Heater for fermentation chamber

[rgarry]

Looking for a heated for a smaller fermentation chamber and want to see what everyone recommends. I haven't been using a heater since I live in Florida but from reading it appears without it there can be wide temp swings.

 

[rgarry]

Come on guys and gals. Someone has a heater they love and someone has one they wish they didnt buy.

 

[Pratzie]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003XDTWN2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

This is what i use and it works great in my 4.4 fridge. Prob even bigger for the space it heats, it works great. Its about the size of a small pencil sharpener. if u click on that link theres a photo next to a keyboard or something to give u an idea of scale.

 

[B2Barleywine]

I use a Ferwrap: http://morebeer.com/products/fermwraptm-heater.html

Works great with a chest freezer and a dual stage temp control

 

[raouliii]

What is the basic design of you chamber? Refrigerator, freezer, custom box? Is it in an air-conditioned space? If it is, it's very unlikely that you would need a heater.
Have you been experiencing unacceptable temperature swings?
How are you positioning your probe?

 

[rgarry]

It a 7.2 cu chest freezer in the garage. I'm using a controlled from Midwest and didn't think I needed a heat source since the garage is usually 70-90 all year around. As I have been reading more, have both heat and cold allows for closer temperature control. I appreciate the ideas suggested already.

 

[jhoyda]

I use a Ferwrap: http://morebeer.com/products/fermwraptm-heater.html

Works great with a chest freezer and a dual stage temp control

I saved some money by building the above. 11" Flexwatt with two crimp connectors and an old extension cord end. 3 ft wraps around a 5 gallon bucket leaving room for your thermocouple taped to the side.

 

[JohnK93]

I made one of these to connect to my STC-1000:
http://brewstands.com/fermentation-heater.html

It's been working great so far, and a pretty cheap option.

John

 

[raouliii]

It a 7.2 cu chest freezer in the garage. I'm using a controlled from Midwest and didn't think I needed a heat source since the garage is usually 70-90 all year around.....

I would agree.

....As I have been reading more, have both heat and cold allows for closer temperature control.....

Given the ambient temperature, this would only be true if the heater and compressor were allowed to constantly fight one another, which isn't a very good idea from an energy consumption standpoint.

Tight temperature control can be achieved by using a good (not necessarily expensive) digital controller along with careful probe placement and temperature differential establishment. The thermal mass of the wort/beer doesn't allow fast temperature swings to take place. IMO, monitoring the wort/beer temperature with the controller probe is the best method. Insulate the probe from the freezer air. This will limit the chance of short cycling and unacceptable temperature undershoot.

Is your controller analog or digital?

 

[rgarry]

It's digital. I have been taping it to the carboy.