Heat Mats ....?

[Ditch]

Sorry, guys. I tried a search and got 500+ pages of people typing " Heat "

Heat mats under an FV, to keep the wort cosy. Any inherent problems with that? I've heard a murmur that warmth under the muck at the bottom isn't good.

Anyone with experience care to opine, please ....?

Thankyou.

[Fil]

major prob with un regulated heating is the risk of overheating to point where less attractive flavors are produced.

if used with a controller to monitor the temp and shut off when a target is hit, u can avoid those issues.

[Ditch]

Yep. I fully intended to use a thermostat with it. I presently use a thermostat controlled fish tank heater inside the FV, and that's fine.

Just that someone's mentioned that they heard that a friend of theirs had an Uncle who was said to have once spoke to a bloke in a pub who reckons He once heard about a chap who .....

And yet, every f**ker's offering to sell us these purpose made FV mats .....

[TC2642]

A low cost method is to use the plastic base that you get from ready to cook pizza's. Insulates the bottom really well, other than that, if your wort is really cold wrap a sleeping bag around the fv, that's bound to get it up to temp.

[Ditch]

Arnie; I need additional warmth. Far more than fermentation would produce. I've been doing what I do for enough years now that I have a grip on it. My way appears to fly in the face of received wisdoms. That I can't help.

Have you ever used a mat? Or heard solid evidence that it's a bad idea?

[TC2642]

I have not used a mat and I'm not likely too but a heat belt is pretty effective, I would opt for that over a heat mat since you can more effectively control the temp i.e. a heat mat will produce a lot of warmth at the bottom of the FV but I would think that you would want a more regulated temp which you could do with a belt since it can be placed around the middle of the FV.

[Ditch]

Sorry, Arnie. There's information you're simply not getting here. This is because I've discussed the back legs off of all this else where.

The alternatives have been examined and discussed. It's been chewed over to the nth degree. Upshot being that I want to use a mat. I just want to clear this niggle that mat's may possibly be a f**k up.

[TC2642]

Ok, do you have a link to the type of mat you want to buy?

[Ditch]

Clicky.

Not that I can see a lot of relevance attaching to any particular model. I intend to warm from beneath the trub. And that's where I'm getting the negative vibe from.

Could it do something untoward? Heat radiating from beneath. As opposed to around or within? <-- That is the core question here. The Definitive answer is The Holy Grail.

[Fil]

having 1performed a few tests with a metal fv and external heating, it takes some time for heat to penetrate a still liquid.. SO.... I would suggest u stick the temp probe of the controller close to the heat source,(circa 2 inches up from the bottom??) that way u will heat up in small increments while the temp probe registers target quickly and restarts once the bulk has normalised its temp, otherwise u do risk overheating close to the heat source while the change in temp penetrates the liquid mass to where u are measuriung the temp.

[TC2642]

You could try an insulated box setup, may more evenly spread the heat?

[Ditch]

Fil; I do believe you've got it! So, This must be what people have done (wrong) ~ baked their yeast cake ~ and thus developed negative views of heat mats!

Just to add the obvious to your own observation; Of course, heat rises. So, it should incrementally spread itself up through the liquid. Yes?

Either way, I new feel informed enough to make my decision. And that decision is to invest in a heat mat

Thanks!

[Ditch]

Arnie; Great minds think alike! If you look at my " Ditch's Stout " Thread, and turn the last page back? I think it's about there that I explain my intentions

[Nikster]

Was going to ask if you'd thought about the bath route, but I guess you already have.

[sbond10]

What thermal controller are you you gonna use and how are gonna connect it up ?