Whitebeard_Brewer wrote:jimlin wrote:sharkguy05 wrote:Flextape is doin great! You best buy a ranco temp controller for about 40$ off of ebay. Get dual stage if u can that way u can control 2 different items.
So I should stay away from the cheaper Zilla thermostat/controller? I really only need to temp control one thing at a time. And I don't have a fridge to use for fermenting, so dual stage seems unnecessary
Unnecessary.....for now....always plan for expansion....for the few extra $$$'s you will spend for the dual, I say get it now!!!
I went with the Johnson controller at MoreBeer. Didn't get the dual. At this point it just doesn't seem realistic. If I need the dual in a year, so be it. I'll either just buy another Johnson single or sell the single I'm getting and get the dual.
I haven't had any issues keeping the ferment cool enough in the summer. I might have my folks' old fridge by the Spring, so I could use that if needed (if I decide to try a lager), but for the foreseeable future, the single should do fine. In the winter I definitely need to use the heat tape I just got in order to keep things at the proper temp w/o fluctuation. During active ferment it's fine, but once that slows, keeping the temp about 65 steadily is tough. Next up is to pick up some foam board insulation and build a box to hold temp
