Heating belt v''s heating paf

[ukphiltr7]

I currently have a beer on that is sitting at 16. I have wrapped it up and done what I can, but here it is getting cold, so I am going to get a heater.

I have seen the belts before and think they are better than the heating pads. Simply due to the pad heats up from below and will heat all the sediment. The belt can be moved to heat as you want it.

Is the belt a better option to the pad/mat?

 

[Fil]

Which yeast are you using, perhaps consider using something like salsafe US-05 which can iirc ferment happily down as low as 12c
whats the current gravity? if at the tail end of primary yeast activity may have simply slowed and stopped imputing heat into the FV, depending on the strain it may well be happy as larry @ 16C or lower..

You will probably get better results with an insulating wrap and leaving it another week or so in primary, or if possible shifting it to a slightly warmer spot temporally (well till you bottle/keg), ambient temps are going to increase with the advent of summer, that cool spot will be very valuable soon..

Applying heat can encourage fussil and ester production.. (no i cant spell either of em..) to levels beyond those you may appreciate, my rule of thumb guide is to ferment at the lower end of a yeasts comfort range for the cleanest ferment..

both pads and belts apply heat input to a relatively small area, some folk consider this results in hotter than optimum spots in the brew.. To avoid this you can use a larger storage box or trub to heat the fv with a small aquarium heater via the waterbath.

In all cases i personally wouldnt trust the 'built in' (present or not?) heat control of such devices and would consider using something like an stc1000 to monitor the temp and switch off when @ target.

The best option of course is a brewfridge fitted with a temp controller, tube heater, and movement fan, as that will maintain your optimum FV temp regardless of ambient conditions..

anyway thats my 2p's worth

 

[BeerCat]

I have been using a pad , its a plastic thing my mate lent me, not cheap. Does not get very hot but maintains temps with an stc. Reptile mats work well (14w). I use belts as well but prefer the mats as they can stay in place on the bench. Not had a problem heating the yeast.

 

[RichK]

I've always used a pad. Personally, I don't think it gets hot enough to cause a problem with overheating anything.

 

[Drunkula]

I've always used a pad. Personally, I don't think it gets hot enough to cause a problem with overheating anything.

Nor me. Considering the low energy output of a belt or pad there's tons of time for the heat to be conducted away, and there'll be loads of convection as the co2 bubbles are pushing the liquid around.

 

[ukphiltr7]

I think a fridge may be the way to go in the future, but for now i have just ordered a belt. At £15 Atyou can not go wrong. From what i remember they only give out a bit of heat, so hopefully it will not cook the beer.

 

[BeerCat]

I think you will find a heat belt without temp control will be too much. Better to invest £30 in an inkbird as well. I make lagers and have no problem using heat mats, my beers still taste clean.

 

[ukphiltr7]

Oh yes possibly bit this is just a quick fix for the moment. Forgot to say that I am currently in Sydney on route to the UK and we are just in winter here. The houses are not made like the UK ones, for the cold so it gets cool here.