drum-heater...

[hackware]

anybody ever try one of these
Silicon Drum heater 1500W/120V...?

[yankeeclear]

No. Looks like a pretty expensive solution.

[hackware]

No. Looks like a pretty expensive solution.

found one for $199US, includes controller and springs...

[Dnderhead]

iv got one that came from a hot water heater.its 5,000w i beleve.iv had this thing for many years.
could not make up my mind what to do with it,it mite work as a cereal cooker or a still for doing on the grain.but it does have a draw back it has to be 20"/50cm boiler/pot..most drum heaters do not git that hot.
they are made to keep things like molasses warm so they are pourable in cold wether.

[hackware]

here shows on a drum...

[wildrover]

No. Looks like a pretty expensive solution.

found one for $199US, includes controller and springs...

Much cheaper then these heaters for IBC containers priced at around $1500: http://www.heater-store.com/insulated_i ... 4_prd1.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow.

[Dnderhead]

the drum heaters are not made to heat to a high temperature. whould work on a fermenter but not a still or cooker.

[wildrover]

the drum heaters are not made to heat to a high temperature. whould work on a fermenter but not a still or cooker.

I personally was looking at keeping my fermentation up to temp while in a garage during the winter.

[yankeeclear]

That was my interpretation as well, as a fermentation temp helper. Still seems pricey.

I have always used an insulated box with a very small electric space heater. I constructed a small wooden box to which is mounted a line voltage thermostat and electrical outlet. Power from the grid goes to the thermostat, which gates power to the outlet. Space heater is plugged into the outlet, with power on. When temp drops, thermostat kicks on powering the outlet and the heater.

Has worked for years for my beer ferments for about $30-35 in materials.

[Samohon]

At my local feed store they keep the molasses in a large warehouse.
In winter they have these belts wrapped around 50L drums to take the chill from it, told me it helps it pour better... Great idea though...

[rtalbigr]

We use those belts @ work to keep water from freezing and to have warm water to get things started in the morning. We generally drape concrete blankets over the barrels and even in the coldest weather the water is nice and warm. Before I'd use them for a ferment I'd want to experiment to make sure it doesn't get too warm. We always use them with the temp control @ full blast so I don't really know what they'll do on low. On full they can get the water pretty warm, too warm for yeast.

Big R

[hackware]

the drum heaters are not made to heat to a high temperature. whould work on a fermenter but not a still or cooker.

umm, manufacturer recommends to keep temp setting below 100 degrees C on plastic drums...

seems like 100 degrees C would boil a mash...

or am i missing something...?

[Dnderhead]

with 1500 w it whould take something like 13 hours to heat 50gal from 70f to 212.(22c-100c)
these are made to fit a certain size barrel and you cant put that one on a smaller barrel.
you have to git one that fits the container.just like heat tape you cant overlap if you do they over heat
and burn out.so you have to git one smaller to fit keg/boiler.then its going to have lower wattage.

[hackware]

heh, reality kills most of my ideas...

[mash rookie]

Dont some guys use heating pads on there fermenters? The cheap ones for puting heat on your back? How do they work?

[Dnderhead]

yes all kinds of things are used to heat a fermenter.just remember anything you have no control over or unattended should be outside or in a shed.

[theholymackerel]

Fermentation creates heat.

If ya need to keep a fermenter warm all ya need is insulation.

The pros are fermenting batches that are so large that they need to provide cooling to their fermenters.

[yankeeclear]

Fermentation creates heat.

If ya need to keep a fermenter warm all ya need is insulation.

The pros are fermenting batches that are so large that they need to provide cooling to their fermenters.

Well, I wouldn't say it is that simple. Depends on the difference between how much heat the fermentation is generating at a given point in time, the ambient temperature outside the fermentation space and how much insulation is in play. It would take a lot less insulation to keep a fermenter at 80F if the ambient temperature is 65F than if the temp is 0F, assuming for the sake of argument that the heat generated by fermentation is constant(whick in reality is not).

[theholymackerel]

Well, I wouldn't say it is that simple...

Actually it is.

I live at roughly 8k feet in the Rocky Mntns. It gets COLD here. Fermenting in a 13 gallon fermenter in an unheated storage building was giving me slow ferments in the winter with negative 20-30 overnight.

So I made a fermenter blanket outta 2 sleeping pads (the cheap blue foam ones) and duct tape. The cheapo blanket I crafted worked too well and made the fermentations way too fast and hot causing bad flavours, and more heads and tails. I removed all the insulation from the top and only left the sides, which gave better results.



Insulation is the answer.

[yankeeclear]

Right on, holy. So the sleeping bag/duct tape insulation wrap keeps the fermentation container a (relatively) constant temp throughout the fermentation cycle regardless of the ambient temp? So summer the same wrap keeps the temp down, winter keeps the temp up? If so, that is far more efficient and constant than my approach.

My insulated "box" has space between the fermenters and the insulated walls. If I do not run artificial heat in the winter (also in an unheated storage space, lows to below -F) the temp of the mash will not hold its temp.

[theholymackerel]

So summer the same wrap keeps the temp down, winter keeps the temp up?

No sir.

I just use insulation when it is cold and I need to keep the fermenter warm. In the summer it would make the ferment too hot making the "heart" cut too small and the distillate a bit "whiff".

[yankeeclear]

Hmmm..now it sounds like you agree with my original point that it is not simply adding (some) insulation to the fermenters.

I am reading that in when higher temps are higher are in play you reduce (remove) the amount of insulation. This validates that both the ambient temperature and amount of insulation are factors (I also included the activity of the yeast - how much heat they give off processing sugar as a third major factor).

Either way, sounds like we both have a workable approach.

[theholymackerel]

The original question was if the drum belt was ok for heating a fermentation.

My answer was: insulation was all needed.

If the ferment is warm enough by itself why would ya use insulation?

I don't know what yer getting at... are ya just arguing for argument's sake?

[hackware]

actually, i was wondering about using it to assist in heating up a boiler...

(just another wag (wild ass guess)...)

[yankeeclear]

I don't know what yer getting at... are ya just arguing for argument's sake?

Not at all. Generally my experience on forums is if a thread of thought is not understood by those involved an effort is made to clarify points, encourage discourse and not to be dismissive. I was trying to get my point across that I don't think establishing stasis is a simple as adding insulation without considering other factors. Sometimes I do not express myself as well as I'd like.

Apologies if I did so, but my intent is not to ruffle feathers.

[Dnderhead]

the strap heaters youd need to do that with is very expensive,,youd be better off making your own.
but to with my calculations a 240v ,4-5,000W heater youd need about 160in 0f 20ga Nichrome wire.
then some installation to rap pot. this whould total about 20$. they used to use asbestos insulation now I believe
they use fiberglass cloth.

(consult with others first not sure of calculations)

[hackware]

$225 for 1500 watts...

was thinking of assisting a 1500 watt electric burner until wash up to boiling temp...

(rv trailer, 30a 120vac...)

i know electric immersion heater element is the best way to go...

but i don't have welding equipment anymore...

hands are in bad shape for general fab work...

live in area where i can't trust to have work done for me...

so, i'm looking for what i CAN do...