The cold snap -- Is YOUR heater a wuss?

[Hogarth]

I just went to check up on my latest batch, which is in the fermenting fridge in the garden shed, and found the temperature was 13°C. The little 60 watt greenhouse heater inside the fridge is plainly not up to the job. Luckily the beer had already fermented out.

Anyway, just a warning to garden shed brewers -- Is your heater a man or a mouse?

[barneey]

I think mines rated at 60watt (standard white tube design), the fridge is outside in the old conservatory so bloody cold, snowed here yesterday, so far its been OK. I`m actually measuring the fermenting wort temp so it may well have a lot to do with the thermal mass of the fermenting liquid.

But will double check later to see (currently at the post ferment stage + will crash cool it soon anyway, so not a problem)

Cheers

[Hogarth]

It may well have a lot to do with the thermal mass of the fermenting liquid.

It makes you wonder what the wattage is of a batch of fermenting wort...

[barneey]

Just doubled checked, its still showing 19.5c (the controller being set at 20c) with a room temp at 4c, so I would say everything is as it should be, but the next time it does get very cold I`ll check again.

As for fermentation wattage, yep would be interesting.

[Dr. Dextrin]

I've caught my fish tank heater being a bit of a wuss out in my garage. Since it's a 75W jobbie, that surprised me. However, a little experimentation has shown that it struggles to cope with low ambient temperatures if positioned vertically, but does fine if angled horizontally.

[Kev888]

Interesting - my 60w tube heater is enough for my FV cupboard out in the unheated garage; I've extended the cupboard these days but also increased the insulation accordingly so perhaps theres actually a net gain of heat retention; I'd always expected it to be worse..

My batches are 80-100L so I could understand self-heating, but it doesn't drop after its died down, either - though I'm sure it still evens out any temporary dips better than smaller thermal masses would.

Cheers
kev

[Hogarth]

Hmmm, maybe it's just MY heater that's a wuss, then, if all your 60w jobbies are managing.

Though it might be due to the fact that I've never drilled a hole for the cable, it just enters via the door seal. I always thought this wouldn't make much of a difference, but in these Siberian conditions perhaps it does.

[fordpopular]

-5 outside, 0 in the barn where the fridge is, fridge still shows 19.5 might get in there with my brew to warm up

[barneey]

I`ve just double checked mine tonight and it was still showing 19.5, have now switched the thing off + door open to crash for kegging

[WorcesteRob]

I've caught my fish tank heater being a bit of a wuss out in my garage. Since it's a 75W jobbie, that surprised me. However, a little experimentation has shown that it struggles to cope with low ambient temperatures if positioned vertically, but does fine if angled horizontally.

Silly question but how do you manage to angle horizontally, is it not in the FV?

[Dr. Dextrin]

No, 'tis in a water bath of a rectangular disposition around the FV (aka a plastic storage box).

[cellone]

This weather is perfect for me, but it is a gamble on how much brewing I can get done V's how long it lasts. Imagine too much lager to lager.

If someone said smug basterd, then I would point out it is but a brief window. Also that they were right.

[orlando]

Brew fridge occupied but thought I would sneak another brew in yesterday and try out my new builders trug as a water bath and use my 25 watt heater in cellar temps of 8c. Wrapped it in bubble wrap and set for just under 20. Found it was 17.8 this morning but bubbling away so pretty pleased given the wattage. The major incident was the boil I have a low ceiling so steam usually hangs around a little so I open the cellar door to clear it. Dog needed a walk so I shut the back door and went out for 45 minutes. When I got back the cellar was soaked from the condensation, laptop covered in beads of water and all my paperwork looking like I'd fished it out the bog. Lost 10 litres in the boil

This is not yesterdays brew, this was taken on a comparatively balmy day a couple of weeks ago with the door open.

You can just see the HLT before it disappears into the cloud!

[gnutz2]

My setup is in the downstairs toilet, it consists of 2 fv sat on trace heating with a digi thermostat, I have to turn the radiator on this time of year.

[jmc]

I checked 2 fermenting fridges in garage (0.3C) last night. Pleased to report 22.6c and 18.5c both within 0.5c of target. Std 60w wall heater in each under-counter fridge. Reassured!