Hello all, looking to use a fermwrap on a plastic fermentation bucket to warm it up and turn off automatically when it hits temp. Just wondering how to go about monitoring the temp of the ale considering there's just a hole for an air lock on the bucket and not one that fits a bung/thermowell combo.
Fermwrap control on plastic fermentation bucket
- Thread starter rekrowten
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BrewerBrad82
Well-Known Member
Do you already have a temp controller? If not, I recommend the Thermostar. You can get it with a 12" probe (third picture):
http://www.northernbrewer.com/thermostar-dual-mode-digital-temperature-controller
Then you can use that probe and slide it into a normal carboy stopper, then drill a hole in your lid to fit the stopper. This way the probe is submerged in the fermenting beer.
Otherwise, just tape the normal probe to the outside of the bucket (not touching the heat wrap) and cover it with some insulation of some sort. This method is not quite as good as having the probe submerged, but it is far superior than nothing at all. Hope this helps!
http://www.northernbrewer.com/thermostar-dual-mode-digital-temperature-controller
Then you can use that probe and slide it into a normal carboy stopper, then drill a hole in your lid to fit the stopper. This way the probe is submerged in the fermenting beer.
Otherwise, just tape the normal probe to the outside of the bucket (not touching the heat wrap) and cover it with some insulation of some sort. This method is not quite as good as having the probe submerged, but it is far superior than nothing at all. Hope this helps!
BrewerBrad82
Well-Known Member
The stopper will not come out as long as you fit it in the hole you drilled nice and snugly, you will still have the airlock in the grommet to relieve pressure.
I should have clarified a bit more on the stopper method. I actually picked up an undrilled universal carboy stopper like this:
http://www.northernbrewer.com/universal-carboy-bung-solid
If I remember correctly, the probe is 1/4" in diameter, so I drilled a 3/16" (I believe) hole in the center of the stopper and then slid the probe in. It makes a really nice tight seal.
I should have clarified a bit more on the stopper method. I actually picked up an undrilled universal carboy stopper like this:
http://www.northernbrewer.com/universal-carboy-bung-solid
If I remember correctly, the probe is 1/4" in diameter, so I drilled a 3/16" (I believe) hole in the center of the stopper and then slid the probe in. It makes a really nice tight seal.
DurtyChemist
Well-Known Member
I literally just did an experiment with my ferm wrap on a plastic carboy. Uncontrolled in a 65F house it kept 5.5 gallons of water at 80F. My temp strips in my fermentation chamber match what my temp controller says. I use an ITC 1000. Buy yourself an ITC 308 and set the temps and cover the probe on the carboy with a folded up paper towel.
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