Project: Make A Fermentation Monitor
If you are anything like me, you're frequently checking the health of your latest batch of homebrew. But I know that every time I lift the lid of my Temperature Controlled Fermentation Chamber I let cold air out and warm air in. I had a broken, portable DVD player with video input capabilities lying around, so I put it to good use. If you don't happen to have one of those, there's an inexpensive video monitor, listed below.
Parts List:
| Quantity | Description | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Video Security Camera with IR Illumination |  |
| 1 | 12v DC Power Adapter for Camera |  |
| 1 | Small, LCD Video Monitor |  |
| 1 | 6' Composite Video Cable |  |
Instructions:
Mount the video monitor in a convenient place. I made a small shelf, eye-level above my Temperature Controlled Fermentation Chamber:
Find a spot inside your Temperature Controlled Fermentation Chamber where the camera will be able to clearly see the airlock of your primary. I have mine sitting on a piece of wood in the basket:
Connect the camera's yellow video out to the monitor's yellow video in with the 6' composite video cable. You won't need to do anything with the white, audio connectors:
The power adapter for the camera is listed separately and the monitor (listed in the Parts List) comes with a power adapter. Connect one power adapter to the camera and the other to the monitor using the red power connectors. Plug the power adapters into a nearby electrical outlet:
Route the video cable and camera's power cable out the back of the freezer. You should now be able to see your airlock, bubbling away on the video monitor!
