Keeping fermenter warm

[Morrey]

I am ready to brew a Saison that likes warmer fermentation temps in the 80's. My outdoor brew cave is not temp controlled, but I do have a 5 cu ft freezer that can be an insulated box. I don't think a Fermwrap can handle the heat output needs, but I looked at a Sunbeam heating pad (the model that will not shut off after 2 hours) and I think this may work. I have an Inkbird ATC to control the pad, and the fermenter has a thermowell to keep the probe from contacting the heat element. Would this work wrapped on the 6.8G fermenter in the freezer as an insulated box?

****I am in SC and while not terribly bitter cold, night temps often are in the 30's-40's this time of year.

 

[jbenguinn]

Hey there. When it comes to heating a ferm chamber, I'm convinced this is the easiest way.

I used this paint can heater apprehensively in my first ferm chamber build last month. It's far and away exceeding in terms of efficiency and ease of use.

I modified the build to forgo the "lamp assembly" and wiring component by simply using a work light from Home Depot, i.e.:

All you have to is cut a hole in the paint can lid wide enough for the light bulb, but small enough that the light mechanism won't fall through.

This has kept my fermentation chamber sitting pretty at 71 degrees in my 60ish degrees garage for the past two weeks. In fact, I underestimated how effective it would be and initially set my temp controller to 74 degrees thinking it'd be able to keep my chamber around 71. Boy was I wrong. After a day, the chamber was floating in the danger zone around 75 degrees. I think it actually sped up my fermentation process by keeping the temperature so effectively (and unfortunately) high.

All in all, since you already have the controller, you can have this up and running for about $10-15 and a trip to the HD.

Good luck!

 

[augiedoggy]

A reptile heater bulb is bit easier,safer and more efficient as an option too.

 

[TorMag]

depending what your fermentation vessel is, wouldn't a light bulb be bad for say a glass carboy?

 

[Morrey]

My fermenter pail is a 6.8G plastic container with a thermowell in the lid. I am leaning toward the paint can build as it looks pretty easy and I've heard they work well in conjunction with my Inkbird ATC. I can vary the wattage of the bulb I select and see if I can't work this out to get temps stabilized in the 80's.

 

[TexasWine]

Here's what I do when the temp drops (in Houston, so it doesn't drop much). I just throw one of those Sunbeam heating pads you mention into the bottom of the fermentation chamber, turn it on, and keep the fridge connected to the temp controller. The heating pad acts as a base load of heat input for the fridge. I usually set it on low. The fridge just kicks on when it needs to knock the temperature back down.

On the surface I know this doesn't sound like the best way to go about maintaining a warm fermentation temp. I do have a dual stage controller. But this works for me because I have hops in the freezer of this fridge and I need the fridge to kick on every so often to keep it frosty and prevent my hops from degrading.

 

[Morrey]

I stopped by HD at lunch today and bought the paint can light supplies. With the weather dropping into the 30's now at night, I'll see if the 75w bulb in the paint can will keep my temps warm. I am doing a Saison (warm ferm temps), then I plan to do a distiller's mash/wash with corn and the DADY I use likes the temps at 85-89F.

Depending on what I can get out of the bulb, it may be enough. If not, I can always use the fermwrap AND the paint can with the ATC set at 85F. We shall see.

 

[beergolf]

I brew a lot of saisons and when i want to brew them in colder weather ( my basement gets pretty cool) I just fill a big cooler with water and use an aquarium heater. I can go all the way to 90 degrees if I want to. The large volume of water keeps the temp very stable. Works great.

 

[wilserbrewer]

My guess is that the ferm wrap may be adequate inside the freezer. Test its performance is my suggestion.

At 40 watts and a well insulated box I think may work just a hunch.

 

[augiedoggy]

My guess is that the ferm wrap may be adequate inside the freezer. Test its performance is my suggestion.

At 40 watts and a well insulated box I think may work just a hunch.

If your using a fridge at an insulated fermentation temp box I have to argee here. I use small 24v DC heat strips .. I dont remember the wattage but they are only 1" by 30" long and 3 run off of (1) 7 amp power suppy so..( I control them individually with stc 1000+ units) I warp one around the base of each of my 2 12.5 gallon conicals and my 8 gallon conical and while I have never actually attempted to take a beer that high into the 80s they will bring it up to 78 degrees without any problem at all.

Of course I have them wrapped in foil bubble insulation and my heats is heating the fermenter directly , not the chamber so YMMV.

 

[Morrey]

My guess is that the ferm wrap may be adequate inside the freezer. Test its performance is my suggestion.

At 40 watts and a well insulated box I think may work just a hunch.

I plan to do dry runs with the fermenter with only water to see what the paint can light can do, then see what the fermwrap can do when used separately. If I need more heat, I can try both together. The lows this week are to be 20F, so the test will be a good one.

 

[govner1]

a reptile heater bulb is bit easier,safer and more efficient as an option too.

+++1 ^^^^this!

 

[splyn]

Reptile Heat Tape:
http://www.reptilebasics.com/12-heat-tape

Reflectix:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Reflecti...-Insulation-with-Staple-Tab-ST16025/100012574

STC-1000
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=398834&highlight=stc1000

and two of these:
http://www.target.com/p/beach-towel-basics-multi-vertical-stripe/-/A-16604515

My fermentation chamber can only fit one carboy, so i LOVE cold weather brewing as i can ferment two batches (or a single 10 gallon) in my unheated garage with two of these setups. The cold weather provides the cooling, the reptile heat tape provides the heating, the DIY temp controller (using STC-1000) provides the control, the reflectix provides the insulation and the towels provide the protection from UV light and the cement floor. And when it comes time to cold crash, just turn off the STC-1000 and let nature do the rest!

(my mini-fridge fermentation chamber also uses the reptile heat tape for heating and it has no problem keeping saison temps)

 

[Morrey]

Hey there. When it comes to heating a ferm chamber, I'm convinced this is the easiest way.

I used this paint can heater apprehensively in my first ferm chamber build last month. It's far and away exceeding in terms of efficiency and ease of use.

I modified the build to forgo the "lamp assembly" and wiring component by simply using a work light from Home Depot, i.e.:

All you have to is cut a hole in the paint can lid wide enough for the light bulb, but small enough that the light mechanism won't fall through.

This has kept my fermentation chamber sitting pretty at 71 degrees in my 60ish degrees garage for the past two weeks. In fact, I underestimated how effective it would be and initially set my temp controller to 74 degrees thinking it'd be able to keep my chamber around 71. Boy was I wrong. After a day, the chamber was floating in the danger zone around 75 degrees. I think it actually sped up my fermentation process by keeping the temperature so effectively (and unfortunately) high.

All in all, since you already have the controller, you can have this up and running for about $10-15 and a trip to the HD.

Good luck!

I built the paint bucket light (the lamp assembly, not the work lamp) using the directions provided by jbenquinn. Easy project and just a few bucks.

Test: 7 cu ft freezer in outdoor brew cave, uninsulated but enclosed, no heat inside the building. Filled 6.8G fermenter with 75F water, placed Inkbird probe in fermenter thermowell extending directly in liquid. I am measuring liquid temps, not ambient chamber temps. Paint can contains 75W bulb controlled by ATC.

Set ATC to 80F to see how long it would take to reach temp bringing liquid up from 75F. Heater had to warm up chamber as well as water...took 4 hours to reach 80F.

Last night dipped to 22F. I honestly can't say how much or how often the light came on, but the water was at 80.1F at 7am this morning. I am well pleased that the simple paint can light can function this effectively.

I am fermenting a brew this weekend that I plan to run at 68F. I have complete confidence I can ferment at virtually any range from lager temps (no brainer) all the way to Saison temps at 80F, probably even higher.

Thanks for the build design!!