Thermometer probe belt device...

[sifty]

Is there anything out there like a neoprene pocket you can snug up against the fermenter to put your temp probe in?
I usually tape a bit of foam to the side and tuck the probe inside against the fermenter, but I'm over cleaning up the messy tape residue.

I'm imagining a simple belt you can tighten around the fermentation device with a small neoprene pad that holds the probe.

No luck searching the interweb, just comes up with heat belts. Could easily make one I guess.

Or is this a silly idea?

 

[foxy]

You can make a probe housing for where it is best suited, right down the guts of the fermenter. Some silicone tube tied off with a cable tie and fitted to a male barb at the top of the fermenter. Or use Blue Tack as an insulator to attach the probe to the outside. Method 1 would be the best.

 

[sifty]

Good points. I'm improving my temp control and obviously the probe right in there is best. Might be tricky with some fermenters though.
And never even considered blu tack...

 

[The Baron]

bungy cords if you have some the right size

 

[sifty]

Actually I do have some flat ones with a plastic hook. Will see how they look tomorrow for size...

 

[UKSkydiver]

A square of packing foam with a slit for the probe and a bit of elasticated ribbon type stuff.

 

[sifty]

Simple, practical and better than tape. Cheers...

 

[gingerneil]

Good points. I'm improving my temp control and obviously the probe right in there is best. Might be tricky with some fermenters though.
And never even considered blu tack...

An ispindel is great for this - temp measure right there in the brew

 

[dearleuk]

An ispindel is great for this - temp measure right there in the brew

I find a 2 degree temp difference between the ispindel and my inkbird and I never know which one to trust. The ispindel is always higher

 

[gingerneil]

I find a 2 degree temp difference between the ispindel and my inkbird and I never know which one to trust. The ispindel is always higher

Where are they both sited?

 

[sifty]

Yeah got an ispindel (one of yours @gingerneil ) but it doesn't control my brew fridges. Useful in monitoring though.

 

[dearleuk]

Where are they both sited?

The ispindel in the bucket and the inkbird sensor taped to the bucket with a bit of foam covering it

 

[stripeyjoe]

With my brew fridge I find I get less temp swings with the probe mounted on the side of the FV under a bit of foam than if it is in a thermowell in the middle of the FV. When in the thermowell I think the thermal mass of the wort makes for larger swings, the heater heats up too much by the time the temp rise is measured in the centre of the wort and then it cools down too much the other way.

 

[sifty]

That's interesting. Cheers. Could probably adjust by tuning a PID controller, but would take a few goes.
I'm making up an elastic belt with foam pad now based on pics above..

 

[Bolsover Brewer]

With my brew fridge I find I get less temp swings with the probe mounted on the side of the FV under a bit of foam than if it is in a thermowell in the middle of the FV. When in the thermowell I think the thermal mass of the wort makes for larger swings, the heater heats up too much by the time the temp rise is measured in the centre of the wort and then it cools down too much the other way.

Interesting observation, I use a thermowell and find it gives the most accurate measurement, I have found it to be a couple of degrees cooler on the side. The fermenting wort is constantly moving due to the thermal energy created by the yeast.
I think the insulating property of the plastic could well throw off the temperature measurement when attached to the outside.

 

[stripeyjoe]

Interesting observation, I use a thermowell and find it gives the most accurate measurement, I have found it to be a couple of degrees cooler on the side. The fermenting wort is constantly moving due to the thermal energy created by the yeast.
I think the insulating property of the plastic could well throw off the temperature measurement when attached to the outside.

I've got an iSpindel in the wort so can monitor the wort temp and the fridge temp, I can adjust the InkBird if the iSpindel is reporting anything too high (or low). Generally the is-index and InkBird are within a degree or two of each other so no real issue.

 

[sifty]

Regards wort movement, I have a clear fermzilla fermenter and am amazed at the motion during active fermentation when I use this. Almost like it's boiling sometimes, watching the yeast clumps swirl around...

 

[Nicks90]

Yeah its fascinating. I use white plastic beer fvs, but I love watching my wine in the glass demijohn swirling about!

 

[sifty]

So I've got a couple of metres of 50mm elastic strap, and have ordered some plastic quick release clips. I'll shape some nice foam pads and construct something tidy when I have all the bits.
In the meantime, rigged an old surfboard strap on the brew I did today, based on ideas above...

 

[sifty]

Oh yeah, my bits arrived and I rigged this up. Used a router to cut out a pocket in the foam, and the elastic strap clicks together with a clip. So much neater than using sticky tape...