Monitoring Temperature in Bucket

[gbbrewing]

So I'm only just starting to dabble into the world of home brewing, i have only made 3 beers and all of which were okay. They had the fruity flavor in them, i haven't really monitored a way in which to tell what the temperature is exactly inside of the bucket.

The last beer i had i put one of those adhesive things on the side and it said that the temp was 66. I believe that my brew is to warm while fermenting and that is where the off flavor is coming. What is the best way to monitor temp in a brew bucket? How would i get a probe in there without compromising oxygen getting in?

Thanks

 

[kombat]

If your bucket lid has a hole for a bung and airlock, you could use a thermowell. That would allow you get get a thermometer (or, even better, the temperature probe of a temperature controller such as an STC-1000) right down into the heart of the beer without actually contacting it.

 

[Sailingeric]

The temp gauge on the side should be fine, more so if you are showing the lower end of the temp range for your yeast. I use a digital fish tank thermometer and I drop the probe in the wort. When I am done I will wash it off and let it sent a jar of star sans until next time and I have never had any issues. :rockin:

 

[gbbrewing]

I just have the one hole in the lid for an airlock, should i drill another one for a thermowell? I wanted to get one of those controllers, they seem awesome!

 

[Gavin C]

Another option if you get a temperature controller is to fix the probe to the side of the FV and insulate it against the ambient temperature. This is used to power on/off a cooling and/or heating device.

Like So

If you go with a thermowell you may not need another hole.

A stopper like this one with an airlock and thermowell is one solution.

 

[gbbrewing]

So i am very new to this, may be a dumb question but how exactly do those controllers work. Like the STC-1000 or the Johnson ones. do you just set it to a temperature and the little device heats or cools the area?

 

[Gavin C]

So i am very new to this, may be a dumb question but how exactly do those controllers work. Like the STC-1000 or the Johnson ones. do you just set it to a temperature and the little device heats or cools the area?

The STC 1000 acts as a switch. You set it to the desired temperature and give it a bit of wiggle room (+/- 0.3C on mine)

It will turn on either a heat source or a cool source depending on whether the measured temp is too low or too high.

I'm in Texas so rarely attach any heat source. I use the STC1000 to control the power to the chest freezer into which I place my fermenting beer.

Chest Freezer


STC1000

Heat Source


The Johnson controller is more expensive ( a lot more) and can only control 1 thing. Heat or Cold. Not both.

Another controller is out now that controls both too. It's about $40.
Inkbird

The cheapest is the STC 1000 but you need to do a simple DIY yourself. It is really easy and there are lots of build threads on it on HBT