Warming the brew

[geoffclifton]

Over the last few nights my brews, which are in fridges controlled by fridgemates, have been 15* first thing in the morning and barely getting up to 17* in the day leaving the doors open.

I decided it's time to change from cooling to warming so I've made up two 40 watt globes on bases, put them in the bottom of the fridge at max distance from the fermenters and changed the fridgemates to heat control.

The brews are (1) a Coopers Draught on liquid malt and loads of dex which has been down for a week and worked hard for 5 days but has now stopped & in the other fridge are two Coopers brews on all liquid malt which have both been very slow with just a bit of pressure in the airlock and a small krausen.

Two questions.

Will bringing the worts up from 15* to 19* have any detrimental effects (it will probably take a day and a half to get there)?

Will the bright light (even from a yellow globe) on a clear fermenter have any detrimental effects?

I suppose I should invest in heat pads or belts but I'd need three of them and $90, ouch!

Cheers, Geoff.

[rwh]

I doubt the temp increase would be a problem. The light might be, as even incandescent light globes give off some UV light. Might be worth shading the globes somehow, say with some cardboard or something.

I just got my fridge, and was fermenting an ale in it, and noticed the same problem, it dipping down to around 15-16 at night, so I pulled it out and put it inside where the temp is more stable around 21°C, and put a couple of lagers in the fridge to ferment at 12°C. But I can tell I'm going to have to switch to heating at some stage too. I just ordered a second fridgemate ostensibly to go on the bar fridge to keep the kegs at 9°C, but I might set it up in heading mode while the other one stays on cooling mode, so that I have both heating to keep the fermenters warm at night and cooling to keep them cool during the day... Overkill? Probably. Fun? Yes.

[Boonie]

The light might be, as even incandescent light globes give off some UV light. Might be worth shading the globes somehow, say with some cardboard or something.

I put old jackets around my fermenters to stop the light + it helps with heating.

Cheers

Boonie

[Swifty]

I've been having the same problem and been thinking rather than putting the immersion heater on or anything else that I could chuck a hot water bottle in the fridge at the bottom so it heats up the fridge over night (might take a bit of trial and error) and then during the day it sits at a nice 17 degree's. Anyone tried anything similar??? Save's on buying another immersion heater or belt.

[geoffclifton]

I've got a problem thinking about immersion heaters Other than getting them into the tub and maintaining an airlock I'm thinking that the wort in close proximity to the heater must get hot enuff to kill the yeast touching the heater before the convection currents take the wort away and blend it with the rest.

To that end it seems to make more physical sense to heat the space around the fermenter than to heat the wort directly. Thus I figure that a 40 watt globe warming the cabinet is better for the beer than a hot spot created by a belt, pad or immersion heater.

Your thoughts?

Cheers, Geoff.

[chris.]

I'm thinking that the wort in close proximity to the heater must get hot enuff to kill the yeast touching the heater before the convection currents take the wort away and blend it with the rest.

This is a reason that I don't like the idea of a mat. The whole trub / yeast cake is sitting on the heat source & heating up the cake. I prefer to use a belt wrapped around 15-20cm from the bottom.
Not that I use it much. When I do I only leave it on until active fermentation begins.

To me the idea of lights sounds fiddly. But if you do want to try it I recall seeing some pics on AHB.com of someone using a setup with terracotta pots over the top of the globes.

[hoohaaman]

Im just happy i have my brews at this temp

We talking Melbourne or fnq?

[Boonie]

I've got a problem thinking about immersion heaters Other than getting them into the tub and maintaining an airlock I'm thinking that the wort in close proximity to the heater must get hot enuff to kill the yeast touching the heater before the convection currents take the wort away and blend it with the rest.

To that end it seems to make more physical sense to heat the space around the fermenter than to heat the wort directly. Thus I figure that a 40 watt globe warming the cabinet is better for the beer than a hot spot created by a belt, pad or immersion heater.

Your thoughts?

Cheers, Geoff.

I have one with a Fish Heater inside. Drilled a hole in the lid, cut the plug off , put cord through and connected a new plug. I have a little silastic around the top and a cable tie on the top of the lid attached to a "Lug" so that the silastic seal does not break whilst the cord is being moved/ cleaned.

I have had no probs with the brews cooking this way at all. I set it at 18 degrees and my temp gauge on the Fermenter sits at 18-19 in winter. Some of my best beers have been cooked this way .

It is alot easier as you set and forget......having said that, I only have one done at the moment, so I still have to do the globe trick with jumpers. A 25 watter in a well sealed cupboard with 2 Fermenters works well for me here. I am in Newcastle NSW so temps will vary around the country.

Cheers

Boonie

[Green Horn]

I wouldn't mind seeing a pic of your setup Boonie.

I am brewing in my shed because the other half wont let me brew anywhere in the house I should be grateful though because she did buy me my kit ....

Cheers,

Mick

[Boonie]

I wouldn't mind seeing a pic of your setup Boonie.

I am brewing in my shed because the other half wont let me brew anywhere in the house I should be grateful though because she did buy me my kit ....

Cheers,

Mick

Give me a few days Mick as I am tied up.

Cheers

Boonie

[Boonie]

I wouldn't mind seeing a pic of your setup Boonie.

I am brewing in my shed because the other half wont let me brew anywhere in the house I should be grateful though because she did buy me my kit ....

Cheers,

Mick

Give me a few days Mick as I am tied up.

Cheers

Boonie

G'day Mick, an update for you,

My Camera is flat. Took the photo and started to download and bugger me, the battery went flat.

It is on recharge now and I will try and post tonight, if I do not fall asleep.

Shite of a day.....

Cheers

Boonie

[Boonie]

G'day Mick,

Here is one that I bought off Ebay. I put the heater that came with it through the lid and the power lead is tied to the handle so it doesnt pull through the silicon and leak.

It is a big mother of a fish heater. You don't need one that big.

I used white silicon so I could see if I had missed any spots. With the clear it is hard to see. I went a bit overboard with the silicon on this one . The other one is neater, but is in use (not turned on though )

Hope this helps

Cheers

Boonie

[Green Horn]

Thanks Boonie - been hanging out for a few days to see this setup and pretty impressed Looks exactly like what I need for my setup so might go the local fish shop this week.

Cheers,

Mick