Winter Temp Control

[splyn]

I am currently limited to a fermentation chamber that holds only a single carbouy/bucket. I have been trying to devise ways to ramp up my production this winter and use my cold garage (approx 35-50 F in winter) to provide the cooling for fermentaiton. To keep things simple, i was thinking of using a length of heating tape ( http://www.reptilebasics.com/12-heat-tape for lizards. when wrapped around a carbouy, it almost entirely covers the sides) around the carbouy/bucket, then covering with a blanket for insulation and using a temp controller to monitor tamps and turn on the heat when necessary.

Would this provide adequate temp control, or would the direct heat of the heat tape against the carbouy/bucket be a bad idea? Thoughts?

 

[porterpounder]

That is a standard way of heating a fermentation with a carboy. They sell is as "Fermwrap" at homebrew shops for exorbitant prices. I use two layers of Reflectix and velcro straps over the wrap. If you are on concrete it may be a good idea to place a layer underneath the carboy to protect it from the floor and becoming too cold. I find I can control about a 15-20 F degree temp rise from ambient with this method.

 

[Roadie]

I bought this carboy heater http://www.homebrewing.org/product.asp?itemid=1732&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ProductAds&gclid=CjwKEAjw-8ihBRD2t9qT3NaW7igSJAD3_sNV0Zc-WVeZxlOfZqsZIFt6FBuiifmprRq9lrB-aAExVhoCpZ7w_wcB. Not sure if $30 is exorbitant or not but it does the job for me in my ferm fridge hooked to a dual controller.

 

[BreezyBrew]

I bought this carboy heater http://www.homebrewing.org/product....ZxlOfZqsZIFt6FBuiifmprRq9lrB-aAExVhoCpZ7w_wcB. Not sure if $30 is exorbitant or not but it does the job for me in my ferm fridge hooked to a dual controller.

I have the same one in a fermentation chamber. It works too good, I don't wrap it around the carboy lol.

 

[splyn]

i use something similar in my ferm chamber, but i was wondering about how well it would work without a fermentation chamber and just sitting in a cold garage.

 

[porterpounder]

Depends on how cold it gets. I mis-stated above. With insulation I can keep the temp at about 30-35 F above ambient. Without it struggles to stay at 15-20 F above ambient in a 6.5 gallon carboy.

Exorbitant may be an over-exaggeration, but a 100% mark-up from what you can do with the materials on your own makes a difference.

 

[rlmiller10]

i use something similar in my ferm chamber, but i was wondering about how well it would work without a fermentation chamber and just sitting in a cold garage.

Do you have cooler or other insulated item you can set your carboy in? If so set it in a cooler and put a blanket or sleeping bag over the top. Might want to monitor the temp at first so it doesn't get too warm until you decide how thick of a blanket you need.