Heat mats, belts etc...

[Trotters80]

Hello, which is best?. A mat(tray), belt or thermostat to keep beer at right temperature when fermenting?.

Thanks

 

[Chippy_Tea]

The best (and biggest) is a brew fridge (link below) a water bath is also very popular basically a container that will hold your FV's which you then pour water into and put a thermostat controlled fish tank heater into the water to heat the water and your brew, i would say a heat pad is next and the belt last, belts can be a right pain as you have to move them up and down your FV to get the right temperature.

Brew fridge - http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=51855

 

[Fil]

if using a belt or a mat imho your better off using in conjunction with a temperature controller like an stc1000 for the best results.

as said the brewfridge is the best option so keep an eye out for a freebe doner fridge

 

[FatDad]

I'm going the water bath route to try and beat the winter cold.

I've just bought:
1 x large plastic container (from Wilko).............................. 6 quid
1 x 100w Aquarium Heater with thermostat (Ebay)............... 7 quid
1 x LCD Aquarium Thermometer (C & F Readings) (Ebay)...... 2 quid
Total................................................................................. 15 quid

So have room for
1 x 25L Bucket and 1 DemiJohn
or
3 x Demi Johns (should get 3 in but haven't tried yet).

 

[Trotters80]

I'm going the water bath route to try and beat the winter cold.

I've just bought:
1 x large plastic container (from Wilko).............................. 6 quid
1 x 100w Aquarium Heater with thermostat (Ebay)............... 7 quid
1 x LCD Aquarium Thermometer (C & F Readings) (Ebay)...... 2 quid
Total................................................................................. 15 quid

So have room for
1 x 25L Bucket and 1 DemiJohn
or
3 x Demi Johns (should get 3 in but haven't tried yet).

Would like to see a picture of this sometime?

 

[FatDad]

Would like to see a picture of this sometime?

I'm starting my Yule Brew tomorrow so might set up the water bath to get a picture for you. :)

 

[Trotters80]

I'm starting my Yule Brew tomorrow so might set up the water bath to get a picture for you. :)

Look forward to it. Yule brew eh?. Sounds good

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Here are some i found.

 

[FatDad]

Here's mine.

 

[Trotters80]

Hey, thanks. Good pictures. I'm not upto this stage yet, maybe in the future. For now I just want summat simple. I'll probably buy a heat mat(tray) for starters.

 

[MyQul]

Here's mine.

Not good enough, FD! I want it reimagined, retouched and colourised, dammit!

 

[FatDad]

Not good enough, FD! I want it reimagined, retouched and colourised, dammit!

The animated version will be available on Youtube in the coming months lol

P.S. I had to replace the original version of the image you quoted because of a typo on the thermometer.

 

[Trotters80]

Well what should I use?. I have a fermenting bin, how can I keep this at right temperature?. I believe a heat mat isn't thermostatically controlled, a belt as someone stated you have to keep moving it up & down, so if I bought one of these...

http://www.leyland-home-brew.co.uk/electrim-heater-thermostat-1002-p.asp

Does this go inside my fermenting beer?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

The problem i can see with that heater is it can only be used in one DJ at a time and you are going to have to make sure its sterilised before using it including the wire, I take it you don't like the water bath method.

 

[Trotters80]

The problem i can see with that heater is it can only be used in one DJ at a time and you are going to have to make sure its sterilised before using it including the wire, I take it you don't like the water bath method.

Its not that I don't like it, I just thought it may be too advanced for me at this stage, but if its simple I'll consider it.

I take it this is the best method?. I notice the water is less than half full in the container.

So basically, the thermostat heats the water which heats the barrel & you have a temperature controller?. That's it?.

Cheers

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Yes that's it, the fish tank heater has a thermostat built in (i would check the water temperature after a few hours as they are not 100% accurate) its a simple and cheap way of doing it, i have noticed some of the fish tank heaters in the pictures are submerged and others are not, i remember when i used to keep fish they had to be fully submerged so if you get one check the instructions. :thumb:

 

[Trotters80]

Yes that's it, the fish tank heater has a thermostat built in (i would check the water temperature after a few hours as they are not 100% accurate) its a simple and cheap way of doing it, i have noticed some of the fish tank heaters in the pictures are submerged and others are not, i remember when i used to keep fish they had to be fully submerged so if you get one check the instructions. :thumb:

I'll look into em because seems like that whole equipment is cheaper than that thermostat at Leyland Home Brew on its own

 

[Chippy_Tea]

These flexible tubs (builders trugs) seem popular if you haven't already got something suitable- https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=b...ChMIxaDxv5qGyAIVQ10aCh3RKAY-&biw=1745&bih=868

 

[Trotters80]

Yeah, why not. No I don't have one like that, but if its big enough to hold my 5 gallon fermenting bin and its not taking up much more space.

Thanks

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Let us know how you get on.