Johnson Controls Thermostat Question

[Bugeater]

Bugeater, so when you set your thermostat, how much colder do you set the ambient temperature during active fermentation to keep the beer at the desired temperature. Or, do you just monitor it and adjust as needed?

I aim for 5-7° lower than desired fermentation temperature to start depending on the gravity of the wort. Since I monitor both the wort and ambient temps, I adjust as needed.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[BeerMan]

This is a copy of a post I did on the chest freezer thread posted by TimmyR it dead on for this topic so I reposted it here.

This is a description of a digital two-Stage temperature Controller from B3's web site.

Now you can easily control two different temperature regulating devices. This all new, two-stage controller comes pre-wired with dual AC outlets. One outlet is controlled by one relay, the other by a second relay. The most common application is to use one stage to heat and the other to cool. This means you can simultaneously control a heater and a cooling device, never having to manually switch between heating and cooling modes.

I use mine with a frem wrap for fermenting and lagering, I place a probe in my fermentor if it gets to warm the chest will kick on and if it gets to cold the ferm wrap kicks on and warms it. This way I can control fermention and lagering temps + or - a degree or two. I have not found any other method that gives you this kind of control for the money.
Cheers

[johnc66]

I recently purchased a dual stage controller from B3 and I have it hooked to my upright freezer. I set the Temp to 68 and the differential is set to 2+/-. I haven't brewed since I got it, should I set the temperature lower and/or change the differential. It seems to hold around 68 pretty good, but it will go to 70 and down to 66.

I was thinking I should fill the fermenter with water and see how it does. Any tips?

Thanks,

John

[Monster Mash]

I recently purchased a dual stage controller from B3 and I have it hooked to my upright freezer. I set the Temp to 68 and the differential is set to 2+/-. I haven't brewed since I got it, should I set the temperature lower and/or change the differential. It seems to hold around 68 pretty good, but it will go to 70 and down to 66.

I was thinking I should fill the fermenter with water and see how it does. Any tips?

Thanks,

John

I set my controller 4 degrees lower then my target. If I want 68 I set it at 64, fermentation generates heat so you are better off having it a few degrees colder then you want.

[johnc66]

I set my controller 4 degrees lower then my target. If I want 68 I set it at 64, fermentation generates heat so you are better off having it a few degrees colder then you want.

Thanks Monster. Did you change the differential or is two ok?

[Monster Mash]

You should keep the differential around 4 degrees, the less work your compresser does the better.

The refridgerator temp will fluctuate +/- 4 degrees but the liquid in the fermenter takes longer to change so there will be little fluctuation in the actual fermenting temp.

[johnc66]

Thanks Monster!

[MTfarmboy]

I set my controller 4 degrees lower then my target. If I want 68 I set it at 64, fermentation generates heat so you are better off having it a few degrees colder then you want.

Great read guys. So do you bump up the controller setting as the fermentation slows and generates less heat?