So I want to build a fermentation chamber and I have the same idea as a lot of people here to basically build a mini fridge into a larger cabinet to cool, and I have several different ideas of how to heat it. Currently I have been using an old school electric blanket (the kind that doesn't safety shut off when the power is killed) on a PID-SSR controller. I plan to continue using the PID to control the heater, but change to an element style and set the alarm temp accordingly to turn on the refrigerator. I already have the controller built, just haven't been using the cooling end of it.
What makes my plan unique, I think, Is that I want to build a water bath into the lower portion of the chamber. My theory is that since air has a low thermal mass, it is susceptible to larger temperature swings. If I put several inches of water in the bottom of the chamber I have a large thermal mass that both stays at temperature and resists the change of an exothermic carboy during early fermentation. Not to mention better heat transfer being in direct contact with the carboy. This is based on the swamp cooler method used by many, just more precisely controlled.
Has anyone done this before? thoughts on if it's worth the effort? I'm leaning toward a submersed heater vs an air heater, thoughts?
Thanks in advance for your input!
What makes my plan unique, I think, Is that I want to build a water bath into the lower portion of the chamber. My theory is that since air has a low thermal mass, it is susceptible to larger temperature swings. If I put several inches of water in the bottom of the chamber I have a large thermal mass that both stays at temperature and resists the change of an exothermic carboy during early fermentation. Not to mention better heat transfer being in direct contact with the carboy. This is based on the swamp cooler method used by many, just more precisely controlled.
Has anyone done this before? thoughts on if it's worth the effort? I'm leaning toward a submersed heater vs an air heater, thoughts?
Thanks in advance for your input!