Seedling mat in fermentation chamber - placement?

[pepindavid]

I have a question for you all! I'm setting up a fermentation chamber. I bought a used mini-fridge, and I will be receiving shortly an Inkbird ITC-308 and a seedling heating mat (https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0001WV010/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20). I ferment in a 6 gallon plastic carboy.

My question: would you place the heating mat at the bottom, having the fermenter simply rest on it, or would you wrap the fermenter with the mat (as shown in the image on Amazon))?

Currently, my basement ambiant air is around 60F, and my first batches fermented a bit low (around 62), so this thing may need to heat a bit during winter months for my ales.

Anybody has experience using a seedling heating mat?

Thanks!

 

[drummerguy]

I have one of these in my fermentation chamber (full-size refrigerator) and I just have it leaning against one side. I used it for the first time recently with a Tripel and it was able to keep the beer at 74° for a number of days. I don't know if this is ideal, but the beer was able to go from 1.082 to 1.009 and turned out great.

 

[titansvol]

I just place mine a against the fermenter

 

[dyqik]

I just place mine a against the fermenter

Ditto, mine just gets tucked in the side of the mini-fridge, around the side and back of the fermenter.

 

[pepindavid]

Thank you for your responses! I received everything today; everything seems to work as intended (I am making tests with a jug of water). Looking forward to my next brew (early next week), my first one with temp control fermentation! I'll be able to ferment at the temp I want, raise it a bit towards the end, and cold crash when it's done! I am pretty happy right now!