Fermenter Temperature Control

[roosiecharm]

Hi guys,

Just a quick question- I have a fermenter which I plan to store (whilst in use) in an out of order bar fridge, to hopefully stabilise the temperature (I'm thinking that the insulation in the fridge will help reduce temp fluctuations).

Is this a good idea? I'm thinking that, when stored in my garagem the temp in the fridge should sit at arounf 22 degrees, which I can lower with ice bricks if need be...

Ideas?

 

[felten]

It's a common technique around here, doing a search for dead fridge or frozen PET bottles or something along those lines should come up with some better info.

 

[moonshine]

My lager is bout ready to bottle now, was kept in broken chest freezer that i found on the street. kept the temp between 10 and 12 with the occasional addition of a frozen pet water bottle, worked fine only needed bout 1-2L a day when the weather went up less more recently..
Just got a new free one from the next door neighbors who were moving out so i guess its back to the street for the other one (i am thinking of keeping it an heating it somehow though as its gettin freezing here)

 

[flano]

My lager is bout ready to bottle now, was kept in broken chest freezer that i found on the street. kept the temp between 10 and 12 with the occasional addition of a frozen pet water bottle, worked fine only needed bout 1-2L a day when the weather went up less more recently..
Just got a new free one from the next door neighbors who were moving out so i guess its back to the street for the other one (i am thinking of keeping it an heating it somehow though as its gettin freezing here)

What about heat pads and heat belts???
I have a heat pad but haven't needed to use it yet.

Although it is getting pretty cold...the temp on my fermenter is bewteen 18 and 16 but seems to working fine.

 

[Yob]

What about heat pads and heat belts???
I have a heat pad but haven't needed to use it yet.

Although it is getting pretty cold...the temp on my fermenter is bewteen 18 and 16 but seems to working fine.

gday man, My fermenter sits on a heat pad in my fridge (outside), I also have it on a timer set to 5 x 45 minute settings throughout the day, this lets me keep a steady 18'c always.. never varies at current temps! (Victoria)

Gold
:icon_cheers:

 

[RobboMC]

The insulation of the fridge will help stop the up and down temp changed between day and night.
Some say this damages beer more than outright temperature.

Simple suggestion is to invest in another thermometer strip from the HBS and stick that on the inside
of your fridge. Then you know easily what the temp is inside your fridge, and then you can add ice
to cool it, or turn on a heat pad for a few hours to warm it. Sometimes I just prop the dor open during the day
to get some warmth if I need it.

Once you have control over brew temp you can take it where you want.

 

[Maheel]

if your fridge or freezer works, get your self one of these

temp controller thing

mine was from mashematics
craftbrewer have somehting the same as well
or ebay.....

i scored a free working frideg on the side of the road and bought one of these.

my ESB pils is siting on 13 deg as we speak.

it will control the heating or cooling automatically and if you just needed heating i would buy one and a heat belt and it will turn it on and off as required inside the fridge.

 

[Yeastie Beastie]

if your fridge or freezer works, get your self one of these

temp controller thing

mine was from mashematics
craftbrewer have somehting the same as well
or ebay.....

i scored a free working frideg on the side of the road and bought one of these.

my ESB pils is siting on 13 deg as we speak.

it will control the heating or cooling automatically and if you just needed heating i would buy one and a heat belt and it will turn it on and off as required inside the fridge.

That Mashematic thingy is an STC-1000 for $44.
You can get an STC 1000 on ebay for $40 and mount them in a box like I did below (the bottom one). They get here quick too.
Or a Mash Master Fridgemate (the top one).

 

[roosiecharm]

beauty, thanks guys. One more thing - I plan on purchasing a heat belt or a heat pad in the near future. But are there any other warming tricks I could use in the mean time? I've heard of hot water bottles and stuff like that?

My brew is happily in its broken fridge now, so just monitoring temp (to make sure it goes ok), but would like some warming techniques in case I need them!

 

[Smashin]

the same thing i use to keep the missus warm at night......

an electric blanket that is. it better than eplaining why your naked and rubbing yourself against a fermenter.
<_<

Smashin

beauty, thanks guys. One more thing - I plan on purchasing a heat belt or a heat pad in the near future. But are there any other warming tricks I could use in the mean time? I've heard of hot water bottles and stuff like that?

My brew is happily in its broken fridge now, so just monitoring temp (to make sure it goes ok), but would like some warming techniques in case I need them!

 

[Yeastie Beastie]

Some people here use a submersible aquarium heater with a big 'ol hole in the lid.
Never tried it myself but fish (no pun intended) around on here and you might find a bit of info on here.

YB.

 

[Maheel]

i have a heat belt (had it for years)

but i would go a heat pad inside the fridge, i don't like the hot spot the belt creates.......

cant recommend the temp controller enough.... it will also control a heat pad / belt / electric blanket and a fridge or freezer to cool..... wish i had one years ago now.....


yes yeasty is right the ebay is the same as mashematics one, but i was concerned about the Hongkong delivery....... and $5 more is worth the safe bet to me.....

 

[felten]

I use a light bulb (with fridgemate) partially covered up with some thing I threw together, extremely ghetto but it works quite well.