SAUSAGE CURING CABINET BUILD - JC in GB PART ONE

[JC in GB]

Well, I am finally nearing completion of my sausage curing cabinet build so I will start posting pictures.

Cabinet with door removed. Removed compressor, thermostat, and cooling coils.

Cooling will be achieved using a Black Cat DC PID controller and a 120 Watt thermoelectric cooling module.
Thermoelectric cooler will chill water that will be run through the radiator inside the cabinet. PWM controller will adjust fan speed on radiator fans.
Radiator fans will be running 100% of the time.

Heating will be achieved vis Black Cat AC PID controller running a 250 Watt PTC heater with an enclosed fan.

Humidity will be controlled using an Inkbird humidity controller which will run the humidifier and the purge fan.

Rust splotches will be cleaned when construction completed along with plugging and patching any holes.

Side Vent hole for one way air valve for purge function.

Top vent for one way air valve and purge fan

Purge fan

Heater, humidifier, and radiator in bottom of cabinet. Test fitting for best location.

1/2" holes drilled in cabinet top for cooling water tubes. Perfect fit.

Radiator mounted on 90 degree bracket that I picked up in Fleet Farm. Saved me the time to fabricate my own.

Radiator mounted

Cooling water tubes attached to radiator.

Rails test fit into cabinet. Clearance issue with door. Will have to make a cut in the door shelving.

Rails still need to be drilled for hooks and be cleaned and polished.

120 Watt cooling module

 

[bill ace 350]

Nice! Looks real good.

That's my next project.

My fermentation chamber is finished.

 

[JC in GB]

Nice! Looks real good.

That's my next project.

My fermentation chamber is finished.

I may have to build a fermentation chamber next.

JC

 

[flatbroke]

Dang dude. Nice job

 

[HalfSmoked]

Ok lets get on with it waiting for some finished product.

Warren

 

[HalfSmoked]

Thanks JC

Warren

 

[indaswamp]

Coming along nicely JC.

Few thoughts:
are you going to install some kind of a filter over the inlet and outlet air vent holes to keep out critters and bugs? Gnats love the smell of a curing/drying chamber....
Also, I recommend the catch pan for the cooling radiator drain to the hole in the floor of the refrigerator. I also recommend elevating your unit so you can run the drain line into a container. The chamber will condense a lot of water as the salamis dry. My full chamber with 20-25 kilos of product will produce almost 2 gallons of water during the drying time.

 

[indaswamp]

Also, what brand cooling module did you use?

 

[JC in GB]

Coming along nicely JC.

Few thoughts:
are you going to install some kind of a filter over the inlet and outlet air vent holes to keep out critters and bugs? Gnats love the smell of a curing/drying chamber....
Also, I recommend the catch pan for the cooling radiator drain to the hole in the floor of the refrigerator. I also recommend elevating your unit so you can run the drain line into a container. The chamber will condense a lot of water as the salamis dry. My full chamber with 20-25 kilos of product will produce almost 2 gallons of water during the drying time.

All good points. I planned on using an intake filter for the air. Don't want critters on my salami....

I will have to fashion a drip tray. I have an opening in the bottom of the cabinet that will work perfectly. I have space where the compressor used to be for a collection pan.

Thanks for your suggestions...

JC

 

[JC in GB]

Also, what brand cooling module did you use?

No brand... Just bought the parts directly from the Chinese mfg and wired it all up myself.

 

[HalfSmoked]

Isn't this the great part about this forum the offering of great ideas and suggestions to help you along.
indaswamp said:

Warren

 

[JC in GB]

Isn't this the great part about this forum the offering of great ideas and suggestions to help you along.
indaswamp said:

Warren

Absolutely... I have learned volumes from folks on this forum. Just amazing....

JC

 

[indaswamp]

120 Watt cooling module

View attachment 479683

This part of the system....what brand? Where did you find it?

 

[JC in GB]

I have the cooling system put together almost... I ran out of hose clamps and I may have to rethinkmy pump wiring.

Got my ink bird humidity controller.

Purge fan and power supply to the right.

 

[indaswamp]

How many cu. ft. is your refrigerator?

 

[JckDanls 07]

Looking good/complicated so far...

Tell me guys.. what's the difference between this and a fermentation chamber ??

 

[pc farmer]

Looking good/complicated so far...

Tell me guys.. what's the difference between this and a fermentation chamber ??

Fermenting chamber keeps a higher temp and humidity. Curing chamber is lower temps and humidity. Some people can do both in the same unit but not while already having meat drying in the drying chamber.

 

[daveomak]

Nice build JC.... That heat exchanger is cool... Are you going to put a parts list in here somewhere ???

Amazon has many activated carbon filters...

 

[JC in GB]

How many cu. ft. is your refrigerator?

12 cubic feet

 

[JC in GB]

This part of the system....what brand? Where did you find it?

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