ebay aquarium temp controller build

[marshallwms]

I use wire nuts for the wiring, and 12 or 14 gauge wire. I go directly from the wire nut to the duplex socket. I use a 12 Amp cord, so I make sure not to overload. But then, a 12V DC converter draws way less than 1 Amp. Very simple, very safe. If you wanted to be even safer, just use a 10 Amp fuse with the black wire going to the socket.

 

[theck]

I use wire nuts for the wiring, and 12 or 14 gauge wire. I go directly from the wire nut to the duplex socket. I use a 12 Amp cord, so I make sure not to overload. But then, a 12V DC converter draws way less than 1 Amp. Very simple, very safe. If you wanted to be even safer, just use a 10 Amp fuse with the black wire going to the socket.

Ok cool thanks. I used 12 gauge inside the box since I had an old outdoor extension cord. I'll use some left over to do up a socket.

 

[sammy33]

I ordered an STC-1000. After several hundred pages of this thread and some

 

[alien]

Up to now I haven't bothered with heating using the STC-1000 but I think I'm going to give this Lasko 102 200W heater a try.

 

[theck]

Up to now I haven't bothered with heating using the STC-1000 but I think I'm going to give this Lasko 102 200W heater a try.

Are you heating to control it if the temp gets below a certain temp? I use mine outside and have just a 40 watt bulb that kicks on when the temp drops... been freezing out there for the last few days since I've put it on and it controls if VERY well.

 

[strangebrew14]

Are you heating to control it if the temp gets below a certain temp? I use mine outside and have just a 40 watt bulb that kicks on when the temp drops... been freezing out there for the last few days since I've put it on and it controls if VERY well.

Any concerns with the light exposure to the beer? What other heating options have people had good success with?

 

[theck]

Any concerns with the light exposure to the beer? What other heating options have people had good success with?

Oh your using as a ferm chamber I'm using it to control temps in an outside kegerator. I think the light bulb either has no or little UV anyhow... If I remember past discussions. Not 100% so don't take my word for it ha..

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[raouliii]

Any concerns with the light exposure to the beer? .....

Fluorescent, and led light and to a lesser degree, incandescent, can all skunk unprotected beer. It's the blue end of the visible, down into the UV portion of the spectrum that causes skunking. I would protect hopped wort/beer from all light sources.

 

[jerryk]

Up to now I haven't bothered with heating using the STC-1000 but I think I'm going to give this Lasko 102 200W heater a try.

I use the same heater and love it. You might be able to get one cheaper at Walmart.

 

[MX1]

Any concerns with the light exposure to the beer? What other heating options have people had good success with?

You can install the light in a metal paint can. I can't link any pictures right now from my iPad, but you can search it out I am sure.

http://www.brewstands.com/fermentation-heater.html

Got a link for you

 

[strangebrew14]

Well I excitedly finished up my STC1000 build last night and went to walfart today and picked up a 1000w small ceramic heater..has tip over and overheat safety features so I fell comfortable popping it in the chest freezer. Time for some testing!! Love this addiction and only completed 2 brews to date :0)

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[day_trippr]

1000 watts? That's insane.

In the depths of this cold spell where the outdoor temps haven't made it above 10°F this week, the ambient temperature in my unheated basement right now is 54°F.

But my 17cf fermentation fridge is maintaining after-primary clean-up temperature of 68°F by virtue of a 60W bulb-in-a-can-with-a-small-fan-blowing-on-it, and my 50cf modestly insulated wood cabinet fermentation chamber is also sitting at 68°F by virtue of a 100W ceramic resistor array.

Take it back before you open the package and get something much, much smaller...

Cheers!

 

[strangebrew14]

After looking at box technically I am running the heater at 500w using the low heat setting. I guess my question is what is the risk by using a decent heater? In my head (not saying much) I figure the heater will warm the chest freezer quicker resulting in a lower cycle time and longer life on heater..Am I crazy?

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[day_trippr]

I'll defer to the jury on the whole Sanity thing

If there are issues, one may be overshoot that causes the compressor and heater to play ping-pong, and another would be causing something plastic too close to the heater to experience a melt-down. If you can get your control to avoid the former and be religiously careful about heater and fermenter placement to avoid the latter, you'll likely be ok...

Cheers - and good luck!

 

[raouliii]

Gentle heating and cooling is the best approach for a fermentation chamber. As day trippr states, over/under shoot will be a problem, otherwise.

 

[sammy33]

What better to do on a Friday night than drink beer
and work on your STC-1000 build.

Too to attempt wiring. At least the dangerous stuff with cutting the metal plate to fit the controller is done. :rockin:

 

[scottzo]

Hello, what is the ideal heating element to use here? Would a brew-belt "mounted," somehow suffice?

Thanks !

 

[chessking]

Well I just finished a build of my own and am pretty happy with how it turned out. The first controller I received had a defective cold relay so I had to order a new one. Luckily I ordered through Amazon, so the return process was smooth. I ended up using a 7x5x3 project box. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread, it made making this thing a breeze!

Nice clean professional looking job.

 

[chessking]

I use the same heater and love it. You might be able to get one cheaper at Walmart.

Does this ceramic heater have a built in fan? That would certainly help in a fermentation chamber to evenly distribute the heat, and reduce the Ping Pong effect.

 

[KindofBlues71]

I recommend getting a heat wrap from ReptileBasics.com. They're cheap and you don't have to worry about exposing the wort to light. I bought two and they're keeping two 3 gal PET carboys at 68F in my drafty garage with the STC-1000. I'm going to buy several more, one for my chest freezer and the others for more heat wraps.

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[strangebrew14]

Out of curiosity what kind of longevity can I expect from my STC1000? I wish the display would shut off after a certain amount of time

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[Beernik]

Hello, what is the ideal heating element to use here? Would a brew-belt "mounted," somehow suffice?

Thanks !

Mine has been working great so far this winter. I have it draped across two fermenters. But you need a fan to keep the air circulating

 

[jerryk]

Does this ceramic heater have a built in fan? That would certainly help in a fermentation chamber to evenly distribute the heat, and reduce the Ping Pong effect.

It does have a fan and I don't think it heats the chamber to quickly. Also I have not had a problem with the Ping Pong effect. My diff. Is set to .6 if that helps.

 

[theck]

Anyone use the reptile under the tank heating pad in a keezer? Thinking I might put one in next winter under the kegs instead of the bulb, takes up less room and evenly distributes the heat?

 

[sammy33]

Finished my STC-1000 build tonight. What a great little unit!

Having two temp controllers is great. I am going to use the old one for lagering and this one for primary fermentation. Now I just need to explain to SWMBO why I need another fridge/freezer.

 

[Cposten]

I got a little ceramic heater from walmart for 17 or 18. Works perfect has tip over stop and therm stop, no problems so far during this new england winter

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[alien]

This Lasko Ceramic heater seems popular and is on offer now for less than $20.

 

[Scrambyvision]

I use a cheap aquarium heating pad with my chamber. Was only $20 and is designed to work in humid environments. Also, puts off zero light. My advice, buy the biggest one they have.

Donnie

Keg #1: Empty
Keg #2: Empty
Primary #1: Tailgater Pale Ale
Primary #2: Leiny's Big Butt Clone (as an ale)

 

[Vellum]

I did the fermwrap from the aquarium place, just search DIY fermwrap. Nice thing about it is I use it to heat my seed trays for planting season as well!

 

[Nagorg]

Out of curiosity what kind of longevity can I expect from my STC1000? I wish the display would shut off after a certain amount of time

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I don't know what the life expectancy is. But I have been using mine for ~1.5 years now and it keeps on rocking.

Since it's an "aquarium" temperature control, I'd expect it should be designed for a few years of 24x7 usage at least.

Since I don't have fermentation going on 24x7 I think I should get a lot of use from my STC1000. I have been tempted to buy another one to have as a spare just in case though...