heating a fermentation fridge

[BeerRun13]

I built this thing just over a week ago, and it works like a champ.

http://brewstands.com/fermentation-heater.html

Just brewed my first Tripel a few weeks ago, and then a cold snap brought my ferment down to the mid 50's. I ended up seemingly stuck at 1.035 and ended up having to pitch some High Gravity Yeast yesterday. The new heater has been keeping it right at 70 for the last week, however.

[acepilot]

the ranco is def the best piece of brewing equipment i've purchased.

I just got a Ranco 2 stage with the 0-10V output for my data logger. My logger can sample up to about 4 times per second if I recall. I plan to sample once every 5 minutes and log the temp to disk. Then I can look at the graph over the whole duration of fermentation and see just how steady the temps were maintained. Ya, I know, geekus maximus!

So, I HOPE the Ranco is the best piece of equipment I've bought!!

[Adam78K]

Jamil said that with insulation and temperature prob taped to the outside it was not more than a 1 degree difference between that and inside the liquid. Was on Brew Strong.

[krizwit]

the ranco is def the best piece of brewing equipment i've purchased.

I just got a Ranco 2 stage with the 0-10V output for my data logger. My logger can sample up to about 4 times per second if I recall. I plan to sample once every 5 minutes and log the temp to disk. Then I can look at the graph over the whole duration of fermentation and see just how steady the temps were maintained. Ya, I know, geekus maximus!

So, I HOPE the Ranco is the best piece of equipment I've bought!!

Sounds cool. Where did you get the logger? How do you have it setup?

I use a fermwrap and some reflectix around my carboys to maintain the temps in my fridge. This way I can use the fridge and the freezer... The best part is that I can ferment at two different temps in the fridge, especially important if you want to do a lager or have one yeast that is a lot more active than the other(nothing like cleaning up lots of yeast in your fridge).

[maxpower2078]

I just use a heat lamp but I ferment in a keg so the light isn't any worry. This is in an upright freezer that is outside but I used to use it in a chest freezer when I used carboys too.

[Cliff]

i'll probably start off with a light bulb and progress from there as needed.

[/quote]

Do NOT use a halogen bulb. Halogen produces enormous amounts of infra red. Use a regular incandescent bulb.
I'd hook a controller to it like a RANCO or Johnson controller. You do want to try to stay inside some specific temp parameters and a controller will do that for ya.

Somewhere online I've read an easy DIY conversion for a $30.00 digital home heating type wall mount thermostat for a brew temp controller.