Heat sticks rule!

[BrianL]

I finally got around to building a heat stick. Hooked it up to my Ranco controller I use for my fermentation freezer, set it to heat my strike water the night before brew day and when I woke up it was time to dough in. Plus saved a little propane.

I used JB weld to seal it up, worked great.



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[foomench]

Bucket heater, $28 at Ace Hardware, and available numerous other places. Supposedly will automatically shut off if it gets dry. I own one, but haven't tested the shutoff feature, nor do I plan to.

[Stinkfist]

Can a Ranco control that much? Either way hope you have that on GFCI, I don't like to leave mine unattended in case it gets a leak and shorts out..

[BrianL]

Its a small heater element, only ends up around 12 amps. GFCI of course.

[captain carrot]

+1 on the heat stick. I use mine along with propane and it really speeds things up. Great way to shorten your brewday.
Build your own: http://www.cedarcreeknetworks.com/heatstick.htm