Aldi fermenting freezer/fridge

[rusty274]

Hey guys,

I noticed aldi have bar fridges and upright freezers cheap at the moment.

The 120L bar fridge looks like it might be a bit tight to get a fermenter in there?

Bit hard to tell with the 81L freezer?

Anyone used one of these before or knows the internal dimensions?

Thanks Rusty.

 

[JDW81]

I don't know about the dimensions, but which Aldi stores are selling these? Looked on their website and no-such mention.

FWIW I've got an Aldi chest freezer which has been going strong for well over 12 months as a freezer.

As far as bar fridges go, you can use them very successfully as a fermenting fridge, you just need to ferment in a cube. I did this for ages until my fermenting bar fridge turned up it's toes.

JD

 

[Florian]

Since Wednesday in QLD, possibly other states.

 

[Hoppers]

I saw them at the blacktown, NSW store on thursday night...Didnt take dimensions or price

 

[JDW81]

Might have to pop in to the local Aldi and have a look then. I'm in the market for a new fermenting fridge.

 

[beercus]

is this it?

http://www.lasoo.com.au/offer/freezers-0/81l-upright-freezer/50a23eavc.html?source=search&term=aldi

more details:

http://www.lasoo.com.au/catalogue/aldi-catalogue-special-buys-wk-42/509y7uu89.html?pid=promotedCatalogue#pageNo=8

 

[rusty274]

That looks like it. I don't have the catalogue in front of me but I think the brand or model was called Stirling?

What do you think would work better with a stc1000?

I haven't fermented in a cube before. Sounds messy? Or do you transfer from a no chill to a larger cube?

 

[heyhey]

I got one of the first Aldi fridges from years and years ago, it still runs perfectly fine.

 

[beercus]

Personally i would go for the freezer before the bar fridge. I have this assumption that it would be more energy efficient with a temp controller just because it does not work as hard to get to lower temp.

Just an assumption though....

beercus

 

[rusty274]

I was thinking the freezer might have a bit more room?

I'm not sure where the motor is? But small fridges usually have the motor down the bottom which sometimes makes it a bit hard to sit the fermenter flat if your struggling with space.

 

[yum beer]

do the shelves come out?

 

[rusty274]

It looks like they do. Will have to check in store.

 

[heyhey]

Personally i would go for the freezer before the bar fridge. I have this assumption that it would be more energy efficient with a temp controller just because it does not work as hard to get to lower temp.

Just an assumption though....

beercus

I don't think that is the case. They run different gases, one will be for temps around the 0-4*C mark and the other for sub zero. If you want to run the sub zero gas to over 0 temps then it will not be as efficient as the fridge gas. That is what my fridgy told me during the week when I asked him the exact question about using a fridge or freezer.

 

[heyhey]

I was thinking the freezer might have a bit more room?

I'm not sure where the motor is? But small fridges usually have the motor down the bottom which sometimes makes it a bit hard to sit the fermenter flat if your struggling with space.

The freezer looks to be 81L and the fridge is 120L from the OP

 

[TheWiggman]

I don't think that is the case. They run different gases, one will be for temps around the 0-4*C mark and the other for sub zero. If you want to run the sub zero gas to over 0 temps then it will not be as efficient as the fridge gas. That is what my fridgy told me during the week when I asked him the exact question about using a fridge or freezer.

I'd like to see some evidence that running a freezer as a fridge is less efficient.
Freezers have better insulation, so lose less energy and are more efficient in that regard.
The freezer refrigeration system is designed to reach lower temps (20 K lower) so would likely have a different gas to get down that low. They'd probably have a more powerful compressor to pump more energy into it.
Seeing as they only have to get to 4°C then the compressor would stop running far sooner, which means less energy used.
So more efficient chamber, compressor run much less of the time... I fail to see how running the freezer out of it's designated range could be less efficient overall. I'd be buying the freezer.

 

[Jaded and Bitter]

Anyone get one of the bar fridges? Any good for fermentarium?

 

[heyhey]

I'd like to see some evidence that running a freezer as a fridge is less efficient.
Freezers have better insulation, so lose less energy and are more efficient in that regard.
The freezer refrigeration system is designed to reach lower temps (20 K lower) so would likely have a different gas to get down that low. They'd probably have a more powerful compressor to pump more energy into it.
Seeing as they only have to get to 4°C then the compressor would stop running far sooner, which means less energy used.
So more efficient chamber, compressor run much less of the time... I fail to see how running the freezer out of it's designated range could be less efficient overall. I'd be buying the freezer.

Just going off what I was told. Supposedly the gas difference make running the freezer as at 20*C less efficient operation of the motor than the fridge. I don't know why or how, just what I was told by the fridgeman that came to service my aircons. There is thermal efficiency (ability to retain temp) and then there is energy efficiency of operating the motor for a required temp, so the net difference is probably negligible.

 

[TheWiggman]

Not challenging you, genuinely curious to see evidence. I'd go the freezer if only based on their chilling performance. You know they're going to get down to -1°C for a crash chill, whereas a fridge is going to be working pretty hard.

 

[rusty274]

Ok lads,

I went out today and got the 81ltr freezer.

It's a no go. The shelves have the freezing elements in them so you can't remove them to fit the fermenter.

Hope i can return it!

 

[TheWiggman]

Bah, I was going to mention that! Sorry man.
If getting a freezer it needs to be a chest freezer (i.e. door at the top). Every front door example I've seen has condensors running with the drawers and can't be used for fermentation.

However... hop freezer?