voltage controller or cool room

sacredsite

As I live in FNQ it is not possible to keep the fermenter temp under 30c from November to March, so I am wondering if I use my voltage controller on an old fridge will it allow the temp to rise in the fridge to say 20c without burning the motor out.?
The other option is get some insulation and make a small cool room with an aircon, but I am not sure of the pitfalls of either method so I would like a bit of guidance here please.
thanks
steve
ps.
I am fermenting coles fruit juice with wine yeast to run through the pot still hopefully to learn the ropes before I tackle the rums I am bursting to do.Last edited by sacredsite on Wed Nov 02, 2022 5:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

indenial

I vote for the third option - Inkbird Temperature controller (or similar).
Voltage controller won't work for this situation.
I guess you could build a coolroom if your fermentation volumes are going to be very large.

The-Stig

The voltage controller won’t work to keep a fridge at a set temp.
This is a perfect place to use a temp controller such as a STC-1000, these are designed to keep a fridge or even chest freezer at a set temp . People use them in keezer builds

RC-Al

Do make your cooler, but don't let that stop you, find some cheap molly and start making rum!  :handgestures-thumbupleft:
It wont need to stay under 30, bakers yeast is good much higher than that, if you hunt around you should be able to find something that will take low 40's

Howard

if the fridge is working, i would match it with an Inkbird.
the cooling side is only used for 2 or 3 months of the year for me.
the Inkbird has max & min temps and settings to stop the fridge motor kicking in too soon/too often.
not forgetting, some rum washes can create a fair bit of heat.

sacredsite

Thanks for the info, I like the idea of the inkbird while I am still working but when I retire in 2 years the cool room maybe the way to go.

sacredsite

Thanks for the info I will try the bakers yeast as the easiest option and go from there.

sacredsite

Bakers yeast is the next step I think thanks for the info.

NFI

If using an inkbird be sure to set the delayed start on the cooling mode to say 2 mins or you will risk burning out the "start PTC" on the fridge compressor or even the compressor itself. The PTCs are fairly cheap if you know what and where it is. Calling out a tech would be alot more costly. :handgestures-thumbupleft: