dukesbb37

Recipes 

Hat do you guys use for a heating element in your fermentation chambers... I'm using a eBay controller.

I've heard everything from a 10 dollar space heater to a hairdryer. What is SAFE to put in there?

I'm using a mini fridge if it matters

Tandor

Recipes 

I use the lightbulb in a paint can method. Works great.

phoenixs4r

Recipes 

Safe is relative.

I work for a property restoration company, so I've seen all manner of retarded ideas fail and burn homes down.

I personally use a stand up freezer, wired to a temperature controller, with a reptile ceramic light and a small desk fan to recirculate the air, and the loudest smoke detector I can buy mounted over the top. I don't like space heaters, and I like the idea of a hair dryer but I wanted constant recirculation of air in the fermentation chamber.

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Cabikegorator - the cabinet refrigerator project.

dukesbb37

Recipes 

What is this? Do you have a picture?

phoenixs4r

Recipes 

You rig a light socket inside the chamber, put in a light bulb, and cover it with a coffee can or similar. The heat from the bulb warms the chamber, and the can prevents any light from from hitting your fermentation vessel.

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Cabikegorator - the cabinet refrigerator project.

pvtschultz

Recipes 

I like these heat emitters for reptile tanks. THey put out no light, just pure heat. Get the smallest one that you can find though (50-75 Watts) to keep them from over-warming the ferm chamber and kicking on the freezer.

http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiCare-Ceramic-Infrared/dp/B0002AQCPK/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1328927164&sr=1-3

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Brewing: Raspberry Brown Ale, Berliner Weiss Style Sour, Sour Malted Apple Ale
Drinking: Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale Clone (delicious!)
On Deck: Cream Ale, Classic American Pilsner, Dunkel, Porter...
2013 Gallons Brewed: 40
Gallons Brewed '11-'12: 170

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f170/pvtschultzs-ebiab-build-finally-298407/

b-boy

Recipes 

I am using a reptile heater like the one above. They work really well. I have the 60 watt version and it does a great job. It doesn't get super hot. I mounted it on a block of wood for stability. Just keep any plastic a few inches away and you'll be fine.

I tried the paint can and light bulb, but I like the reptile heater much better.

Tandor

Recipes 

Check out the plans on wortomatic.com

Balto

Recipes 

http://brewstands.com/fermentation-heater.html

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/ebay-aquarium-temp-controller-build-163849/index230.html


Some guys are using a meat dehydrator too, this way you have heat and fan.