heating a fermentation fridge

[bufordsbest]

Hi,

I'm looking at adding a fermentation fridge but I will have to keep it outside in my garage since i have no room in the house.

i live in Canada so the garage will be home to some pretty frigid temps. i'm going to go with a two stage ranco so i can heat during winter and cool during summer.

My question is, what's everyone in the colder climates using as a heater? i've see fermwrap and aquarium heaters in searching but i'm not sure they would provide sufficient enough heat since my garage will general get down to around 15F and i'll be trying to ferment ales in and around 67F. Any thoughts on a space heater like this?

http://yahoo.shoptoit.ca/shop/product-- ... 44633.html

tks for any help,

tg

[Nyakavt]

Just don't do what this guy did:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=18695

It's a good idea to use a heating source that will not set the house on fire if the controller fails (or if you have it wired wrong). Fridges are well insulated so you may be ok with just a fermwrap or a (low wattage) light bulb.

[Kbar]

Hey. Ferment in the house

Winter us a great time for making ales - especially big ales.......

[beltbuckle]

I use two 100w "king size" heating pads, wrapped around the fermenter with a bungie cord. Like you would use for a sore back. My garage doesn't get much below 30 but I would think the fridge is insulated well enough that it wouldn't take more than that.

[ChrisKennedy]

I use a work light (using a sub-100w normal incandescent light bulb) in my ferment fridge when I want to use it as an incubator. It will keep 5gal of beer 30F above room temp pretty easily.

[Mylo]

Why buck the system... Make lagers in winter...


Mylo

[bufordsbest]

Why buck the system... Make lagers in winter...

not a real big lager drinker but maybe next winter.

Thanks for the responses, i'll probably start off with a light bulb and progress from there as needed.

one other question, is everyone just shutting the fridge door on the power cord and probe wire or should i be looking at drilling into the side of the fridge and sealing around the hole?

tks,

tg

[jwatkins56550]

I vote for a ferm wrap