Cheap Temperature Control Methods?????

Does anyone know any really good methods of keeping a consistent temperature that doesn't cost very much money? I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

keeping things cooler is easy enough if you put your fermenter in a tub with a few inches of water in it and toss some frozen water bottles in there a couple times a day.

There is also the T-shirt and fan method. No ice, shallower tub, T-shirt wicks the water up, fan creates evaporation and thus, cooling.

And using that same tub and an inexpensive (75W or so) aquarium heater will keep it warm.

to heat

Plastic tub at target $7. http://www.target.com/Rope-Tub-Violet-18-gal/dp/B002C0PQWI/sr=1-4/qid=1266851546/ref=sr_1_4/188-1302996-1606446?ie=UTF8&search-alias=tgt-index&frombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k%3Aplastic%20tub&page=1

put fermenter in tub, fill space around fermenter with enough water to hit the 4-4.5 gallon mark on your fermenter.

Add aquarium heater. This one works well since most other aquarium heaters have too high of a minimum temperature to be useful. Temp range for this one is 64F+ and if you want you can trick its calibration to get to as low as 62 ish. 75W has worked well. Can usually find for ~$20 online http://www.eheim.de/eheim/inhalte/index.jsp?key=liniendetail_24552_ehen

Total cost <$30.

awesome. I'll buy 3 of these then. Do you thik buying a larger tub and putting 2 fermenters in it will help me save money by using one temp controller for 2 fermenterS? How many gallons can this thing keep controlled?

nevermind. Looks like a $20.00 100 W one will heat 30 Gallons! Thanks guys!

This is next on my to buy list:

http://morebeer.com/search?search=carboy+heater&=Search

but you will probably have to add:

http://morebeer.com/view_product/6667//6.5_Gallon_Hood_Thermowell

and one of these:

http://morebeer.com/view_product/16667//Ranco_Digital_Temperature_Controller_Not_Wired

I know you can find a better price on the Ranco, not sure about the other two though..

ArtVandelay said:

Add aquarium heater.

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That is by far the best suggestion I have seen yet. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Now, if they could only do the same exact thing to cool the water, I would be in brew heaven.

Haputanlas said:

That is by far the best suggestion I have seen yet. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Now, if they could only do the same exact thing to cool the water, I would be in brew heaven.

Click to expand...

Cooling is easy too.

Need ALOT of water to act as a giant heat sink and then keep that heat sink cool by adding a few frozen bottles of water twice a day.

Works great.

Remember for cooling, in high humidity areas the fan t shirt method doesn't work that well

I do this: I know its light and light = Skunky beer BUT its not light that is the enemy its UV rays that screw up the hops. And there isn't enough UV rays in a string of Christmas lights to do anything. Works for me . . . .

Thanks Craig!