Firmenter Temperature Controller

[Tony]

here are some pics of how i control the temperature of my brews.

I use a PT100 temperature probe that goes through the lid of my firmenter, as most saw in the "stout" incident
I have had a lot of people ask what the "other thing" was sticking out of the lid, well here it is.

Ok

firstly i drilled a 16mm holl in the lid to gild a 16 mm cable gland. the glang holds the probe and tightens up to make it air tight.

the glands can be bought from any electrical distributer for next to nothin.

 

[Tony]

I put the probe in the gland and put the lid on.
The probe only measures the temp at its tip so as long as its in the brew it gives me an acurate reading

 

[Tony]

here is the temp probe.

 

[Tony]

ok now the tricky bit

I hook it up via quick conect plugs to an omron temp controller.

I use this to switch power on and off to what ever device i am using to control the temp of the brew.

I can swithc the controller to heat mode and switch an electric blanket on and off to keep the brew warm in the winter or switch it to cool mode and switch the fridge on and off to keer it to the required temp during summer.

no matter what the season i can brew to within 0.1 deg c ff the temp i want.

here is the controller i built.

the power pluges into the back and the blanket or fridge blugs into the power point on the front.

 

[Tony]

oops here is the pic

 

[Tony]

here is the back where i plug in the probe.

 

[Tony]

and inside the box.

not neat but it works.