Where to put temp sensor in fermentation fridge?

[kiwipen]

I'm about to get a fridge to use as a fermentation chamber. I use plastic buckets for brewing. Where do I put the temperature sensor?

There is no thermowell in the bucket, and I prefer not to install one.

I'll be using an ITC 308 or 310 if that makes any difference.

 

[MSK_Chess]

Interesting question. Ideally you would want the temperature probe to be in the bucket but its not always possible. You can tape it to the side of the fermenting bucket or use a piece of elastic, something to hold it in place, however there is a difference between the ambient temperature of your fridge and the beer. This is easy to monitor though, simply take a sample and measure it with a thermometer and note the disparity. Some people put a liquid beside the fermentation bucket like water in a jar and sit the probe in that as a way of compromise.

 

[whovous]

I tape mine to the side of the FV and put some bubble wrap over it to limit measurement of ambient air.

 

[mongoose33]

Use something to place it on the side of the fermenter and then place some sort of insulation over it so it's reading the temp of the fermenter and fermenting wort, not the temp of the refrigerator.

Here's how I do mine. I took a piece of 1" thick foam, cut a small channel in it to accommodate the temp sensor, and then use a bungee cord to hold it in place.

 

[chickypad]

I tape mine to the side of the FV and put some bubble wrap over it to limit measurement of ambient air.

Do this, insulate with bubble foam or styrofoam. I've tested it on plastic fermenters concurrently with a thermowell and it's comparable. A jar of water will not be actively fermenting and generating heat so it won't give you a reading of what the beer is doing.

Edit: mongoose's set up is almost exactly what I do

 

[C-Rider]

I'm about to get a fridge to use as a fermentation chamber. I use plastic buckets for brewing. Where do I put the temperature sensor?

There is no thermowell in the bucket, and I prefer not to install one.

I'll be using an ITC 308 or 310 if that makes any difference.

I lay it on top of the fermenter BUT I also have those THERMOSTRIPS stuck to the fermenter. I use that as my base and adjust the controller to match.

 

[GPP33]

Get one of these and put it directly into your beer through a rubber grommet or a drilled stopper. It's basically a temp sensor with a built in thermowell. Easy and done right.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A6DIPFM/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[Draken]

Do this, insulate with bubble foam or styrofoam. I've tested it on plastic fermenters concurrently with a thermowell and it's comparable. A jar of water will not be actively fermenting and generating heat so it won't give you a reading of what the beer is doing.

Edit: mongoose's set up is almost exactly what I do

Third on this. My only difference is I tape it on with that aluminum tape.

 

[jakeasaur]

An old coozie taped to the side of the bucket

View attachment 1499477961632.jpg

 

[65C]

my brew fridge on it's lowest setting is 17C - so I don't really need to regulate that - it's poss worth finding if you can get the temp with it's settings rather than use a controller

 

[Dcpcooks]

my brew fridge on it's lowest setting is 17C - so I don't really need to regulate that - it's poss worth finding if you can get the temp with it's settings rather than use a controller

Fermentation will produce heat. That's why you need to measure the wort temp rather than ambient air temps. You want the unit to be cooling in real time and you want to be holding your fermentation temps at a stable temp. The best option is a probe in a thermowell in the wort, second best option is to attach the probe to the outside of the bucket and insulate it from the ambient air in the chamber. Don't rely on the fridge thermostat, you will see temps spike.

 

[65C]

if I know the fridge temp - I'll take the variation

I totally get what you're saying - but having cables and tech around to brew beer - kills it for me - I have tech all week - brewing is my low tech escape for 6H a week

 

[Kent88]

The bucket has a handle that falls against the bucket when not in use, right? Thread the probe wire between the bucket and handle and try to keep it as close to the bucket as possible, and to compensate for the fermenting temp being a little higher than "ambient" fridge temp, set the temperature controller to the low end of the yeasts' tolerance, especially during the first few days.

 

[MSK_Chess]

even if one insulates the probe there is still a disparity that exists between the wort and the insulated probe temperature. I have a Vienna lager sitting fermenting in the fridge at the moment, the probe is insulated and there is still a three degree Celsius disparity between it and the fermenting beer. Its not problem though, just factor it in and its all good