fermentation chamber heat?

I am considering buying a chest freezer and a temperature control to control fermentation temps. If i am planning on keeping it in my house where there is little temp fluctuation do i need a heat source? From what I've read those freezers get very moist and the thought of adding an electric heat source sounds like a fire hazard to me. Also i would like to know what temperature control i should get? I'm buying a new freezer so i would prefer not to rewire or modify it as it may void the warranty.....

It kind of depends on what you want to brew. If your house is at 72 and you want to do a saison at 85, then you'll need some kind of heat source.

I use one of these badboys and it works great in my upright freezer. I leave the freezer unplugged and just run this through a temp controller. 70 degrees!

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/BREWERS-EDGE-SPACE-HEATER-P518C100.aspx

Making the eBay temp controller is cheap, easy and works very well.

You won't need a heat source. But if you had to, you can install a 60w light bulb in an aluminum paint can found in your local hardware store. That will give you subtle, even heating if you needed, but you shouldn't.

They do get moist, but not much. I leave mine open after fermenting to dry it before the next batch.

Also what is the best way to control the moisture? I've seen some people on here are using damprid the dollar store sells their own version of it
http://www.dollartree.com/Moisture-Traps-9-8-oz-/p308412/index.pro

Would this work well?

mkyl428 said:

Also what is the best way to control the moisture? I've seen some people on here are using damprid the dollar store sells their own version of it

http://www.dollartree.com/Moisture-Traps-9-8-oz-/p308412/index.pro

Would this work well?

Click to expand...

Save your time and money
Buy a Eva Dry 500

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H0XFD2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

When its full from soaking up humidity the beads turns pink, you simply plug it into the wall overnight and it heats up and is blue and ready to go again. And it only really needs to be done maybe once a month or more, depending on where you live and how often you open the lid.

FuzzeWuzze said:

Save your time and money
Buy a Eva Dry 500

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H0XFD2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

When its full from soaking up humidity the beads turns pink, you simply plug it into the wall overnight and it heats up and is blue and ready to go again. And it only really needs to be done maybe once a month or more, depending on where you live and how often you open the lid.

Click to expand...

+1. I use a similar Pingi 450 (from Amazon) in my keezer as a precaution. I don't have much issue in the upright freezer I use to ferment in.

Good for you that you want to do a freezer with temp controller. Hope this helps:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/ebay-aquarium-temp-controller-build-163849/

http://brewstands.com/fermentation-heater.html - this is a DIY heater using a paint can and light socket. I built one and it works fine.