Cooling a small fermentation box

[GreenEnvy22]

I've built a small insulated box below a countertop in my garage. It's about 4'x2'x3'
Looking for a way to keep it cool in summer. I don't often need cooling during wine fermentation time as it's usually not so hot by harvest time, but it does happen sometimes. I also make beer year round so this is probably more for that. I will use an inkbird to manage the heating and cooling.
I have an old window AC unit, but that is huge and loud for such a tiny little area, plus it would be ugly sticking out of the cabinet in my garage (unless i cut a hole in the garage wall which my wife may not appreciate).
Could also do a portable AC unit.
But wondering if something smaller might work, like mini fridge with the door removed or similar. I know it's asking it to cool a lot more air than it normally does, but it's also not having to cool it to nearly as low of a temp.

Any suggestions I'm not thinking of?

 

[sour_grapes]

But wondering if something smaller might work, like mini fridge with the door removed or similar. I know it's asking it to cool a lot more air than it normally does, but it's also not having to cool it to nearly as low of a temp.

You realize that you would need to have the back of the fridge sticking out of the box into the garage, right?

 

[GreenEnvy22]

Yep, whether window AC or a fridge, it would need to have the hot side outside the box. There is a small cubby where I could have the back side of a small mini fridge or similar sticking out, but not big enough for my window ac (and window ac way louder). A portable AC might be a compromise, since it would be in the chamber the noise wouldn't be as bad, and exhaust pipe can be routed outside.

I see some people using peltier cooling but I think this volume is too large for that. Looks like more useful for wine fridge size. Those would have been ideal with no cooling fluids or compressors.

 

[VinesnBines]

Are you thinking of one keg, two or three, carboys? How about cooling jackets? How much monitoring can you do? Dry ice might work if you can devote constant attention.

 

[GreenEnvy22]

I want something I can set and forget for a couple weeks at a time. There may be my big 32 gallon brute in there, or a couple 20-gallons, a single 7-gal bucket, or some carboys.

 

[VinesnBines]

Cool Zone Cooling Jacket Not real cheap but a potential. You would get more focused cooling. That or try cooling the whole garage.

 

[Rice_Guy]

To me the easiest choice would be a small under counter fridge.

The quality of the insulated box will determine the heat load and I would build that out of foam board,,, >floor, walls &, top (at least one inch/ two is better). Likely the door will have the biggest loss so it needs good gaskets (magnetic?) For accurate control I have run one with a temperature control and the unit set for its coldest setting, with watermelon wine this year I wound up setting to the highest temp and was able to keep it around 48F. At that setting it generated condensate instead of a frosty coil so you will have to plan in some cleaning or water drain. ,,, A small biscuit or even desk fan is the only part that would be missing from an off the shelf cooler.