Thermowell in fermenter

[scooterism]

Ok, there are way too many search results to sort thru, so I'll ask here..

Is it an absolute necessity to have thermowell in a fermenter?

I seem to have done ok so far with out one, but whilst I'm upgrading my gear I thought now could be the time..

Usually I insulate and strap my temp probe to my FV..

 

[Charst]

As do I and I brought a stainless probe to hang inside a bitter bottle. Was a pain to connect to the STC and despite all the goss I could get off jaycar it was reading 70 degrees instead of room temp.

 

[Mattrox]

I bought this one (SS brew tech) and put it in my Coopers fermenter.

Because the thickness of the plastic and me using a step bit, the hole isn't perfect. But it does seal properly and that's all that matters. I feel this one has less nooks and crannies for stuff to catch in and is easily sanitised.

I didn't want a long one through the lid because to reach a 19L brew it would have to be very long with the Coopers fermenter. That would have made it a PITA come dry hop time.

 

[Rocker1986]

Is it an absolute necessity to have thermowell in a fermenter?

It depends on the fermenter. For a plastic fermenter, absolute necessity? Absolutely not, would be my answer. Sure it might be nice to have, but it's far from an absolute necessity.

I use the old tape the probe to the side underneath insulation method myself and am more than happy with my results. I can't see a thermowell doing anything really to improve upon this.

 

[scooterism]

Yeah, I'm just curious as my new shiny 30L olive oil drum arrived today..

 

[jibba02]

If your placing the fermenter in a freezer. A thermowell is ******* useless. You will overshoot your cooling temp in a big way. Problem is by the time the wort has hit the target temp, the freezer is already at -10 to -20 where it will stay for quite some time while continuing to drop the fermenter contents. Best method is to tape the probe to the outside of the fermenter with foil tape. The aluminium is a great thermal conductor and will work similar to a pid. Enabling a more precisely controlled temperature of the fermenter contents.

 

[Mattrox]

If your placing the fermenter in a freezer. A thermowell is ******* useless. You will overshoot your cooling temp in a big way. Problem is by the time the wort has hit the target temp, the freezer is already at -10 to -20 where it will stay for quite some time while continuing to drop the fermenter contents. Best method is to tape the probe to the outside of the fermenter with foil tape. The aluminium is a great thermal conductor and will work similar to a pid. Enabling a more precisely controlled temperature of the fermenter contents.

Except if you are using a system like Brewpi which monitors both chamber and beer in which case the thermowell will give better performance.

It's a situation that has to worked out on what you need to get best performance out of your equipment. Most situations fixing the probe to the outside and insulating it is perfect, some times it's better, other situations a thermowell is better. How much better? That's a decision that has to be judged by individual situation.

 

[scooterism]

I think I'll stick to fixing my probe to the side of my fermenter :chug:

 

[Mardoo]

Nope. Even the fussiest homebrewer in the world, Jamil Zainasheff, says there's negligible difference between using a thermowell or probe on the side of the fermenter, as long as it's insulated.

 

[SCR29]

I use both makes no noticeable difference. And that's going from one to the other for secondary (which I have stopped doing as well with no noticeable difference yet)

 

[Exile]

I think I'll stick to fixing my probe to the side of my fermenter :chug:

 

[TheWiggman]

I've had the probe on the side of the fermenter (insulated) then stuck it into a beer belly thermowell in the lid of the same brew, incidentally a 19l brew in a Coopers vessel. 0.3°C difference.

 

[Grott]

Always found the probe to the outside quite satisfactory for my requirements, saved some money though, ordered 2 thermowell units just over a year ago and still waiting for the phone call! (along with a co2 bottle I've now got elsewhere.)
cheers

 

[Dan Pratt]

I've attached a thermowell to my bling ss bucket and bought another one for my plastic FV. Main reason is its really, really simple to insert the probe.

After years of taping, sticking, insulating, bunji cording and getting it fixed to the side.....a thermowell is my preference.