fermentation freezer

[hopshead]

I scored a chest freezer and Johnson temp controller from a friend for $80 yesterday. I have had trouble in the past controlling ferm temps so this is $80 investment should greatly improve my beers. I read that the Johnson Controller has a 3.5 degree differential. I plan to tape the probe to my carboy and insulate the probe with foam or something so that it reads the temp of carboy not ambient air. My question is will the 3.5 temp swing be detrimental to my beer? For example if I wanted to make an alt at 60 degrees the temp will dive down to 56.5 and get as high as 60, is this going to be a problem?

[phrieken2]

YOU LUCKY BASTARD!!!!!!!!!! I've been looking around for one for cheap for 2 months or so..... I am so incredibly jealous.....

[bub]

For most things this will be fine, check the temp with a REAL thermometer though as the Johnson seems to be inaccurate as far as the dial is concerned.
Lagers you MIGHT notice some difference between the Johnson and something "better" but I doubt it.
BUB

[BrewTa2]

For most things this will be fine, check the temp with a REAL thermometer though as the Johnson seems to be inaccurate as far as the dial is concerned.
Lagers you MIGHT notice some difference between the Johnson and something "better" but I doubt it.
BUB

Great deal! Yeah, the dial is worthless, get a digital indoor/outdoor thermometer and attach the thermocouple to the bulb. I think the swing is too big for fermentation, but alright for lagering. My beers have improved greatly since I got dual controllers and built fermentation boxes that hold the fermentation to 1 degree +/-.

[breyton]

I would suggest not using the Johnson Controller. A 3.5 temp differential it too great in my opinion. You will want to be able to control temps +- 1F.

Spend a few more bucks and get a Ranco on ebay or Morebeer or even the digital controller from NorthernBrewer.

If you go that route, both Morebeer and Northern Brewer sell a stopper with a thermowell that you can use to directly monitor the temp of your beer.

[BrewerJ]

since you have that controller already you can leave the temp probe suspended in the air. Then your air will only swing 3.5 degrees. You will have to set it cooler while its fermenter because of the generated heat and then warm it back up as fermentation slows. I can keep fermentation within 2 degrees with this method.

[hopshead]

Hmmm, my ferm. freezer is on my screened in back porch. Last night the low was about 44F and this morning I checked the ambient air temp in the freezer. It was about 56F. Fermentation is almost done but it made wonder how I can avoid large temp swings during the initial fermentation. What do you guys do?

[Sent From My iPhone]

I don't have a designated fermentation fridge (yet) so for now I use a Thermowell fermentation kit and a 6.5 gallon carboy, which includes a stopper thermowell, digital Johnson temp controller, and a Fermwrap heater (http://pivo.northernbrewer.com/nbstore/ ... &x=30&y=14). This goes in my chest freezer with my kegs, which is at 42*. So far I've been able to ferment lagers at 50-52* and keep my kegs at around 42*.