SS Conical Fermenter users: Good, Bad and the ugly? Do tell...

[Online Brewing Supplies]

I have a 140L gross jacketed cost about $1900 so far. Have another $130 for a new lid and bottom fittings this week. This is just the fermenter.
The control system with a pump and fittings for the CIP will be another $1000. I am also looking at glycol chillers $??
Bit more than budget allowed but....
Now I want another. Only this time I am going to China to buy it myself. The fermenter is $650 FOB through customs broker to Sydney $570.

If you can get a 140L jacket fermenter from China for $650 by a ship load because that is dirt cheap.
About1/3 of what I have found.
Nev

 

[mudd]

140L seems a bit silly to me.
Thanks all for your input. Particularly Ferg for your PM. Going with the CoreBrewing one.

 

[komodo]

I'd love one. Actually I'd love about 4 around the 55-60L size. But its the temp control that has me sticking with fridges and plastic fermenters.

One day I'll have a cool room and an array of conicals.


Go with hookers and coke!

 

[komodo]

actually thinking about this - whats stopping use from using a fridge with say 60L of glycol and a manifold some tubing and solenoids combined with some STC-1000s to control the temp to several of these? Obviously you'd have to wrap the tubing with glycol around the fermenter then insulate it. Might need a heater belt (although probably not)
The STC-1000 could control both a pump and a solenoid to make sure the pump is running when the solenoid is opened. Would require a diode or two and/or a couple of relays.

 

[booargy]

for temp control I was thinking that a stainless herms coil mounted in the lid with glycol pumped through it. an STC-1000 controls the pump to control temp.

 

[booargy]

actually thinking about this - whats stopping use from using a fridge with say 60L of glycol

The main problem with this setup is getting the coolant back down to temp before returning to the fridge. I have an old water cooler Which I am going to try on the return line. Or the volume in the fridge needs to be greater than the volume in the fermenter.

 

[HoppingMad]

I wish. I so wish.

Here's some very nice jacketed numbers available in the US (they heat & cool - no fridge required). Pricing at the bottom.
If you're cashed up Cocko, something like this would be the envy of many... their power over there would be different to ours though.

If only...

http://morebeer.com/category/morebeer-heated-cooled-conicals.html

 

[IainMcLean]

I have a keg adapted into a fermenter - works really well and is a lot cheaper than a stainless conical...

My mods:
Cut the dip tube an inch short
Seal the STC1000 Thermocouple into the pressure relief valve
Take out the gas tube
Take out the spring & valve from the gas post
Take out the valve & spring form a gas quick disconnect & screw on a john guest push fitting on it and push in some gas line
Put the end of the gas line / blow-off tube through a grommet in the lid of a borosilicate jar with chilled boiled water.

When the krausen forms the nice yeast collects under the water and can be harvested easily.
When done I swap the gas post for a complete one and transfer to a serving keg using CO2.

 

[komodo]

The main problem with this setup is getting the coolant back down to temp before returning to the fridge. I have an old water cooler Which I am going to try on the return line. Or the volume in the fridge needs to be greater than the volume in the fermenter.

hmm need a glycol chiller