David *** wrote, in a private email:
Hi Bill,
>
>Looking at my Honeywell programmable HVAC thermostat, the temperature
>sensor is really obvious... it sticks out into the air stream. It would
>be no problem to desolder it and add a short extension cable. So, take a
>close look at your existing thermostat. I realize that doesn't solve the
>programming problem.
>
Thanks for the response, David. An additional problem with home thermostats is that I can't find any that operate in a low enough range. They typically stop at 40F, and I thought that for lagering I need to be able to eventually drop down into the low- to mid-thirties. Is 40F/4C cold enough for the _best_ results, or do I need to be able to go colder. NOTICE that I said for the BEST results, because if I'm going to go to all of this trouble, I want to be able to make some kick-ass beer that I can enter into some competitions, and if it's lacking in some way, I want it to be because of me and not because of my equipment.
Thanks again, and cheers.
Bill Velek