Fish tank heaters ?

[awalker]

It might be pointing out the obvious, but

Make sure the fermenter is off the cold concrete floor in the garage (or outbuilding), which will act as a large heatsink
So I can keep mine on the floor and not have to lift it too high its insulated with a heavy thick rubber matt between the fermenter and the garage floor

[Frank N Stein]

I only make cheap beer kits in a 10 gallon plastic container with a lid.

I make the beer in the utility room which can get quite cold in winter, as I have the hatch cover off the loft which is directly above

I have been using an electronic fish tank heater for over 20 years, but not the submersible type that people are talking about here. I only submerse the glass tube part of it, and keep the plactic top containing the adjusting mechanism out of the wort.

It can be adjusted from 68 - 93 degrees Farenheit, and is incredibly accurate

It was imported from Italy by Rolf C Hagen. I don't know if it can still be bought, but I would thoroughly recommend it!

[daveyk]

This was one of the best bits of brewing kit i have ever bought. Really good for keeping the brew temp constant.... even if brewing in the understairs cupboard.
I've found that the reliability of the fermentation is MUCH better with the heater than without.
Picked mine up from Ebay for about £10.

[Ditch]

It might be pointing out the obvious, but

Make sure the fermenter is off the cold concrete floor in the garage (or outbuilding), which will act as a large heatsink

Thanks for that! I have a sheet of 'Jabolite', really thick polystyrene, knocking about in my store room. If I cut discs of it, to fit the bottoms of my FV's perfectly, then bind them on with brown tape, I expect my Dogs won't be drawn to them ~ for a scratch and a nibble ~ either.

To think I've been heating the concrete floor of my kitchen all along! Wood and trees

[Titanium Tone]

Hi Kev
Yes i have made a 2 inch thick polysteryne cover which covers the whole FV. Maybe i have a faulty Electrim. What do you insulate yours with.

[Shoit]

I just cover the whole thing in several blankets! Nothing as technical as your polystyrene cover - that's a great idea. What does the temperature sit at if it's left somewhere with a warmer ambient temperature? Maybe its faulty?

Kev

[Titanium Tone]

It sat at 69-70 in the better weather which was great then when it turned cold it just made 65 on a god day. I have tried to adjust the thermostat but no real change. The ATC300 with the brew belt seems to be coping ok.

[Prozac]

It might be pointing out the obvious, but

Make sure the fermenter is off the cold concrete floor in the garage (or outbuilding), which will act as a large heatsink
So I can keep mine on the floor and not have to lift it too high its insulated with a heavy thick rubber matt between the fermenter and the garage floor

Good advice....... ****Note to self----read the whole thread before posting ******

Just a matter of interest.... is rubber a good thermal insulator? A block of polystyrene, pretty cheaply available from any builders supplies (even with a silver thermal coating) would be better I'd have thought..... You could even very easily knock up a cube box with a knife and some gaffa tape!!

I may look into this my self as the wife will force me into putting the beer in the garage over christmas...... it sits in the dining room at the moment.... but wont when we're having christmas dinner.

[awalker]

It might be pointing out the obvious, but

Make sure the fermenter is off the cold concrete floor in the garage (or outbuilding), which will act as a large heatsink
So I can keep mine on the floor and not have to lift it too high its insulated with a heavy thick rubber matt between the fermenter and the garage floor

Just a matter of interest.... is rubber a good thermal insulator? A block of polystyrene, pretty cheaply available from any builders supplies (even with a silver thermal coating) would be better I'd have thought..... You could even very easily knock up a cube box with a knife and some gaffa tape!!

You a probably right its not the best, I just have a lot of it. But is better than my concrete floor.
Its not solid its one of those work matts designed for people standing at machines for long periods.

I will soon be changing how I ferment as i am building a full ferment cupboard using an incubator as a controller.
Which will control temp between 5 and 60oc at <0.5oC increments so then I can do several batches at the same time
and dump the old fridge and have all my cornys at 12oC.

Aaahhh back to the idea of a ATC800 as the incubator only heats!!!!!!!!!!

[awalker]

It might be pointing out the obvious, but

Make sure the fermenter is off the cold concrete floor in the garage (or outbuilding), which will act as a large heatsink

Thanks for that!

To think I've been heating the concrete floor of my kitchen all along! Wood and trees

Glad I could help.
Polystyrene will be about as good as you can get I reckon

[beer today]

just done my first brew, using an aquarium heater, seems to work fine, however my fish seem somewhat intrigued

[Prozac]

Just been and bought a 50w heater..... it'll be in the garage and so I figured a 25w heater would be working it's goolies off all the time so I went a bit bigger....

I've a couple of old sleeping bags to wrap it in to insulate it too.

What temp should I set it for?..... I prefer to keep my house on the cooler side..... so I guess my brews never get over 21c so this is what I was going to set the thermostat to.....

[Ditch]

What temp should I set it for?

Mine's set bang on a permanent nh, nh, nh, nh, Nineteen. Couple of degrees shouldn't tilt the world off its axis.

[Prozac]

Cheers Ditch.... I settled on 21......

Got your brew off the floor yet???

Proze

[KevP]

Cheers Ditch....

Got your brew off the floor yet???

Proze

I doubt it, I think his back is still giving him pain (personally I think he's after a polish bride)