Temperature Control

[Darrens]

Gidday guys, probably been asked before..... Im about to start fermenting in a couple of weeks once I have all my gear together...
I will have a fridge to ferment in, and a temp controller. Where is the best place to put the probe in the fridge so that I know im getting 18 degrees?
Appreciate everybodys help ...
Thanks. Darren.

 

[QldKev]

3 people will give you 4 different answers on this one... :huh:

I stick my probe on the side of the fermenter and cover it with an old stubby holder.

 

[JDW81]

3 people will give you 4 different answers on this one... :huh:

I stick my probe on the side of the fermenter and cover it with an old stubby holder.

This is my preferred method too.

 

[wbosher]

Same.

****, three people with one answer!

I think where you will get a lot of different answers is how we stick the probe to the fermenter. I use a bungie cord.

 

[O-beer-wan-kenobi]

There are lots of threads on here that discuss temp control and peoples preferred method

A probe on the side of the fermenter and insulated from the ambient air inside the fridge is my method too. This means you are measuring the temperature of the fermenting beer only.

What temperature controller do you have?
If you use this method I would recommend a temperature controller that you can set the upper and lower limits to 0.3 degrees difference either side of your target temp. Same as a STC-1000.

I was looking at this the other day and my controller could only be set at 1 degree difference. This could mean that the fridge would come on at 1 degree below the set temp and switch off at 1 degree above the stet temp giving a 2 degree fluctuation.
Obviously the precision of the controller and probe will play a part too.

 

[professional_drunk]

Has anyone actually measure what the difference in temp can be between the air and the fermenter?

I currently measure by probing the fermenter, but I find that because of temperature inertia of the fermenter, it causes the controller to overshoot the target temperature enough to kick in the heater (if I had plugged it in).

 

[wbosher]

I measured the temp of a gravity sample about 30 seconds after coming out of the tap. Difference was about 1 degree.

EDIT: Oops, misread what you were asking for...so, no. As you were...

 

[Crusty]

3 people will give you 4 different answers on this one... :huh:

I stick my probe on the side of the fermenter and cover it with an old stubby holder.

Same here.

 

[Rod]

I attach the probe using blu tac

 

[Rocker1986]

I tape the probe to the side of the fermenter underneath some foam to insulate it from the ambient air. Have taken samples and measured the temp, I did have to calibrate the temp controller but it was only out by half a degree or something. Seems odd that it would cause it to overshoot down enough to kick in a would-be heater though, I've never had it do that. Mine never goes below whatever temp I've set it to. :unsure:

 

[seifer]

I leave my probe somewhere in the fridge. Harden up people.

 

[wbosher]

Using ambient temp doesn't take into account the heat generated by the fermentation, which is why most of us soft people attach the probe to the fermenter. Is also just wildly inaccurate in general.

 

[sponge]

I stick my probe on the side of the fermenter and cover it with an old stubby holder.

I attach the probe using blu tac

I use a little from column A and a little from column B for a sticky stubby holder

 

[Pokey]

I tie my temp probe around the fermentor tap.
My temperature control only has a 1 degree setting, I'd prefer the air temperature to move around 2 degrees rather than the wort.

 

[wbosher]

I tie my temp probe around the fermentor tap.
My temperature control only has a 1 degree setting, I'd prefer the air temperature to move around 2 degrees rather than the wort.

What???

 

[mattfos01]

Same.

****, three people with one answer!

I think where you will get a lot of different answers is how we stick the probe to the fermenter. I use a bungie cord.

Me too, gaffer tape never worked for me, bungee cords = no residue either

 

[maxim0200]

Just to be different, i use a long stainless steel thermowell through the lid so the probe is in the wort.
Why you ask? I have a secret fettish for stainless steel things.... :lol:

Just For the record it isnt much extra to clean and beerbelly did a bloody good job making it.

 

[MastersBrewery]

Just to be different, i use a long stainless steel thermowell through the lid so the probe is in the wort.
Why you ask? I have a secret fettish for stainless steel things.... :lol:

Just For the record it isnt much extra to clean and beerbelly did a bloody good job making it.

we all have that secret fetish, I do the same as most above ... but wonder if the beerbelly probe might be the go? oh an will it work with cling wrap? ... just askin

 

[bcp]

Same.

****, three people with one answer!

I think where you will get a lot of different answers is how we stick the probe to the fermenter. I use a bungie cord.

Great minds think alike. (So... how did you manage it?)

 

[maxim0200]

Ive never tried to clingwrap and the conventional answer is no. But im shure it wouldt be hard to work it out somehow, remember brewing is the mother of invention...