STC 1000 controlled fermenter heater only (brew belt)

Apologies for starting 2 threads in as many minutes (long time reader first time poster etc). Have read a lot about this with regards to brew fridges but not purely for heating with a brew belt.

I have and STC 1000 cheapo temperature controller and plan to tape and insulate the thermistor to the side of the 5 gallon plastic FV then use a 100W (rather potent - I will check it doesn't melt anything) brew belt on lower part of FV as heat source. I'd insulate the whole lot in a couple of layers of 6mm closed cell foam.

Im doing this because the wife hates the bubbling noise of fermenting so I have been banished to an unheated garage. Over winter (even with the brew generating heat) I can't see that any cooling will be needed (600ft above sea level in Sheffield) to necessitate a fridge.

Any wisdom?

Cheers!
Joe

Yeah sod the airlock off and just leave the lid loose!

Heat only will see you through winter but not summer when ambient + ferment temp combined can top the 30s

or even better ditch the wife

Just like Rob says, my next brew will be batch 120 ...........................what's and air lock
I do control the heating temperature though, a bar heater in an insulated cupboard, but looks like you have a plan that will do it ?
I use the cupboard for bottle conditioning as well, wouldn't get away with beer bottles everywhere in the house, bad enough when I leave to many on the draining board .


S

I ferment my beer in a cellar. It never gets too hot. I use a water bath type thing. A big tub with an aquarium heater in it covered in bubble wrap. That way I can put 2 fermenters in there and control them both. I did have it hooked up to a temp controller but don't bother now, as I have got to know my set up. I just take regular temperature readings early on in fermentation just to make sure it's not too hot.

Dump the airlock, if your using a FV not bucket put the lid on loosely or use some cling film over the opening but if it's a bucket the Co2 will find it's own way out.


aamcle

Cheers guys... Including the relationship advice . Apparently the airlockbnoise makes her need a pee... However I suspect she also doesnt like buckets of beer "cluttering up the house" too!

Sounds like this idea is worth a go then as an intermediate step to a brew fridge.

Also I cocked up my nomenclature... I have 5gallon to 10gallon brew buckets not a fancy metal fermenting vessel!

Joe

[Joe1002]

Very observant lads. This picture was taken when I was using two different yeasts on the same brew, note the yeast packets on the right by each bucket. I think I was taking pictures of the yeast for comparison purposes.
I do always have the lids placed on but..........................
I would add that with this double decker approach I was getting quite a temperature difference top to bottom, until I added a small fan to stir the air up.
S

Hi...i am a new user here. In my case I do control the heating temperature though, a bar heater in an insulated cupboard, but looks like you have a plan that will do it ?I use the cupboard for bottle conditioning as well, wouldn't get away with beer bottles everywhere in the house, bad enough when I leave to many on the draining board