Fermentation Chamber

[Martin-68]

Hi
I’m looking for a bit of advice ,I’m building a fermentation chamber out of a fridge
Regarding the heating is it better to use a standard tube heater , or use a heat pad ,I was concerned if you use a heat pad you may overheat the fv to achieve the chamber ambient temperature?

 

[chrisb8]

I used a tube heater in mine but I think perhaps the more important thing to consider is whether you are going to be measuring the temperature of the air inside the fridge or the liquid in the fermenter. I opted for having my thermostat taped to the side of the fermenter and insulated with some foam so that it will be as close as possible to reading the temperature of the fermenting wort without using a thermowell.

I think that if you set up your thermostat to measure the air temperature then you can end up with the cooling and heating systems 'chasing' each other. The mass of liquid takes longer to heat/cool than the air so can find an equilibrium easier.

Hope that makes sense and helps...

 

[jceg316]

I use a large tube heater. I've been advised against using a large one but so far it's fine. I stick my temp probe on the outside of my CV with blue tack and it is about a degree out.

 

[Leon103]

I use a large tube heater. I've been advised against using a large one but so far it's fine. I stick my temp probe on the outside of my CV with blue tack and it is about a degree out.

It is always handy for prospective employers to know the temperature of the candidate.

 

[Ghillie]

Tube heater is great.

Forget about overshoot, it's myth. If you're measuring the wort temp and aiming for a setpoint based on that then you're grand! @chrisb8 is right, you don't want to measure the ambient - forget about that entirely.

 

[Martin-68]

Thanks for your advice ,
I have ordered a small tube heater to put in the bottom of the fridge & yes I will fix the probe to the side of the FV
Measuring the temp of the wort directly sounds the best approach ,this will then account for the temp increase created by
The fermentation process

 

[jceg316]

It is always handy for prospective employers to know the temperature of the candidate.

It took me ages to figure out what you were saying until I read my sentence back.