fermenter heating

There has been a lot of discussion on this lately on rec.crafts.brewing. You might ask there. Myself, I would use a homebuilt insulated box (plywood with stryrofoam insulation board) along with a ceramic reptile heater from a pet store.

Wayne Bugeater Brewing Company

Hi I am not sure about other countries in the World, but here in the UK (I feel sure that other countries are the same) you can buy a "proper" mains voltage homebrew immersion heater from any HB store. The one I use is called an "Electrim 75", is adjustable and keeps the fermentation temperature constant to within a fraction of a degree. The cost in the UK was around £18 (around $28) but worth every penny.

If I were fermenting in a very cold place I would probably wrap insulation round the fermenter as well (bubble wrap??), but normally, when fermenting in my unheated spare room I just sterilize my heater along with the fermenter, syphon tube, etc. and dangle it into the fermenting wort through a hole in the lid. The cable goes through a standard rubber bung so it is very simple to make the fermenter airtight.

Regards KGB

My email address needs "altering" before use

thermostat,

I brew in a shed In Aus where in winter It can get down to minus Celsius at night. I find using a heating mat and wrapping the carboy in a carpet keeps the temperature with in acceptable limits.

I like the idea of a mains immersion heated as mentioned in another post and will try and get one

thermostat,

--------->Denny

I'm still a "newbie" but I think I've heard somewhere that strong light is bad for beer. You could build the box to block the light while letting the warmed air circulate around the fermenter, I'd guess.

Karl S.

Hi Krash, Here is a URL don't mind the page, its on reptiles but it has the basic Idea your looking for..Enjoy the Hobby...

thermostat,

I live in Fort Worth Texas, USA and have a problem maintaining tempuratures. This time of year, one day is 38F and the next is 80F...I cannot brew in the spring or summer because of high heat in the house. Any suggestions? regards

tempuratures.

I am also in Fort Worth. I use an old refrigerator for my fermenter housing. I put an external thermostat in series with the fridge plug to regulate to a constant temp. This let's you dial it to any place you want. Here is a picture of my setup

I gutted the fridge to make room for a big fermenter, and raised the fridge so I can syphon from the fermenter directly to the keg w/o disturbing the fermenter. (Also makes storage for empty cornys)

If you shop around, you should be able to find a fridge for $0-100. Seems like everyone has an extra one they don't need. Or better yet, the defrost timer dies in them (you don't need that anyway), then they throw them away. The thermostat runs about $50-60.