the best heat source ?

bvlbrewer · Post by **bvlbrewer** » Tuesday Jun 26, 2007 5:36 pm

winter is coming on and while i am brewing in my garage things are getting a bit cold are heat pads or belts better ? i only want to buy one so can any body help me

mobydick · Post by **mobydick** » Tuesday Jun 26, 2007 5:39 pm

Have you considered making lagers instead? Lager yeasts like it cold.

I have an immersion heater that my Dad gave me. Works well but I think they are a bit old fashioned these days.

wildschwein · Post by **wildschwein** » Tuesday Jun 26, 2007 5:48 pm

If you're making ales just get a heat belt. Turn it on as necassary to bring the temp up to about 16-18C. Don't leave on all day and night though. Or maybe, like already mentioned, just make some lagers.

Sathias · Post by **Sathias** » Tuesday Jun 26, 2007 5:49 pm

I have a heat pad, but it doesn't keep it quite at ale temps during the really cold weather. In those times I just wrap the fermenter in a blanket and combined with the heat pad, it does the trick.

lethaldog · Post by **lethaldog** » Tuesday Jun 26, 2007 6:48 pm

i have a couple of belts and i think they do the job nicely, i also remember there being an issue with the pads heating the trub, just something to think of

Sathias · Post by **Sathias** » Tuesday Jun 26, 2007 6:51 pm

Funny you should say that, I was wondering about that issue just the other day. What sort of issues in particular?

red dog · Post by **red dog** » Tuesday Jun 26, 2007 8:16 pm

Dunno if its relevant, but I am using a couple of hot water bottles to get my brew going and its been fermenting for 4 days now we've had a few cold days. one of the blokes at work was talking about using an electric blanket for his brew.

tazman67 · Post by **tazman67** » Tuesday Jun 26, 2007 9:14 pm

Lager Time !!

Lucky Phils · Post by **Lucky Phils** » Wednesday Jun 27, 2007 8:14 am

I have used a heater belt on a timer which works quite good, but last summer I built a heater / cooler box. in winter I use a 25 watt light globe attached to a termostat to keep the temp up for ales. In summer I just use frozen juice bottles to keep the termp down. I can attach photos, if someone could tell me how to do it.

Phil

rwh · Post by **rwh** » Wednesday Jun 27, 2007 9:05 am

http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/forum/vi ... php?t=6098

FazerPete · Post by **FazerPete** » Wednesday Jun 27, 2007 11:19 am

Put the fermenter in a plastic tub with water in it and add an aquarium heater. The trouble with belts and pads is that they don't have a thermostat whereas the aquarium heater has an adjustable one. Total cost is $20-25 depending on where you get your stuff. In summer just chuck in some softdrink bottles with frozen water in them.

It works a treat, gives you greater control and you don't have to monitor it.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wednesday Jun 27, 2007 11:26 am

I like the hotbox. That or "Lagertime!"

FazerPete · Post by **FazerPete** » Wednesday Jun 27, 2007 12:28 pm

Chris wrote:I like the hotbox. That or "Lagertime!"

The trouble for me is that I like to drink lagers in summer and big malty ales in winter and because I don't bottle, there's no way I can store anything away for that long.

It's almost like the beer gods are combining with the weather gods to frustrate me.

Tipsy · Post by **Tipsy** » Wednesday Jun 27, 2007 6:03 pm

lethaldog wrote:i have a couple of belts and i think they do the job nicely, i also remember there being an issue with the pads heating the trub, just something to think of

I have a temp controller with mine and put the probe as close to the bottom as possible. I'd be suuprised if the trub got much over 19c

The problem with a pad or a belt without a temp controller is that you have to keep an eye on it all the time.

Lucky Phils · Post by **Lucky Phils** » Thursday Jun 28, 2007 7:24 am

Thanks rwh forthe infoe on insering photos here goes

My fermenter Box outside

The inside of it

Aslo my frig

The box is made of recycled plywood off pallets and lined with 25mm Koolite foam. At the back in the middle behind the aluminium is a 25watt light globe which is attached to a heater controller the probe is on the left hand side at the bottom. On the right hand side bottom is a thermometer probe. The temp probe tests the air and after experimentation, with it set for 15 degrees the wert in the fermenters is approx 20 degrees, with 1 or 2 degrees variation.

bvlbrewer · Post by **bvlbrewer** » Thursday Jun 28, 2007 2:06 pm

thanx to every one for the imput i got a few good ideas from you

shane_vor · Post by **shane_vor** » Saturday Jun 30, 2007 10:35 pm

I brew in a garden shed out the back with no insulation or heating...so for me it's ales/stouts in summer and lagers/pilsners in winter.

by the time it comes around to drinking a batch...I'm drinking the lagers/pilsners in summer and the ales/stouts in winter...too easy!

wambesi · Post by **wambesi** » Sunday Jul 01, 2007 8:06 am

I use heat belts and a fridgemate to keep them at ale temps...works a treat.

Adzmax · Post by **Adzmax** » Sunday Jul 01, 2007 7:39 pm

wambesi wrote:I use heat belts and a fridgemate to keep them at ale temps...works a treat.

Yeah was goign to suggest that. Do you have a probe in the brew?

drsmurto · Post by **drsmurto** » Monday Jul 02, 2007 10:41 am

Heat pad + sleeping bag - 16-18C in shed with average temp of 4-8.

Tis lager season tho, no more trying to cool the bugger down!