OVHA Chat

We normally think of a fermentation chamber being a cooler because we normally drive temperatures down to achieve proper fementation. I had the same issue with my most recent lemon-grass wheat during the big chill. While not everyone would seriously consider building something like my Peltier chiller [which has the ability to heat as well], I could suggest a very very simple heater control. All that would be required would be an old computer power supply, a seven dollar thermostat kit and a small control relay. The thermostat kit has a thermister [temperature sensor] which can be placed ON your fermenting device [carboy] and a rheostat which is used for the temperature setting. In this case the temperature where some form of heat is turned on. The control relay simply would allow a heat source [120 volt light bulb] to be used to add the heat required. NOTE: I simply wrap my fermenter in something to keep the light out.
I know that as soon as we build a batch of these it will go to 70 degrees out! [maybe not a bad idea?]
Sorry I'm a bit late with the idea.
DUTCH
Not too late to think about next year - this would take up very little space - about that of an old tower computer [in fact an old case provides an excellent and inexpensive housing!]

Prior to my electricity going out (and still out) I was using a small electric heater I bought from wally world a couple of years ago for $20 to warm my brew closet. I used an electronic outdoor/indoor thermometer that registers both the current temp, max temp, and min temp recorded of both outdoor and indoor temperatures. The built in temp controller on the heater kept the air temp within 4 degrees low to max. Meaning my low temp would be 63 and my high would be 67 degrees once set where I wanted it. The current temp would almost always be about 64 when I checked. The thermal mass of the carboy and contents would not swing like the air temp and keep a good steady 65 degrees. Another positive is that I set the thermometer on the shelf above the carboys, and had the outdoor lead with the carboys. The shelf was a bit warmer due to heat rising and the shelf made a great place to keep my starters where the higher temps could really bring the yeast to life.

I went with the electric heater due to not having to worry about light struck beer-skunking. The only light produced by the heater, was by the heater's little red light indicating it was on, but that was easily covered by electrical tape.