DIY walkin coolers.
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I’ll second the recommendtion to go higher, and even suggest 10 feet for at least part of the ceiling. I butcher hogs regularly, and my hanging rail is at 7’6". I ALWAYS wish it was at least a foot higher, and two feet would be better. It makes it easier to get to the carcass to cut it down, or get it on a table for butchering.
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I agree the more you have in height the better if you have it available to use
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What are your plans for the cooling unit?
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I have seen home made coolers at some farm packing houses for produce when I was a truck driver they were noisy using truck trailer refer units , but maybe one from a smaller straight used that could be run with electric might be an option or even an over sized air conditioner I am sure people here have better ideas and experience at this
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also when you build this go overboard on your insulation and use vapor barrier and surfaces that can be washed and sanitized
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I have read about modifying a window a/c unit to operate at a lower temperature and using it for coolers. Not sure about the details on how its done.
After a little checking, I found this article about a “cool-bot” that works with a window ac unit.
I have no first hand experience with this product. http://blog.farmhack.org/2011/08/26/farm-hack-coolbot-walk-in-cooler/
Paul
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built one using the coolbot with a large window ac. My walk in was framed at 8x10x8 and finished out 7’8"x9’8"x7’x8" after insulation. Check out how coolbot recommends it as insulation is very important. I hung and aged a beef for 2 weeks at 35-38 degrees f. and it worked great.
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I used a large, 2-ton window AC, that I ripped the controls out of and ran it with an STC-1000 controller, $15 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073QQ2VP2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Takes a little digging around inside the unit to connect, but wiring diagrams are out there, mostly on beer brewing sites! Keeps my 8x14x8 walkin at 36 degrees no problem. -
I have read about modifying a window a/c unit to operate at a lower temperature and using it for coolers. Not sure about the details on how its done.
After a little checking, I found this article about a “cool-bot” that works with a window ac unit.
I have no first hand experience with this product. http://blog.farmhack.org/2011/08/26/farm-hack-coolbot-walk-in-cooler/
processhead I am using an ink bird controller for my DIY dry cure fridge
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Anyone have issues with coil icing when using a window a/c? The coolbot says this can be an issue and their design has an additional T-stat that cuts off the compressor when the evaporator coil begins to ice up.
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also when you build this go overboard on your insulation and use vapor barrier and surfaces that can be washed and sanitized
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What are your plans for the cooling unit?
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processhead Sir I haven’t figured out how to put my hand drawings onto the net. I’ll have to get my daughter to show me how to use that silly scanner again.
Joseph 0 said in DIY walkin coolers.:
processhead Sir I haven’t figured out how to put my hand drawings onto the net. I’ll have to get my daughter to show me how to use that silly scanner again.
I don’t have a scanner so, in good light, I sometimes just take a picture of a document and post that.
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I have read about modifying a window a/c unit to operate at a lower temperature and using it for coolers. Not sure about the details on how its done.
After a little checking, I found this article about a “cool-bot” that works with a window ac unit.
I have no first hand experience with this product. http://blog.farmhack.org/2011/08/26/farm-hack-coolbot-walk-in-cooler/
processhead My buddy did that with their walk in cooler kit they bought for the deer lease. It’s pretty neat little life hack to see work.
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processhead Just take a picture with your phone and email it to yourself, then save and upload. That’s easier for me.
Joseph 0 Back to the question at hand…I picked up a 10x8 walkin cooler and we put it on a cement slab outside. I run a 15k window AC unit with a coolbot controller. Works awesome, I put metal shelves on one side and we found an old fire escape ladder that we cut to make what looks like monkey bars. So we have the “ladder” running across the ceiling and set up 4 gambrels for deer, no problem, didn’t budge. I’ll see if i can dig up some pics. I had some on here before it got updated, i’m sure my instagram still has them. @black_run_bbq
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