Post by brigitte on Apr 7, 2018 10:50:06 GMT -5
Refrigeration has long been a necessity on small farms and homesteads. Innovation was the key in the 17 and 1800s and it seems also today. Back then farmers took advantage of ice houses and the cooling affects of below grade water baths. In recent modern times we've been limited to fairly expensive walk in industrial coolers, small or large, which seem to be prone to breakdowns with condensors and expensive electric bills. Along comes a guy named Roy (or Ron?) somewhere in New York State who decides, as farmers are prone to do, that he can figure out this dilemma and create an efficient walk in cooler. It's something a lot of farmers and hunters, including me, have wanted but been daunted by the price tag. He figures out that he can take the thermostat off his refrigerator and attach it to an air conditioner and trick it into cooling down to 38 degrees instead of 60 in a highly insulated small space. He called this thing CoolBot and its selling like hotcakes. Of course, his great idea got expensive by demand ($350 at building supply stores by Internet) Others have found alternative solutions along the same train of thought, by using a night light and a reverser switch. You kind of need an electrical geek friend to help but its really not all that complicated. Create a small super insulated space, put in an air conditioner and trick it into cooling lower than the manufacture spec. It works. Last summer I walked into one for the first time and was determined to build my own- for a variety of reasons including meat chickens that take up space as they cool down after harvest, hanging deer during early bow season, even milk for the pigs and chickens, in addition to the many uses vegetable farmers have. It has also been effectively used as a cheese cave, much cheaper even than a new True glass front refrigerator.
My first plan of creating a dual purpose milk room/occasional walk in cooler seems to be failing because the concrete wasn't insulated underground and the space probably wont work even occasionally for meat storage.
Yesterday I latched onto a guy near me who has an old restaurant walk in cooler that is "no good" any more because the condensor failed. Im going to figure a way to transport it and give i a coolbot and air conditioner.
My first plan of creating a dual purpose milk room/occasional walk in cooler seems to be failing because the concrete wasn't insulated underground and the space probably wont work even occasionally for meat storage.
Yesterday I latched onto a guy near me who has an old restaurant walk in cooler that is "no good" any more because the condensor failed. Im going to figure a way to transport it and give i a coolbot and air conditioner.