USing a freezer for lager fermenting, do I need to heat it and if so with one of these?

[TsunamiMike]

5 cubic foot so the carboy/bucket will fit just fine. So this will be plugged into the "cold" port in the inkbird and I am wondering if I need to get some type of heating element to go into the freezer.

Now I am wondering if a pad is the way to go or something that goes around the carboy itself? What do you think the best method is and is it really safe to put these in the freezer?

MAT/PAD:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082HSPP5M/ref=crt_ewc_title_srh_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072V15ZK2/ref=crt_ewc_title_srh_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A38HM17VEBNXI7

WRAP:
https://www.amazon.com/Weekend-Brewer-COMINHKPR125665-Fermentation-Heater/dp/B01J1WZNM2/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?dchild=1&keywords=old+ale+cozy+fermentation+pad&qid=1596657983&s=home-garden&sr=1-2-fkmr0

https://www.amazon.com/Fermentation-Heating-10V-230V-Spirits-Thermometer/dp/B07KBZD6D7/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=carboy+heater&qid=1596724195&s=home-garden&sr=1-9

https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Brewer-FermoTemp-Fermentation-Temperature/dp/B01MY7TAWQ/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=carboy+heater&qid=1596724195&s=home-garden&sr=1-4

I was looking at adding this to go into the carboy so it is directly touching the liquid, does anyone use this or is it overkill? Not sure if I could use this on a bucket <i guess i could cut a hole in a lid for this.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...8&psc=1&smid=A2CV7HZEOJA0IR&tag=forumyield-20

 

[bnut]

Anything that warms should work. I use a 100 watt lightbulb.

 

[govner1]

I avoid std incandescent bulbs to avoid light strike but a reptile ceramic works wel l AB Nd fits std socket. Don’t forget a cheap fan for circulation

 

[AzOr]

I use a cheap hair dryer. I really like it because it also circulates the air. Mine is set on low.

 

[day_trippr]

What's the plan for placing the Inkbird controller's temperature sensor? Hopefully it's not to dangle it in the air.

fwiw, I like 40w reptile bulbs in uber cheap ceramic bases and with a decent sized fan keeping the chest freezer cabinet interior from stratifying.
I pin my controller probe to the side of the fermentor using a velcro strap with a ~4x4" chunk of inch thick closed cell foam over the probe. Good coupling to the fermentor, pretty good isolation from cabinet ambient...

Cheers!

 

[TsunamiMike]

I Picked up a thermowell to go inside the brew to measure the actual temperature of the beer in the carboy. The Inkbird sensor attaches to the probe

The Weekend Brewer STherm7 Stopper Thermowell https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KP4D0K2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_B3tlFb0QS2DGT

 

[Dland]

I'm not sure why you need a heater, can't you just set temp controller to desired lager fermentation setting, around 54F?

In the case of a chamber, I'd put temp sensor in chamber, not on fermentor, though a second thermometer to monitor wort/beer temp not a bad idea.

If you do need a heater for some reason, I'd use something that heats the carboy, not the whole chamber. Fermwraps are what I use when cellar is too cold, just make sure sensor is not under fermwrap.

 

[Argyll Gargoyle]

I wrapped a 25-30w seedling heat mat around my fermenter and secured it with a wide latex exercise band.
Assuming you have a reasonable control algorithm, having a heater improves transient response and probably reduces temperature ripple compared with using only a cooler

 

[AlexKay]

I use a very small fan (like 3” diameter) and leave it on at all times. It generates enough heat from its motor that temperature rises very slowly on its own. I leave the “hot” side of the controller unused.