I bought this small fan that you can plug in: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009OWVUJ0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I cut two holes in the frig (one on each side). I put the fan in one and the other is just for pulling air in.
Initially I had it running all the time, but I found that it was pulling the humidity down so fast that my humidifier was running constantly and I was filling it 1-2x per day. So, I added a small clip fan in the chamber. The clip fan goes on when the humidifier goes on. The computer fan only goes on when the RH is 1% higher than target.
Mine is still a work in progress (I don't have years of experience), but it does seem to be getting better.
You could get everything off Amazon or online. I think going to a home depot (or whatever hardware store is closest to you) might be less expensive overall. I bought the plug in computer fan on Amazon, and got the rest from the store in person.
Mine looks like this
https://imgur.com/a/MR1GvVM
Super basic. You need the following:
-medium/large Plastic bin
(I used an opaque one as I also live in an apartment, and keeping the lightbulb on for 4-7 days could be annoying if you're in a studio.) This bin holds ~ 3-5 kg of meat (1-2cm thick). ~$5
-dowels
I used wooden but you could use whatever if you have it lying around. Needs to be sturdy enough to hold a kilo of meat but thin enough for your hooks to hang onto obviously. Cost me ~$3 since I was able to get the amount I needed at the store and not a pre-set amount online with a minimum.
-Computer fan
I used this one since my electrician skills are lacking. Super easy, worth it. I have my fan blowing air out of the box
https://www.amazon.com/AC-Infinity-Cooling-Ventilation-Projects/dp/B009OWVUJ0/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=computer+fan+plug&qid=1589116427&sr=8-3
-Lightbulb + fixture
I bought this in the store, I'm sure you can find it online. There was no direct plug in so I had to buy the base, some wire, and a wall plug casing. (I quickly gained electrician skills from the previous statement) The person at Home Depot walked me through the wiring set up. Also easy. On the photos it's some fancy energy efficient lightbulb. I switched that out for a regular lightbulb since the energy efficient one was thick and generating zero warmth. ~$5.
-Mesh Screen
This is crucial. Don't skimp on this. You keep bugs and more importantly dust out of your box. (I say more importantly because that's what I notice accumulates on the screen over a few uses.) I had to buy a set amount. More than I needed. ~$5.
-Tools: Box cutter and drill (drill optional), screws/screwdriver, tape, measuring tape, marker.
PROCEDURE
You can see from the first picture,
-I have 14 holes the size of a US quarter about 3cm from the bottom, around the box. I used a drill and measured for symmetry to get those to look perfect. You don't need to be that precise or clean, you can cut square holes with a box-cutter. I just figured I was going to have mine for years and it was an easier sell for my fiancée if it didn't look tattered. (Since then, plenty of biltong later, she totally supports my biltong making).
-The holes are covered by mesh/mosquito screen on the outside. I used strong duct tape for that.
-Holes for dowels. Again, I used a drill, they slide in and out very easily. You can make two little Xs with as box cutter across from each other and force them in, that's fine. I like the smooth/sliding aspect of it. I take the dowels out when I'm finished, easy clean up and I can store things in the box to take up less space (vacuum sealer, 2kgs of coriander and pepper, vinegar, dowels, hooks, etc..)
-Cut a square hole at the top for the fan. I screwed it in, and covered the cracks with tape.
-Same thing for the light fixture. I just added a layer of wood in between from a cigarbox I think. I was just worried the light would heat the plastic too much. It doesn't though. In any case, I like the sturdiness of it.
-When you're actually making the biltong, it helps to lay down some paper towels at the bottom of the box to catch the drippings. Makes clean up a breeze.
TL;DR
Yeah you can buy everything online. Might be easier to get specific things in person at the store.
Instructions if you need them.
This is for you as well u/rachman77
This the fridge I ordered from Home Depot, which they kindly dropped off at my apartment;
I went with this model as it's all interior and no freezer. Giving me the most space I could get out of a box. I just had to take out the shelves and figure out where i was going to drill a hole without hitting the equipment. If you nick a Freon line, it's all over.
Luckily the unit has a small hump on the bottom where it houses the compressor and capillary (the copper tube with very small copper tubes) So I used a 1 1/4 hole saw attached to my drill to just go through the plastic of the interior. It's pretty thin, right under it is the insulation. Using my screwdriver I carefully pulled out the insulation to make sure there was no wires. Once all the insulation was removed from my hole and all was left was the 'metal' housing for the equipment in the back. I just carefully finished the hole without hitting the capillary right under my hole.
here is the location of the hole : https://imgur.com/PmlTTKk
Here's the hole from looking in : https://imgur.com/xfpqz4O
At that point I cleaned it all up and ran all my wires through the hole and used removable tape hooks from 3M for where I was going to run my lines for the Temp controller sensor, the Humidity controller sensor, the PC fan and the Dehumidifier. You can set them all up before you turn on the refrigerator and they'll stick. Once your done and set, you can either stuff the hole with a rag, pillow fiber, or permanently shut it with a can of insulating foam.
I measured the distance between the gap of where the shelves went for rods to hang my product. Using a 3/8 wooden dowel, I cut one in size for reference to make sure it fits, then another trip to the hardware store to get aluminum rods of roughly the same thickness. I then cut them to length with a hacksaw and viola you have sturdy hanging rods. Aluminum isn't cheap as wood, or steel, but it wont break or rust. Onto the equipment..
Here's the equipment I used, there are better products and worse products out there. Your mileage may vary.
PC Fan: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009OWVUJ0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Dehumidifier : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H0ZDD2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The Dehumidifier was suggested by another person that uses it as it is rated to work in cold temps (some are not) and it has a small footprint to not take up space.
The PC fan which hangs near the top in the back, I used zip ties to hang it on a set of hooks. I "think" you can see it in one of the pictures. Regardless , just attach a cheap dimmer switch to this so you can set the fan on the lowest setting, you just want a gentle breeze and I only run mine for a few hours a day.
I'll probably get a better Temperature controller. Something that lets me set a range of temps to turn on the refrigerator on and off. This unit turns on the refrigerator when it reaches 2 degrees above my set temp. eh, i got what I paid for.
So, I've set the humidity controller to turn on the dehumidifier when it gets above 75% humidity and the Refrigerator turns on when it's above 55. When the refrigerators temp starts to go down, the humidity drops, shutting off the dehumidifier.
Now when you first place new meat to hang, at the beginning it's going to give off a lot of moisture. So expect your unit to cycle every 10 minutes. Most of the units only run for a few minutes before shutting on, so it's not like they're not designed to go on and off. Hell my apartments refrigerator has been turning on and off for 15 years now, more so in the hotter months.
Oh one more thing, the moisture catch in the back on the unit that sits on top of the compressor. it's designed to catch the water that naturally drains from the unit. Well since we've gone and created a humidity nightmare by adding in 12 pounds of drying meat, expect this tray to fill up. My unit is on carpet in my dining room, so I use a rag to drain out the excess every few days.
I wouldn't want it to overflow and cause damage to my apartment.
That's the cabinet in a nutshell.
Just flipped to flower. So we shall see how bad it gets.
I used these items to assist.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXZ8EUG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_M0siFb795BJDG
www.amazon.com/dp/B07WRDTX4C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_x1siFbATDFB6K
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009OWVUJ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_W2siFbPA3EJ4K
Sure an in-line fan would be nice. But this is working for now. I also purchased a 4” Y splitter for the duct. Works great but I don’t have a damper yet. So I need to be careful my wife doesn’t blast the plant with laundry exhaust that backfills to the tote instead of escaping out of the house.
So far so good.
Here you go! : (AC Infinity fans on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/AC-Infinity-Cooling-Ventilation-Projects/dp/B009OWVUJ0
Might just be easiest to drill a big hole in the top and install an exhaust fan like this. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009OWVUJ0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1