Heater for fermenting fridge

mbrew · Post by **mbrew** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 4:10 pm

Hi,
I'm looking for a heater for my fermenting fridge, ideally a tube heater with around 40-45w & IP55 rated so splash proof.
Problem I'm having is finding one that doesn't cut out at about 15c ambient temperature as most are used for frost protection. Any recommendations for tubes that are known to work or other types of heaters?

Jambo · Post by **Jambo** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 4:26 pm

Strange - are you looking at ones with built in thermostats? If so - no need as long as you use an inkbird or STC-1000 as most do.

This looks suitable:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ecoheater-IP5 ... SwY45UNTmK

jaroporter · Post by **jaroporter** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 4:27 pm

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p32265?table=no

mbrew · Post by **mbrew** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 4:45 pm

Jambo wrote:Strange - are you looking at ones with built in thermostats? If so - no need as long as you use an inkbird or STC-1000 as most do.

This looks suitable:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ecoheater-IP5 ... SwY45UNTmK

That's one on my list but was hoping to hear from someone that has actually used it & can confirm it works OK up to 20+ degc.

They nearly all have overheat sensors in them which trip out at a certain internal temperature, as the ambient temp rises the tube gets hotter & then trips out, this is generally at about 90c tube & 15c ambient on the lower wattage heaters, some of the higher wattage heaters have higher temp cut outs but I was really looking for a heater in the 40w range if poss.

mbrew · Post by **mbrew** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 4:47 pm

jaroporter wrote:http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p32265?table=no

60w & IP44, may be an option but was hoping for lower wattage if poss.

gobuchul · Post by **gobuchul** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 5:22 pm

Have a look for heating cable. I use it successfully. I find it better than the greenhouse type heaters.

Something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Pet-Supplies ... ting+cable

jaroporter · Post by **jaroporter** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 6:01 pm

what is the reason you only want a 40w heater?

mbrew · Post by **mbrew** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 6:05 pm

gobuchul wrote:Have a look for heating cable. I use it successfully. I find it better than the greenhouse type heaters.

Something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Pet-Supplies ... ting+cable

Thanks, that's something I might look into.

mbrew · Post by **mbrew** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 6:09 pm

jaroporter wrote:what is the reason you only want a 40w heater?

Safety really, its a small confined plastic box so would like to keep temperatures no higher than they need to be, the 60w heaters seem to have a tube temperature of about 130c from what I can see which is pretty hot, the 40w versions are around 85-90c.

I've used a single 21w incandescent light bulb before & that worked Ok so 40w will be more than enough.

Matt in Birdham · Post by **Matt in Birdham** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 6:23 pm

Pretty sure this is the one I have: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Electric-Hea ... ube+heater

Although it does mention a heat "cut out", I can only guess that this is for much higher than 20C. I think people use these in bathrooms as well, although I could be wrong. I have no trouble hitting and maintaining mid 20's in a fridge in a freezing garage with this heater - don't think you really need bigger and could possibly get away with smaller.

mbrew · Post by **mbrew** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 6:32 pm

Matt in Birdham wrote:Pretty sure this is the one I have: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Electric-Hea ... ube+heater

Although it does mention a heat "cut out", I can only guess that this is for much higher than 20C. I think people use these in bathrooms as well, although I could be wrong. I have no trouble hitting and maintaining mid 20's in a fridge in a freezing garage with this heater - don't think you really need bigger and could possibly get away with smaller.

Thanks, that's the current top of my list & have been waiting for a reply from the distributer today, so far they have been unable to confirm.
Good to hear its doing the job, I would appreciate it if you could somehow confirm this is the one you have.

Your right that its more than big enough, I would go less if they made something like a 30w.

BenB · Post by **BenB** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 8:25 pm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Complete-Flex ... 1138232218

Sorted! I've got some of this stuff in my second fermentation chamber. Stick it to the side of the chamber with adhesive foil tape. Done.

Matt in Birdham · Post by **Matt in Birdham** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 10:15 pm

mbrew wrote:
Matt in Birdham wrote:Pretty sure this is the one I have: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Electric-Hea ... ube+heater

Although it does mention a heat "cut out", I can only guess that this is for much higher than 20C. I think people use these in bathrooms as well, although I could be wrong. I have no trouble hitting and maintaining mid 20's in a fridge in a freezing garage with this heater - don't think you really need bigger and could possibly get away with smaller.
Thanks, that's the current top of my list & have been waiting for a reply from the distributer today, so far they have been unable to confirm.
Good to hear its doing the job, I would appreciate it if you could somehow confirm this is the one you have.

Your right that its more than big enough, I would go less if they made something like a 30w.

Just had a search through my Amazon orders and happy to confirm that I do indeed have this exact model. As far as I know this has never shut off on me, although the highest I have ever set my fridge is 22C (as it happens, it is happily holding an ale at 21.5 right now, in the shed).

lord groan · Post by **lord groan** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 12:50 am

I strongly recommend benb's heating cable mentioned above, from Bulgaria. I've been using this for about a year+. I cable tied it to the underside of the wire shelf in the fridge, when on its about 80c max but the wire shelf helps dissipate the heat. No problems with it, it gives a nice even heat spread and takes upno room at all
Brilliant!

ciderhead · Post by **ciderhead** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 1:06 am

I use computer fans on all of mine and tube never gets hot, and my fridge gets to temp in circa 50 percent of the time it would without the fan.

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