Light Bulb Mash Heater.

milesdf · Post by **milesdf** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 2:31 pm

Hello,
I want to keep my mash warm in my cold house/basement. I ferment in 3 gallon water jugs.

I've decided to build a small "cooler" out of foil covered styrofoam sheet that can hold 2 jugs. Between the jugs I will have my light bulb heater.

My Heater will be simply a 1' length of tin stovepipe, spray painted black on the inside, capped on both ends with a simple lamp fixture and light bulb mounted on one of the caps, putting the lightbulb on the inside. I'm going to test it with a 40 watt bulb at first, if I need more heat I'll increase the wattage. I encase the bulb because yeast don't like light correct?

Does anyone see this causing a fire? I Don't think I'll have issues unless I use too large a bulb.

Post by **rad14701** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 3:14 pm

I have built ow wattage heaters several times in a similar manner... I've used this method for a seed germination table, for keeping bulk honey from crystalizing, and for a quick-n-dirty crankcase heater, to mention a few... You just need to be careful... I've had better luck with this method than using heating mats to be honest...

glassman · Post by **glassman** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 4:10 pm

i used a rubber construction fixture and it melted. swiched to porseline and no problems. gman

arkansas · Post by **arkansas** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:35 pm

I use a "regular", if there is such a thing, heat lamp on a line voltage tempstat. in an old up right freezer. Only problems I have had is the yeast welcome me opening the door with sun glasses.

punkin · Post by **punkin** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:15 pm

arkansas wrote:I use a "regular", if there is such a thing, heat lamp on a line voltage tempstat. in an old up right freezer. Only problems I have had is the yeast welcome me opening the door with sun glasses.

About to buy my heat element and was looking at ceramic infra red bulbs at the wholesaler yesterday. They're over $50 though

What do ya mean by a regular heat lamp? Like the things in bathroom fixtures?

arkansas · Post by **arkansas** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:01 am

Yepp, about $1.50 at Wally world.

absinthe · Post by **absinthe** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:00 am

if you know anybody who fixes photocopy machines they have a great wire heater in them that will run at a nice temp at 12V

thats what my old heat belt used to be made off.. (i haven't used it in about 2 years now i know the good temps to ferment at in Oz we don't get that cold :p )

milesdf · Post by **milesdf** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:35 am

Hm does anyone forsee any issues with me using plastic bottles with this kind of system? Should I get glass carboys?

Post by **rad14701** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:44 pm

No problems at all... Plastic doesn't melt easily when it has liquid in it, especially at the low temperature that your heater will produce... As long as there is free air space between the heat source and the containers you shouldn't have anything to worry about...