Temperature control and other questions

[Mr.Everready]

Lots of ways of solving this one, depend what you want and how much room, money and time you have.
Here's my solution, controlled by room stat. free, offcuts of ply free and a bar heater, not free
It was so good I build another one, PID controlled but thats another story

One I made earlier

S

How do you get on when the weather is warmer or is it for use through the winter months ?

 

[Springer]

Brews usually done avoiding warmer weather, so not bothered with cooling. If you see my recent post about pouring 80 litres of beer down the drain you will see why I am even keener to brew only when there are less flying things about. :evil:
With a bit of planning its a risk that need not be taken, as far as I am concerned. The brewery is hidden by trees, so its a prime spot for this sort of problem I have now decided. :)

S

 

[Hollow Legs]

I have just bought a THERMOSTAB TC-500 aquarium heater controller, no wiring involved, it has a range of 17degC to 36degC you just plug your heater i.e. brew belt, submersible heater or mat into the device put the temp sensor either in the brew(I chose not to, I taped it to the side of the bucket) and set it to 20degC or lower if you want and leave it, any temps cooler it turns the belt/mat on and visa versa, it can't control cooler temps for this you need a TC-500 duel as this will cool as well as heat if you have the right equipment for the job.

Cost £20 from an aquatic centre

I know that some of you out there will say it is expensive compared to the ones bought on ebay for £14-00 or so but at least this one doesn't need to be wired in (simples for the non technical orientated peoples out there) it can handle 500W input so when you work out that a brew belt is 25W you can add 20 brew belts to this safely (disclaimer, don't add 20 brew belts as this is silly, grow up)

Not much use this weather (even though my annexe is 22degC during the day, it drops to 16degC at night) so the regulator/brew belt combo kicks in and keeps it at 20degC but will obviously start earning it's money back in the Autumn/Winter months.

Colin :

 

[blackrat]

Thanks Hollow Legs,
Sounds perfect for me

Blackrat