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OkieDokie
Joined: 31 Aug 2013 Posts: 191 Location: Oklahoma
Drinking: Electric ale, Weizen
Working on: Electric lager, American Amber Ale, Dirty Blonde
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Link Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 6:38 pm Post subject: Heating a fermentation chamber |
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I have read that there are a variety of ways to warm up a fermentation chamber. Now that it is getting colder here (Oklahoma) would like people to chime in on how they warm up a fermentation chamber? I have a chest style deep freezer now, moving to an upright freezer, with external temperature controller. Cooling is not a problem, what can you use to warm the chamber? Thanks all!
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11116 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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Fejj
Joined: 10 Jun 2013 Posts: 213 Location: North Shore, MA
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Link Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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I have heard of people having good luck with Aquarium heating elements submersed in a container of water. they can maintain temps fairly consistently with minimal on time.
Jeff
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mvakoc
Joined: 19 Sep 2011 Posts: 152 Location: Evergreen, CO
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OkieDokie
Joined: 31 Aug 2013 Posts: 191 Location: Oklahoma
Drinking: Electric ale, Weizen
Working on: Electric lager, American Amber Ale, Dirty Blonde
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Link Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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Those are all great ideas. Thanks for the help.
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Kevin59
Joined: 03 Aug 2012 Posts: 1047 Location: Fort Collins, CO
Drinking: Imperial Brown Ale
Working on: Oatmeal Stout, IPA
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fireslayer
Joined: 28 Dec 2012 Posts: 9
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Castermmt
Joined: 03 Jan 2011 Posts: 863 Location: Lowell, In
Drinking: Steelhead Porter, Alt-Toids, Hefty-Weizen, Terry's Kolsch, African Amber, Pumpkin Ale, Double Dog Ale
Working on: Janet's Brown Ale, Terry's Kolsch, Pilsner
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Link Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 1:27 am Post subject: |
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Here's what I posted over at HBT a while back. A few months ago I had to change the can over to a non-coated can can and porcelain light socket. I was having some strange smell like heated plastic in the camber. It was the can and/or the plastic lamp holder heating up. All's good now. Very Cheap and easy!
Fermentation Can Heater
http://www.wortomatic.com/articles/Fermentation-Can-Heater
I just built one of these this morning (30 minutes total time). I replaced a small lamp with tinfoil over the bulb with this can heater. The lamp was working fine but was very cheap looking. I use a dual stage Love controller and just started using the 16 inch thermowell that enables me to put the temp probe in the center of the fermenting wort, which will give me better temperature accuracy and control. Hope this little tweak helps others brew better beer.
http://www.brewershardware.com/16-Stainless-Steel-Thermowell.html
Update***
After a few weeks using this can heater along with the Thermowell for the temp prob, my temperatures are dead nuts and hold for longer periods before the need for the heater or cooler turning on. So I'm sure I'm saving energy by minimizing temperature swings with this new setup.
Hope this helps, Castermmt
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OkieDokie
Joined: 31 Aug 2013 Posts: 191 Location: Oklahoma
Drinking: Electric ale, Weizen
Working on: Electric lager, American Amber Ale, Dirty Blonde
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Link Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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So I just made a "paint can heater" like the links above suggested and was easy to build and keeps temps now spot on. Thanks folks.
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Holter
Joined: 07 Oct 2011 Posts: 221 Location: Los Angeles, Ca
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mjo2125
Joined: 27 Feb 2017 Posts: 248 Location: Dayton, OH
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11116 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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Link Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2017 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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Depending on the size of the fermentation chamber/batch size, you'll probably find that a small heater like that is overpowered. With a temp controller it would work, but would not stay on very long. Most heaters meant for ~5 gallons are usually 20-40W (that heater is 200W).
I used a 23W compact fluorescent bulb myself in my fermentation fridges to take the temp up to 90-95F when brewing a Saison. More info: http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30930
No temp controller at all - I did a test with water at first. A single 23W compact fluorescent bulb was able to take a 5-6 gallons of water up to 90F slowly over a few days which was perfect for the strain I was using (that Saison strain loves really high temps).
I don't brew many beers that require a heater (this was my first in ~30 years) so I didn't want to get a couple of temp controllers and heaters only for 1 batch so I used things I already had. 99% of the temp I'm needing to cool the wort/beer lower than the 70-72F room temp, not heat it.
What are you brewing/what yeast strain? What temp are you trying to get to?
Kal
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My basement/bar/brewery build 2.0
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mjo2125
Joined: 27 Feb 2017 Posts: 248 Location: Dayton, OH
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Link Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2017 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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Kal, I have several recipes that have dual fermentation steps - mostly lagers that start out at 50 deg-f then lager at 32 deg-f (those I don't think I need a heater for). I have an Imperial Stout recipe using Wyeast 1318 London Ale III that starts out at 68 deg-f (20 deg-C) and rises to 73 deg-f (23 deg-f).
thanks
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11116 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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mjo2125
Joined: 27 Feb 2017 Posts: 248 Location: Dayton, OH
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Link Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2017 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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temp in the basement is 69 deg-f. I've never seen it over 70 deg-f.
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11116 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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mjo2125
Joined: 27 Feb 2017 Posts: 248 Location: Dayton, OH
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Link Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2017 2:22 am Post subject: |
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Kal, given that, it doesn't sounds like I need a heat source. I'll take some measurements.
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kwdriver
Joined: 19 Jan 2013 Posts: 113 Location: Eagle, CO
Drinking: Munich Helles, Schwarzbier
Working on: Guinness clone, Vienna Lager
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Link Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2017 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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I use a dual stage temperature controller for my fermenter (conical). The heating is done through a reptile pad. They're readily available. I'm sure you could grab one at your local pet store or buy one on Amazon.
The reptile pad is mounted around the bottom of my conical but I'm sure you could mount it to whatever type of fermenter you've got. They're relatively inexpensive and work surprisingly well.
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11116 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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Creepy
Joined: 04 Feb 2014 Posts: 127 Location: North Chicago Burbs
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Link Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2018 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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I’m thankful this thread was recently revived as I’m in the need of some conical heating since the basement sits st 64F. Tough to do a good D-rest...
kwdriver wrote: | I use a dual stage temperature controller for my fermenter (conical). The heating is done through a reptile pad. They're readily available. I'm sure you could grab one at your local pet store or buy one on Amazon.
The reptile pad is mounted around the bottom of my conical but I'm sure you could mount it to whatever type of fermenter you've got. They're relatively inexpensive and work surprisingly well. |
KWDriver, I’m vain and like the SS bling of my conicals and would like to put a heating pad low on the back of my 1/2 bbl SS Brewtech conical. I’d like it out of sight but still doing its job. Do you think a heater like you use would fit the bill? Also hoping it’s a gentle heat that wouldn’t lead to yeast autolysis if the pad is down need the yeast cake... Looking at Kal’s link it looks like most around around 10” x 20” in size. Thanks for the insight.
_________________ Like a Black and Tan, just mixing my two passions in life: hand crafted beer and Naval Aviation... Follow on Instagram @SignalCharlieBrew
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