What thermostat do you use?

[magno]

SWMBO found a decent deal on a chest freezer, and I am trying to figure out the total cost of buying one. What temp controllers do people use? I would like something that can get down to lagering temps, although I will be brewing mostly ales (32 - 68 *F).

 

[Sea]

I have a Johnson controls, single stage, mechanical, close high, with a temp range of like 0-212F or something like that: about $40. A digital control will give you temp display, but they cost more.

I just realized you want to use this thing for fermenting, not keg chilling. In that case, you'll need a 2-stage control so you can turn on a heat lamp or something like that in the winter, though I have no clue how cld it gets in Austin

Good luck!

 

[david_42]

I have two Rancos, one for the kegger and one for the fermentation cabinet.

 

[FlyGuy]

I have a Ranco and a Johnson controller. I greatly prefer the digital (Ranco) version. Well worth the extra $20 or so.

 

[Beerthoven]

I have a RANCO ETC 211000. Dual stage controls heating and cooling.

 

[Dustin_J]

I have a Love controller. They only cost about $50, have a nice digital display, and the differential can be set to as narrow as 1 degree F. The only problem is that you have to wire it up, but that's not too difficult if you have even minimal handyman-type skills.

 

[John Beere]

I have both the ranco and the love controllers. For a chest freezer, the ranco is probably the better solution as it is self contained... the love would have to be mounted in something.

Here are my love controllers:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=39422

And my Ranco controllers:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=11440
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=19596