Light Strike In Ferm Fridge?

[Mercs Own]

I have a beer fermenting away in my ferm fridge which has an aldo temp controller on it which works when I want to ferment cold or when it is 40 degrees in the garage and I want to keep the temp down. The problem at the moment - winter - is I cant get it warm enough. I want to ferment at 18 - 19 so I have a desk lamp in the bottom of the fridge underneath a wooden shelf which the fermenter sits on. This lamp is on 24/7 so as to keep the ambient temp in the fridge at around 19.

Is there any possiblility that this set up could adversely affect my fermenting beer - ie light strike?

 

[bakkerman]

If I'm not mistaken light strike requires sunlight / UV light...

Alternatively you could wrap alu foil around the lamp, that way you get the heat but not the light..

 

[therook]

If I'm not mistaken light strike requires sunlight / UV light...

Alternatively you could wrap alu foil around the lamp, that way you get the heat but not the light..

Spot on, there was a thread not long ago about this stating that it was the UV rays that were the problem.

Paul,

I put my light under a terracotta pot and this generates excellent heat.

Mark

 

[SJW]

Hey Paul,
When I need to keep em warm I put the fermenter in a large tube of water with a $15 aquarium heater in it.
Works a treat!

Steve

 

[Hogan]

If I'm not mistaken light strike requires sunlight / UV light...

It was / is my belief that even fluro lights can cause light strike.

Merc - I use a heat mat to raise my temps for ales in winter. When I kicked off I had both the adlo cooling and heating units but now have switched from analogue to the FridgeMate digital and it is 100% more efficient and effective.


Cheers, Hoges.

 

[Mercs Own]

It was / is my belief that even fluro lights can cause light strike.

Merc - I use a heat mat to raise my temps for ales in winter. When I kicked off I had both the adlo cooling and heating units but now have switched from analogue to the FridgeMate digital and it is 100% more efficient and effective.
Cheers, Hoges.

Yes I thought I read somewhere that fluro's could cause some negative flavors or effects? Thanks for the info Hoges, I did a search on the site for fridgemate and my whole system froze and AHA disappeared for a while so could you perhaps give me a bit more info on them - a link perhaps.

I do remember reading a thread regarding temp control etc I will keep searching.

edit: found some good info (threads) and am now on the right path.

 

[reVoxAHB]

could you perhaps give me a bit more info on them - a link perhaps.

Hi Paul, try my thread here.

reVox

 

[Darren]

I suspect you would need to put an actual UV lamp into the fridge to get light-struck beer if you are using an opaque plastic fermenter.

Incandesent lamp would do bugger all to the beer

cheers

Darren

 

[Mercs Own]

Hi Paul, try my thread here.

reVox

Thanks Revox, loved your set up and the info! Which mashmaster did you go with?

 

[reVoxAHB]

Thanks Revox, loved your set up and the info! Which mashmaster did you go with?

Cheers. I went with the FridgeMate and standard probe (did not take the optional water proof stainless probe) and use electrical tape to stick it to the site of fermenter.

I recently picked up a larger fridge that can house 3 23L glass carboys, and have moved the terracotta bulb and FridgeMate into it. Will snap a few photos once the job is fully complete, with monitored times required for temperature adjustment. In my other thread, I believe I mentioned by estimate that it took 30-40 minutes for the 40W bulb in operational mode, to adjust the +2C.. I now believe (having used it thru winter) it's far less time, maybe even as few as 10 minutes.

reVox