, I don't think he has anything to worry about there. Having flashbacks
to some of my days in A/C class I seem to recall it was near the -170F range
at atmospheric pressure. I think we're both pretty close.
Mark R
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Date: 26 May 2006 14:47:05
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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On Fri, 26 May 2006 08:47:12 -0500, <marknorayspam@noev1spam.net > wrote:
>
> "John 'Shaggy' Kolesar" <spam@shagg.net> wrote in message
> news:slrne7bjvi.n0e.spam@weizen.shagg.net...
>> On 25 May 2006 07:51:42 -0700, <traviskidder@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> > Will this temperature range be a problem for the CO2?
>>
>> I don't think so. I'm not a chemist, but from looking at a phase
>> diagram for CO2, it looks like it would need to get down to somewhere on
>> the order of -50C for CO2 in a tank to freeze.
>
> Yeah, I don't think he has anything to worry about there. Having flashbacks
> to some of my days in A/C class I seem to recall it was near the -170F range
> at atmospheric pressure. I think we're both pretty close.
I was assuming ~600 PSI of pressure, which is what most of the tanks are
filled to. You're right, at 1 ATM it would probably be a lot lower.
John.
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Date: 25 May 2006 08:29:11
From: Bob
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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"Kidder" <traviskidder@yahoo.com > wrote in message news:1148568702.364762.117110@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Oh yeah I definitely agree. I'm used to drinking 60F imperial stouts
> and barleywines. I'm brewing an American Lite right now, basically for
> my girlfriend's family (to convince them I can brew their 'normal'
> beers). After this batch I'll be brewing real beers that would taste
> much better at warmer temps. I guess I could just let the pint warm up
> a bit after dispensing it.
>
> I'm thinking the temperature control dial needs replaced or looked at
> because it's not responding very well to adjustments. What do you
> expect for a 50 year old fridge?
>
> Will this temperature range be a problem for the CO2?
Old fridges are easily available free (on Craigslist for instance). Befor you spend money
fixing yours, you might try another. Even chest freezers can be had for free. They can hold
a lot more kegs, and are much easier to work with. Disposal fees for your old fridge are
the major setback to getting another.
Bob
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Date: 25 May 2006 07:47:52
From: miker
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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VAC probably stands for Vacation, so you might give it a try to see if
it gets you a little warmer, otherwise you'll have to go to a
controller as Shaggy mentions. The temps you have won't hurt you're
beer or the CO2 tank btw.
I have an old fridge (can't remember the brand right now, but I think
it's also a Coldspot) that I occasionally use for fermenting with my
controller, but it will get a lot warmer than yours on the lowest
setting without the controller.
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Date: 25 May 2006 14:29:20
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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On 25 May 2006 05:35:15 -0700, <traviskidder@yahoo.com > wrote:
> I'm getting ready to finally make the leap to kegging this weekend. The
> problem (perhaps I'm overreacting) is the fridge that I'm kegging in is
> at around 26-30F constantly. It's extrememly difficult to get it past
> 30F. It's an old Coldspot from the 50's and it does live up to it's
> name. The adjustment dial is set between 1 and VAC so it's set to the
> warmest it can go. The highest it goes is 9 so I assume that's the
> coldest setting. Whatever 'VAC' is I don't know.
>
> Will this 26-30F range be a problem for my beer and/or CO2 tank? I plan
> on putting the tank in the fridge along with the corny. I think the
> freezing point of CO2 is much lower than that so I doubt it'll be a
> problem. But then again I worry quite a bit when new things are thrown
> my way. The constantly supply of bottled beer I have in there never
> freezes so I'm not too concerned about the beer.
IMO, 26F - 30F is *way* too cold for drinking beer. However, that's a
personal preference thing. Most fridges have this problem though, IE they
do not let you set them very warm. When using one as a fermentation fridge
the standard solution is to buy an external temperature controller, the two
main brands being Ranco and Johnson. If you want to store your beer warmer,
that'd be the way to go.
John.
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Date: 25 May 2006 11:31:00
From: Kidder
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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Surrounding air reached 75F. So the wort probably reached close to
80F.....not good. It did have a nice banana aroma though and it
actually tasted great.
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Date: 25 May 2006 15:47:21
From: Gerard Eberlein
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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"Kidder" <traviskidder@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1148581859.941741.239940@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...
> Surrounding air reached 75F. So the wort probably reached close to
> 80F.....not good. It did have a nice banana aroma though and it
> actually tasted great.
>
Sounds like a "Hef" beer I tried at the Frankenmuth brewery. It was a very
cloudy, unfiltered beer but at the same time light low biterness. not overly
sweet but with alot of banana aroma and a bit of clove banana taste. very
nice beach beer.
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Date: 26 May 2006 05:52:11
From: Kidder
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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Ok, I set it to 9 last night and it got down to 22F. I put it on VAC
last night and the temperature this morning was 29F. I'm thinking I'll
keep it on VAC from now on.
Do those external temp controllers work well with any fridge?
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Date: 26 May 2006 14:43:38
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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On 26 May 2006 05:52:11 -0700, <traviskidder@yahoo.com > wrote:
> Do those external temp controllers work well with any fridge?
Yes. A temp probe goes into the fridge and then you plug the fridge
power cord into the controller. It will either allow power to the fridge
or cut power to the fridge depending on the temp reading. It should work
with any brand/model of fridge or freezer.
John.
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Date: 26 May 2006 09:41:55
From: PJ
Subject: Re: Kegging fridge temperature
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Yes, the external controller should work well for you.
I'd do some checking on the fridge's temp controller first. If you feel like
fooling with it, unplug the refer and take the temp control cover off. There
should be an adjustment screw under the cover that should allow you to reset
the temperature range. It's worth a shot. You could also just replace that
part. I'm sure that you can find it online somewhere with the exact model
number of the refer.
HTH
"Kidder" <traviskidder~~~ > wrote in message ...
> Ok, I set it to 9 last night and it got down to 22F. I put it on VAC
> last night and the temperature this morning was 29F. I'm thinking I'll
> keep it on VAC from now on.
>
> Do those external temp controllers work well with any fridge?
>
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