Heat belt melted

[SoreNEIPAs]

Hey all

Bought this heat belt from a home brew store in Perth, went to set up my next brew and noticed that a section had completely melted out during my last brew. Have no idea how it didn’t burn the house down, and no idea how I didn’t notice it earlier (been a while since my last brew)

Anyone had this issue before with this particular belt? Would you recommend a pad next time I need heating (might be ok over the next 4-5 months or so with the heat)

Was thinking of taking it back but don’t remember where my receipt is so was worried I will get fobbed off..

Cheers
George

 

[dough]

Hi George,

Thanks for reporting this!

If you haven't used it contrary to the instructions take it back. Tell the retailer your thinking of reporting it as an unsafe product, but you think it's best that the seller report it. Then you can say, "hey, let's report it together now". Also, the retailer should let the supplier know about the problem.

Report unsafe product | ACCC Product Safety

That should get you a refund. Regardless of refund and what the seller and the supplier say or do, I think it needs reporting to help prevent someone having a fire, or getting electrocuted when it melts through a plastic fermenter causing a flood of liquid around a possibly bare electrical wire.

Again, thanks for letting us know.

Cheers!
Rob

 

[me14]

Woah that's pretty scary. I've always been a bit nervous about my heat belt.
Out of interest, can you fill us in on how you use it? Do you wrap it directly around a fermenter? Do you use a temp controller or is it on 24/7?

Regardless of how you use it, it shouldn't get hot enough to melt like that but it would be good feedback to find out if there is a particular usage that could increase the risk.

 

[SoreNEIPAs]

Woah that's pretty scary. I've always been a bit nervous about my heat belt.
Out of interest, can you fill us in on how you use it? Do you wrap it directly around a fermenter? Do you use a temp controller or is it on 24/7?

Regardless of how you use it, it shouldn't get hot enough to melt like that but it would be good feedback to find out if there is a particular usage that could increase the risk.

Originally planned to wrap the fermenter but ended up using it in an old fridge linked to the INKBIRD ITC-308 temp controller. I had it sort of next to the fermenter but still in a loop. The controller was plugged in 24/7 but only switching as required, I wonder if something knocked the temp probe so that the heating was going for too long at one stage..

 

[djebel]

Originally planned to wrap the fermenter but ended up using it in an old fridge linked to the INKBIRD ITC-308 temp controller. I had it sort of next to the fermenter but still in a loop. The controller was plugged in 24/7 but only switching as required, I wonder if something knocked the temp probe so that the heating was going for too long at one stage..

That's probably your problem right there. Heat belts aren't designed to transfer heat to air, the surface area-to-heat ratio is too low. They are only supposed to be used wrapped around something like a fermenter, which will absord the heat much more quickly.

 

[SoreNEIPAs]

That's probably your problem right there. Heat belts aren't designed to transfer heat to air, the surface area-to-heat ratio is too low. They are only supposed to be used wrapped around something like a fermenter, which will absord the heat much more quickly.

Thanks, then looks like my bad

 

[mblwest]

Disagree. The design criteria must allow for potential misuse of the product, like putting it in a fridge with no load!! If someone inadvertently left it on, all in a pile, it still should not melt out an potentially create a fire. If it hasn't been tampered with IMO it has a fault, take it back and don't use it again.

 

[KegLand-com-au]

I know these belts are cheaper as they use less materials but you are way better off going with a lower watt density for these types of things.

We sell these too that are quite high watt density and sure the price is cheap but if you spend a bit more and get something like this you will be better off:
https://kegland.com.au/products/fermentation-heating-wrap-belt-with-velcro-strap-30watts

If you are looking for one with integrated digital controller this is a really good option too:
https://kegland.com.au/products/digital-heating-mat-with-power-control-25-watts
I also use this for proofing pizza dough and just put the bowl of dough on top of this one above.

 

[Half Pint]

I’ve used heat belts that way for many years. I’ve got a couple like that as well as some older ones that are only 20w or so.
There’s no way they should generate enough heat to melt.

 

[KegLand-com-au]

I’ve used heat belts that way for many years. I’ve got a couple like that as well as some older ones that are only 20w or so.
There’s no way they should generate enough heat to melt.

I would generally agree with you and the one in the original post is not ours. With that said I am not a massive fan of a very hot spot on the fermenter as I don't imaging this high watt density would be beneficial to the yeast either.

Also If you just put the belt on the fermenter and the belt is in open air it's also rarely an issue but if you start trying to insulate the belt with blankets and other stuff like that it can really increase the chance of melting something.

The problem with the belts with not temp control is if they are in a highly insulated spot like under a blanket the heat cant escape so if it's got a high watt density the temperature just keeps rising.

I really think you are better of just spending slightly more and getting a mat/wrap that has more surface are for all these reasons above.

 

[Half Pint]

Always with temperature control in the last 5 years. In earlier times I would have them on a timer and be constantly monitoring and adjusting the timing. Maybe a bit too intensive for some but I got to know the subject pretty well over a few hundred brews.
I didn’t even know those wraps existed. I reckon I will pick up a couple of those.

 

[KegLand-com-au]

Always with temperature control in the last 5 years. In earlier times I would have them on a timer and be constantly monitoring and adjusting the timing. Maybe a bit too intensive for some but I got to know the subject pretty well over a few hundred brews.
I didn’t even know those wraps existed. I reckon I will pick up a couple of those.

Yes I think this one in particular is really the best option:

https://kegland.com.au/products/digital-heating-mat-with-power-control-25-watts

This enables you to control the power percentage and also has integrated temp controller so for $29.95 it still not expensive at all in my opinion.

It also fits under this seedling tray just incase you are starting seedlings in winter too:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/saxon-mini-green-house-with-seed-tray_p2960182

 

[Half Pint]

Yeah maybe so. I thought I liked this one https://kegland.com.au/products/fermentation-heating-wrap-belt-with-velcro-strap-30watts

but on a closer look saw the dimensions and realised it’s too big for some of my applications.

So I guess that does leave the heating pad as the better option.