I have just moved to a new house which does not have a nice cool spot (my old laundry cupboard was constant between 18-25°c all year round) to brew. I am getting a good quality fridge which i was thinking of getting a thermostat for so i can regulate the temp to within a few degrees. I have heard of it being done before with reptile enclosure thermostats but wondering if anyone has any experience and can recommend any specific thermostat to use??
Temperature control while fermenting in a refrigerator
- Thread starter 21Maff
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If you are handy the STC-1000 is economical and easy to use. If you want a plug and play version pick up one of the many inexpensive temp control units that are out there.
If you really want to do it up right, look into BrewPi.
If you really want to do it up right, look into BrewPi.
Your country and electrical "system" you have for mains voltage/frequency will help. With the use of Celcius we can bet it is not US but may of may not be a 110 V mains.
No matter what you need a controller for your electrical requirements with a minimum amperage to hand the refrigerators rated power plus 15% of start-up spikes. Some version of the inkbird controller, STC1000, etc WILL work but without that information it is hard to know.
In the US the most common seems to be the turnkey Johnson Temperature controllers but they are rapidly being replaced by less expensive or more capable options.
The Inkbird controller was pretty inexpensive and very easy to set up and use. I'm using one to control both heating and cooling in my 84cu.ft. chamber and it works great! I've got one of the ceramic heaters (usually used for reptiles) and a small A/C unit. Even with the temps being in the upper 30's/lower 40's in my garage, it has maintained a steady 66*F.
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DurtyChemist
Well-Known Member
Ink bird makes plug and play setups that close about thre same or less than building an STC/ITC-1000 setup. They're a vendor on here and they have a post about all three units and the differences. I think the 308 is most popular.
The key with any setup is to let the beer be the thermostat. Monitor and control its temperature precisely. Forget about monitoring and controling ambient and you're all set.
Here is mine.
An STC1000 and chest freezer/small fridge will work really well in the UK.
Doing it a gain I'd probably buy an inkbird. The cost is comparable and it's turnkey.
Fermenting ales at 18-25C is far too warm for my tastes.
Here is mine.
An STC1000 and chest freezer/small fridge will work really well in the UK.
Doing it a gain I'd probably buy an inkbird. The cost is comparable and it's turnkey.
Fermenting ales at 18-25C is far too warm for my tastes.
