DIY - Make Your own Fermentation Heat Wrap for $12-$16

[pricelessbrewing]

So looking to buy one of these for myself for xmas. Problem is that I do small batches, which have a much lower thermal mass so I have to place them in water baths/swamp coolers to eliminate temp swings.

So I have a question

The only gfci outlets are in the kitchen, and I won't be able to use one for my ferm chamber. I'll be using it to cover the outside of my ferm chamber (a rubbermaid style storage bin) which will contain some water (probably a couple gallons, never checked) and the fermenting beer in a bucket. Is a gfci actually necessary in this scenario? I don't see why it would be as it's not going to be in contact with any conductive material.

 

[Johow]

I have a 7 cf chest freezer with a dual temp controller. Could I use this stuff just hung on the walls of the freezer to warm the entire freezer when needed? should I wrap the entire inner walls or would a mat hung on one wall be sufficient?
Thanks for your write up!

 

[cannman]

I have a 7 cf chest freezer with a dual temp controller. Could I use this stuff just hung on the walls of the freezer to warm the entire freezer when needed? should I wrap the entire inner walls or would a mat hung on one wall be sufficient?
Thanks for your write up!

I have a dual temp controller too and here's the deal: You want to tape the probe to one side of a carboy and then have this heat wrap on the opposite side off the carboy. I ferment 10 gallons at a time in two 6 gallon carboys but allow only one carboy to dictate the control of the freezer. In a few hours the carboys will equalize in temperature. I would avoid heating the edge of the freezer... if you control the temp as I stated above, when the freezer cuts, the temp in the carboy may continue to fall. The heat wrap will flip on if it dips to much and is gentle enough not to ramp the temp too quickly.