saluki_brewer
Well-Known Member
I got a Johnson temperature controller for Christmas and received a free deep freeze from my parents (Score!!!) and plan on using this for my fermentation chamber. The deep freeze is out in my garage which is currently about 55 degrees. I have an IPA fermenting that I made with WLP060 with a temp range of 68-72 degF.
I have been going back and forth with ideas for keeping this at the lower end of the temp range and settled on using a medical heating pad hooked up to my controller and placing the whole thing in my chest freezer. I taped the heating pad and temperature sensor to my bucket on opposite sides and wrapped the whole thing in bubble wrap. I have the controller set to "Heat" mode for 69 degrees with a 1 degree differential, meaning that when the temp drops to 68, the heating pad should kick on until the beer reaches 69 where it will shut off the heating pad.
I think I came up with a pretty good solution, but have been second guessing myself on this. I read in another thread about someone's heating pad melting, but mine, although very cheap, is UL listed, so I can't imagine that this would happen.
So what do you all think? Did I get it right? I need your approval so I can RDWHAHB
Here is a picture of the setup:
I have been going back and forth with ideas for keeping this at the lower end of the temp range and settled on using a medical heating pad hooked up to my controller and placing the whole thing in my chest freezer. I taped the heating pad and temperature sensor to my bucket on opposite sides and wrapped the whole thing in bubble wrap. I have the controller set to "Heat" mode for 69 degrees with a 1 degree differential, meaning that when the temp drops to 68, the heating pad should kick on until the beer reaches 69 where it will shut off the heating pad.
I think I came up with a pretty good solution, but have been second guessing myself on this. I read in another thread about someone's heating pad melting, but mine, although very cheap, is UL listed, so I can't imagine that this would happen.
So what do you all think? Did I get it right? I need your approval so I can RDWHAHB
Here is a picture of the setup: