Temperature Control of Fermenter

[tucker0104]

I searched online and in this forum and could not find any great answers for this. If there is something out there then please link it to me and I apologize for missing it. I am using a 15 gallon plastic container and am needing to regulate the temperature for the winter. What setup does everyone else have? I was thinking of using rigid foam insulation with some wood framing to surround the fermenter. Not sure what to use for heat though. Not looking to spend a lot of money but also want to do it safely. I have seen the 40w wrap heaters, but I want to make sure it is enough to keep it heated when it is 20 degrees outside. I could always use a dual approach with a wrap heater and light bulb. What does everyone use for a temperature controller? What ideas do you have? What do you use? Thanks in advance for the help.

[RedwoodHillBilly]

Submersible aquarium heaters work well. Insulation is also a good thing.

[still_stirrin]

Here...read this one too: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... l#p7265734
ss

[S-Cackalacky]

Lots of different ways to do it. Depends some on the environment. My basement can get down to the mid 50's in Winter, which isn't too bad. I use a hot box which is a corrugated washing machine box with a wooden frame down inside of it. I have Styrofoam board to insulate it, but haven't done it yet. I use a 60W light bulb and a temp controller that turns it off and on according to the parameters I set. For a baker's yeast ferment, I might have it come on at 80 dF and shut off at 85 dF. Works well for a cool basement. Others here use submersible aquarium heaters, or brew belts. For a more extreme temp, you might think about a combination of a well insulated hot box and maybe an aquarium heater.

How are you searching for information? The "HD Google Search" usually works best.

Posted with others.

[kiwi Bruce]

Submersible aquarium heaters work well. Insulation is also a good thing.

+1 with redwood. use a strong working yeast starter. The heater can be sterilized in one of the iodine type liquids - I wouldn't use bleach. I use a heating wrap but I'm in 5 gal glass carboys, your a lot bigger, but it could work. The aquarium heaters for a 20 gal tank should only be about $20.

[RedwoodHillBilly]

I always use a large yeast bomb. Bleach isn't bad for sterilization, just be sure that it has dried completely so you don't introduce any hypoclorite into your wash.
RHB

[Bushman]

I have switched from a heater to a light bulb using the controller in the link below.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 85&t=25475

[S-Cackalacky]

Bushman, looks like the same one I'm using. Was a bear to figure out how to wire it up. I remember referencing the thread you linked to when I first started installing it.

[shadylane]

You can put the heater in the fermenter or the fermenter in a warm place.

[Bushman]

Now that I have a very large cart I insulated for fermenting switching to the light bulb with the same controller was a no brainer!

[Monkeyman88]

I use an electric blanket and a myla survival blanket on a 200L drum.

[skow69]

Nano nuclear reactor. Plutonium is a bonus byproduct.

[Monkeyman88]

Nano nuclear reactor. Plutonium is a bonus byproduct.

Been meaning to get me one of those. Seems cheaper than a 50w blanket. Lol

[masonsjax]

I have a fridge dedicated as a fermentation chamber. It uses a small personal space heater forheat, has a couple of PC fans inside that run constantly to keep the air homogeneous, and the whole shebang is controlled by a cheap STC-1000 digital controller. Not nearly as complicated as it sounds, it allows easy and precise control of the fermentation.

[flyweed]

very easy...I use a "brew belt" (just google it) and a RANCO heat/temp controller. The brew belt goes around the fermenting vessel, and then plugs into the RANCO controller..then you just insert the temp prove in your liquid, set your "ideal temp" for the ferment, and let her go. Thats it. Simple and then you can pretty much set your fermentation vessel in any cooler place, and the belt will keep it at the perfect temp.

[rager]

i use a spare bedroom with the heat on warm to keep it around 75.

also healthy yeast will drive the temp up during the first 3/4 of ferment . so plan on maybe 5-6 degrees increase.

lots of other options

[Rastus]

I live where it gets real cold and i have discovered that using a electric battery blanket works for me very nicely.
see this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Kats-22200-Watt-B ... ry+blanket" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

for the last year i have been using this... got to remember to monitor the temp until you get a way to regulate i am in the process of putting together a controller based on this item:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OXP ... ge_o02_s01" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

there are a few guys who have built a controlller based on that for fermenting... ;look in the reviews there are some good tutorials and you can see exactly what you need.

now the other thing i use is reflectix silver bubble wrap, that is the blanket to keep in the heat:

http://www.amazon.com/Reflectix-BP48010 ... =reflectix" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

cut it right with w little over lap and it is a cheap efficient coat for your little warm fermenter for the winter season....

good luck

[wtfdskin]

Im building a hot box today. Long enough to hold 4 14 gallon fermenters. On casters do Its moveable. Will be able to break it down easily to store above my shed when warm weather comes.

[rager]

Im building a hot box today. Long enough to hold 4 14 gallon fermenters. On casters do Its moveable. Will be able to break it down easily to store above my shed when warm weather comes.

nice . post up some pics of the build

[McMelloW]

Some pictures of the ITC-308 EUR version I have received today. There are versions for US and UK available as well. http://www.amazon.de/dp/B016EYB03G" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
It has the same specs as a STC-1000. No DIY needed to put in it a box with wiring and sockets as with a STC-1000. It has a high and low temperature alarm as well.
For me it is an affordable alternative for an STC-1000

[S-Cackalacky]

Don't remember the model number, but mine is the little brother of the STC-1000. It can control heating or cooling, but not both at the same time. I was an hour, or more, here and on the internet trying to figure out how to wire the damned thing and about that same amount of time stripping and connecting wires. What you have there looks butt simple.

[wtfdskin]

Some pictures of the ITC-308 EUR version I have received today. There are versions for US and UK available as well. http://www.amazon.de/dp/B016EYB03G" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
It has the same specs as a STC-1000. No DIY needed to put in it a box with wiring and sockets as with a STC-1000. It has a high and low temperature alarm as well.
For me it is an affordable alternative for an STC-1000

Thats exactly what I chose to control my heater also.

[wtfdskin]

The build so far...

Side panels
End panels
Base

[wtfdskin]

"The coffin" Still have to build the lid, insulate, and add the casters. Remove 4 screws and it will break down into 6 easily storeable pieces in the loft above my garage in warm weather.

[S-Cackalacky]

Wtf, very cool (er warm?)! Beats the hell out of my cardboard washing machine box.

[FreeMountainHermit]

wtfdskin, thank you for the Inkbird information. I just ordered one from ebay.

FMH.

[wtfdskin]

FMH, credit goes to McMelloW. I just quoted him. Ordered mine last week. Should arrive any day now. I could have wired a stc-1000 but this is simpler for teardown and storage

[wtfdskin]

Finished up the hot box today. [img]http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/13 ... 3d6bb3.jpg[/img]