Komocabo
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2012
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I thought I would share my happiness with my recent improvements to my fermentation chamber.
Here is the story: I have been using an upright freezer and an STC-1000 as a fermentation chamber during the summer and have been very happy with the results for keeping a stable fermentation temp.
Well, it is getting colder now, and the ambient temp in the garage is getting too cold to keep the temps warm enough inside of the chamber. I have been debating the best way (cost effective, SAFETY, efficient, etc.) to heat the chamber. I looked over many forum pages, and I'll go ahead and say that I am not comfortable, nor do I feel safe using the "light bulb in the paint can" thing. This is partly due to the fact that my freezer is the older style with coils running inside of it, and there can be a considerable amount of condensation, so I am reluctant to go the cheap DIY route.
So, after some research, I decided to purchase this item for about $25 on Ebay:
Zoo Med Laboratories Repti - Care Heat Cable 50Watt, 23 feet long
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181222274552?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
I plugged this into the (previously wired) "heat" side of the STC-1000, and placed the cable along 3 sides of the fermentation chamber. So far, I have been VERY happy with the results. First of all, the first 6 feet or so do not produce any heat, and the amount of heat that is produced is meant for reptiles to crawl on (so not dangerously hot). Additionally, it is water resistant! Best of all, my fermentation temp is perfectly where I want it, and is very stable. (Note: I have the STC-1000 probe placed midway on the fermenter, taped with a rag that I use as "insulation" from the ambient temps to allow for the probe to read the fermentation temp, rather than the ambient temp.)
Overall, I found that this is a VERY effective, low-cost, and safe method to add as a heat source for a simple fermentation chamber, and I wanted to share my results. I would recommend this to any one here.
Here is the story: I have been using an upright freezer and an STC-1000 as a fermentation chamber during the summer and have been very happy with the results for keeping a stable fermentation temp.
Well, it is getting colder now, and the ambient temp in the garage is getting too cold to keep the temps warm enough inside of the chamber. I have been debating the best way (cost effective, SAFETY, efficient, etc.) to heat the chamber. I looked over many forum pages, and I'll go ahead and say that I am not comfortable, nor do I feel safe using the "light bulb in the paint can" thing. This is partly due to the fact that my freezer is the older style with coils running inside of it, and there can be a considerable amount of condensation, so I am reluctant to go the cheap DIY route.
So, after some research, I decided to purchase this item for about $25 on Ebay:
Zoo Med Laboratories Repti - Care Heat Cable 50Watt, 23 feet long
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181222274552?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
I plugged this into the (previously wired) "heat" side of the STC-1000, and placed the cable along 3 sides of the fermentation chamber. So far, I have been VERY happy with the results. First of all, the first 6 feet or so do not produce any heat, and the amount of heat that is produced is meant for reptiles to crawl on (so not dangerously hot). Additionally, it is water resistant! Best of all, my fermentation temp is perfectly where I want it, and is very stable. (Note: I have the STC-1000 probe placed midway on the fermenter, taped with a rag that I use as "insulation" from the ambient temps to allow for the probe to read the fermentation temp, rather than the ambient temp.)
Overall, I found that this is a VERY effective, low-cost, and safe method to add as a heat source for a simple fermentation chamber, and I wanted to share my results. I would recommend this to any one here.