Need tips keeping fermentation cool

[JasonHorlacher]

I need all your tips, links, suggestions on how to keep fermentations cool during the summer.

I am stationed in Germany for the next 2 years and we are renting. I would build something with an old freezer or fridge but dont have room in the weight limit to have it shipped back home. We have concrete and tile in all the house. I have a spare bathroom w/shower that I was thinking of letting the carboy sit in water and put the shirt over it with a fan running.
Is there anything I can build that is cheap and really worth the effort?

Thanks in advance!

[Push Eject]

Using a Remote Temp Controller you can power a fan like the one in this Foam box fermentation chamber.

At the end of two years you can disassemble the chamber and ship it or even just chuck it and build a new one at your next place.

Cheers,
Push E.

[beerdrinker]

I need all your tips, links, suggestions on how to keep fermentations cool during the summer.

I am stationed in Germany for the next 2 years and we are renting. I would build something with an old freezer or fridge but dont have room in the weight limit to have it shipped back home. We have concrete and tile in all the house. I have a spare bathroom w/shower that I was thinking of letting the carboy sit in water and put the shirt over it with a fan running.
Is there anything I can build that is cheap and really worth the effort?

Thanks in advance!

I'd say build something with an old fride, then you just have to bring the temp control home with you in two years.

[JasonHorlacher]

I got to be care full on the amount of electricity I use too. You guys wouldn't believe how expensive it is to live over here...right now it is .61 euro to the dollar!!!

That being said...everything over here runs on 220v...not the 120 at home.
Maybe I'm just whining, but this shit sucks! Fucking feelings!

[Brew Engineer]

I've got a big cooler in my basement that I keep the carboy in. I run a temp controller with a ferm-wrap heater to maintain temp. The basement is about 52 in the winter, and usually doesn't get above 70 in the summer down there, but when it does, I can throw a few ice packs in the cooler, and keep the temp in the cooler pretty low.

Its cheap, but it works. If you don't have a cool basement, you'll have to use more icepacks.

[Mylo]

+1 on the digital temp control.

You can wire the Ranco controls with 220 or 110. So you will just have to rewire it (and change the plug) when you get back to the states.
Best thing to control IMHO is a chest freezer. They are insulated and very efficient. Besides - if you run them at ale temps - they rarely come on at all. I dunno if there is a Craig's List for Germany - but that or the classifieds would be a good place to start. If you can't find a used one, I'm pretty sure you can recoup at least half of the costs in 2 yrs. if you buy new and sell clean.


Mylo

[BDawg]

I'll second the chest freezer. Put a collar on it. When it comes time to move, you can dismantle everything, and ship only the faucets and tubing, etc.

here's mine: click me

HTH-

[AirBreather]

I have heard that the shirt in the ice water works pretty good, but I haven't done it myself. I'm looking to get a fridge soon so I can brew in the summer here.