Next bit of equipment

[Oliver]

Hi guys,

I'm just wondering if anyone has thoughts on what my next bit of homebrewing equipment should be.

To recap: I am doing BIAB and will begin no-chill from my next brew. I'm going to buy an airstone and aquarium pump to oxygenate the wort before my next brew.

So the question is what should my next bit of brewing equipment be? I was thinking perhaps a refractometer.

Any suggestions, including brands, welcome.

Cheers,

Oliver

[earle]

Recfractometer sound good, I think I'll get an ebay one soon. First on the list for me is an el-cheapo corona style mill though, not great for 3v from what I read but just the thing for BIAB.

[warra48]

If you don't already have it, a fermenting fridge with temperature control.

[drsmurto]

If you don't already have it, a fermenting fridge with temperature control.

+1

The cold side of brewing is where I would be spending the money. Fridges and controllers. Liquid yeasts pitched at the correct rates. Oxygen/air.

[Oliver]

If you don't already have it, a fermenting fridge with temperature control.

+1

The cold side of brewing is where I would be spending the money. Fridges and controllers. Liquid yeasts pitched at the correct rates. Oxygen/air.

I was waiting for someone to suggest that. I just need to find somewhere that's acceptable to 'er indoors. That is my issue at the moment

It might have to be outside under cover, unless I can convince her that in the spare shower in the laundry is an appropriate place for a brewing fridge. Wish me luck with that!

Cheers,

Oliver

[hyjak]

+1 for a controlled fridge, best thing I ever did.
Being short of space though the pump and air stone would be a good idea, least your yeast will get off to a great start and hopefully counter (some) of the temp swings you may be getting.

[Tipsy]

It might have to be outside under cover, unless I can convince her that in the spare shower in the laundry is an appropriate place for a brewing fridge. Wish me luck with that!

Cheers,

Oliver

I ferment in a small chest freezer which could be handy if space is an issue.

[Oliver]

Hey Tipsy,

Do you have any pics you could post, or point me in the direction of some if they're already in another thread?

Oliver

[Tipsy]

i'll take some pics tonight and get them up tomorrow

[Oliver]

Thanks mate. I am keen to get some sort of refrigeration happening and anything to help convince the missus that the setup will be unobtrusive will assist greatly!

[Tipsy]

Like the others, I think temperature control was the biggest improvement to my beer other than moving to all grain.

The downside to using a chest freezer is having to lift the fermenter in and out and I don't take any hydro samples other than o.g. and f.g.

The upside is using the lid as bench space.

[Oliver]

Thanks Tipsy. Looks like a nice setup (similar to the one in this thread that I just came across: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10212 ). I will let you guys know how negotiations with the little lady proceed.

Last Q: what temp controller is that?

Oliver

[squirt in the turns]

Looks to me like an STC-1000. They've become pretty much ubiquitous for temperature control, probably due to the fact that they have separate heating and cooling relays, and they're low cost. You can get them on eBay from China or Hong Kong for a shade over $20.

Above all else, DO NOT start a thread on AHB asking how to wire one up.

[Mad Dog]

Very interesting! I'm considering continuing my brewing into summer, which would require cooling. I'm thinking a used freezer with one of these controllers, ought to hold three fermentors at a time. Two at least. I'll have to do some more research now.

[Tipsy]

Looks to me like an STC-1000. They've become pretty much ubiquitous for temperature control, probably due to the fact that they have separate heating and cooling relays, and they're low cost. You can get them on eBay from China or Hong Kong for a shade over $20.

Above all else, DO NOT start a thread on AHB asking how to wire one up.

Yep, cheap and has given me years of service.

[Mad Dog]

How about building a fermentor case, insulated, use the guts of an old fridge, maybe a heating pad, and one of these controllers? Seems like that would work

[earle]

How about building a fermentor case, insulated, use the guts of an old fridge, maybe a heating pad, and one of these controllers? Seems like that would work

If you live somewhere cool that will work fine. When I lived in North Queensland it definitely needed to be a working fridge to keep the temps down, even here in Toowoomba it gets hot in summer and refrigeration is a big plus.

[Mad Dog]

I'm going to definately look into this. Don't need dual control, just cooling.

[earle]

I reckon get a controller capable of dual control anyway. I got a single mode controller before the STC1000 were popular as when I lived up north there was never a need for heating. Now that I've moved south I have purchased a STC1000 as I need to heat and cool, sometimes at the same time of year. When you can get a STC1000 for about $20ish dollars the cost is not really a problem. (Needs to be wired up though).

[Mad Dog]

Probably good idea. Thanks