Heating help.

[Brewer #423642]

I'm going to be moving my 40 gallon fermenter out into my garage, my garage temperature stays around 2.5c all the time. I know the 400w conical heater won't cut it so I was thinking a 500w threaded hot rod through one of the lower ports should do the trick. Anyone have any experience with these low powered rods? Is schorching a possibility? The tank is kind of too big to build a foam enclosure around. The fermenter is in my basement at the moment that stays a balmy 8c and the heater I have struggles to keep it at 19c. The fermenter does have a neoprene jacket on it and the heater is only on the cone section. Any suggestions are most welcome. Thanks

 

[Minbari]

It's that a submerged heater? I only have a 5 gallon fermenter, but my 100W heat stick keeps it at 68F with no issues. Usually the PID sits around 5-10%

 

[Brewer #423642]

It's that a submerged heater? I only have a 5 gallon fermenter, but my 100W heat stick keeps it at 68F with no issues. Usually the PID sits around 5-10%

I was thinking of going with a bigger heater and a pid. That heater pictured with a tri clamp threaded adapter is submersible.

 

[Brew Cat]

a submerged heater in 30 gallons of wort sounds problematic
the wort around the stick will be very hot the rest not so much
probably going to cook your beer
you really need an insulated heating jacket even a electric blanket would work
do you have an insulation jacket then get a larger conical heater

 

[Brewer #423642]

a submerged heater in 30 gallons of wort sounds problematic
the wort around the stick will be very hot the rest not so much
probably going to cook your beer
you really need an insulated heating jacket even a electric blanket would work
do you have an insulation jacket then get a larger conical heater

I have the neoprene jacket and I have a 400w cone heater, its the highest power cone style I've come across. I was thinking the band style would apply heat up too high on the conical. The heating blanket should help but I like being able to see the conical because it's so pretty lol

 

[Donoroto]

Let’s do the math:
With 400 watts, you get an 11C temperature rise.
500 W will give you 25% more (approx.), or a 15C rise. 2.5 (garage temp) + 15 = 17.5C max. for 500 W.

Both 400 & 500 together can give you much more.

You say a foam enclosure is impractical. What about wrapping something with the consistency of a blanket around it? They sell what is essentially bubble wrap that is aluminized, making it reflective of heat (and shiny!) called a radiant barrier. A layer or three of that stuff, maybe 1/2” thick, will let your 400W heater be more than enough.

Another possibility is a pair of heating pads, the kind at the pharmacy for a bad back. Strap them to the fermenter and cover them with the radiant barrier and I bet you could get away with much less than 400 W.

Here is a link to the type of product I’m describing: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pro-Spa...Aluminum-Foil-Insulation-RBQP54810L/338795261

 

[Brewer #423642]

Let’s do the math:
With 400 watts, you get an 11C temperature rise.
500 W will give you 25% more (approx.), or a 15C rise. 2.5 (garage temp) + 15 = 17.5C max. for 500 W.

Both 400 & 500 together can give you much more.

You say a foam enclosure is impractical. What about wrapping something with the consistency of a blanket around it? They sell what is essentially bubble wrap that is aluminized, making it reflective of heat (and shiny!) called a radiant barrier. A layer or three of that stuff, maybe 1/2” thick, will let your 400W heater be more than enough.

Another possibility is a pair of heating pads, the kind at the pharmacy for a bad back. Strap them to the fermenter and cover them with the radiant barrier and I bet you could get away with much less than 400 W.

Here is a link to the type of product I’m describing: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pro-Spa...Aluminum-Foil-Insulation-RBQP54810L/338795261

I plan on using both 400 and 500 together both connected to an inkbird controller. My hopes where that the immersion heater being only 500 watts wouldn't scorch anything. I agree that it needs more insulation. Might have to bite the bullet and get a jacketed fermenter.

 

[Bigbre04]

a heater with direct contact with beer is a pretty wild idea. im not sure i would bother with it. they make heating wire and tape for plumbing applications. beer is self heating as well. once you get it up over about 60f you are far more in the realm of keeping it cool!

 

[Bigbre04]

Let’s do the math:
With 400 watts, you get an 11C temperature rise.
500 W will give you 25% more (approx.), or a 15C rise. 2.5 (garage temp) + 15 = 17.5C max. for 500 W.

Both 400 & 500 together can give you much more.

You say a foam enclosure is impractical. What about wrapping something with the consistency of a blanket around it? They sell what is essentially bubble wrap that is aluminized, making it reflective of heat (and shiny!) called a radiant barrier. A layer or three of that stuff, maybe 1/2” thick, will let your 400W heater be more than enough.

Another possibility is a pair of heating pads, the kind at the pharmacy for a bad back. Strap them to the fermenter and cover them with the radiant barrier and I bet you could get away with much less than 400 W.

Here is a link to the type of product I’m describing: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pro-Spa...Aluminum-Foil-Insulation-RBQP54810L/338795261

sheet rubber foam is also very available. and can take some heat...far more then you would likely need if you were heating a tank. you could also make something out of rockwool

 

[Brewer #423642]

Now you guys got me thinking. I found this on Amazon.

 

[Brewer #423642]

Now you guys got me thinking. I found this on Amazon.

Not bad for $80

 

[Dave Y]

I'm going to be moving my 40 gallon fermenter out into my garage, my garage temperature stays around 2.5c all the time. I know the 400w conical heater won't cut it so I was thinking a 500w threaded hot rod through one of the lower ports should do the trick.

Is schorching a possibility?

The fermenter is in my basement at the moment that stays a balmy 8c and the heater I have struggles to keep it at 19c

The first thought I have is, move somewhere humans are meant to live !
The numbers themselves are curious; you said 40 gallons for the fermenter - is that correct (not a typo)?

2.5c all the time?!!!!!!! Where is this, Antarctica?
I've dealt with the opposite problem; there's no amount of cheating to get a glycol chiller to cold crash in 100F or higher temps. But when I cool the garage brewery to 70F, easy peasey! Can you enclose the fermenter in a mini structure and heat that? Your temp control will be less of a challenge if you can warm up, say, a corner of your meat locker garage.

 

[Brew Cat]

just thinking if you had immersion coil in your beer and combined that with a HERMS coil might work but of course using the 2 conical heaters with your neoprene jacket probably cheaper
you could give it another wrap with insulation
I don't think you will need as much heat as you think
you could also use lager yeast until temperature warm up
what do you intend to brew

 

[Brewer #423642]

just thinking if you had immersion coil in your beer and combined that with a HERMS coil might work but of course using the 2 conical heaters with your neoprene jacket probably cheaper
you could give it another wrap with insulation
I don't think you will need as much heat as you think
you could also use lager yeast until temperature warm up
what do you intend to brew

I only brew lagers. I have thought about running wame glycol through the coil with a 3 way solenoid valve to diverter the returning glycol to it's appropriate container.

 

[Brewer #423642]

The first thought I have is, move somewhere humans are meant to live !
The numbers themselves are curious; you said 40 gallons for the fermenter - is that correct (not a typo)?

2.5c all the time?!!!!!!! Where is this, Antarctica?
I've dealt with the opposite problem; there's no amount of cheating to get a glycol chiller to cold crash in 100F or higher temps. But when I cool the garage brewery to 70F, easy peasey! Can you enclose the fermenter in a mini structure and heat that? Your temp control will be less of a challenge if you can warm up, say, a corner of your meat locker garage.

Correct, 40 gallons, its a spike cf30. Our garage only deviates about half a degree in the winter. I'm in canada so it's cold here for only 7 months lol. I just refinished our basement and the wife doesn't want it down there anymore. I found that insulated pressure tank cover that will fit quite nicely. I don't really have space in my meat locker to build a room out there as I normally work from home in the garage.

 

[Brew Cat]

then you definitely have enough heat even with the 400W IMO
give it a try
I've fermented lagers below 50 deg
Bavarian or Bohemian lager yeast have a low end of 45deg
I can vouch for both

 

[Brew Cat]

Correct, 40 gallons, its a spike cf30. Our garage only deviates about half a degree in the winter. I'm in canada so it's cold here for only 7 months lol. I just refinished our basement and the wife doesn't want it down there anymore. I found that insulated pressure tank cover that will fit quite nicely. I don't really have space in my meat locker to build a room out there as I normally work from home in the garage.

are you planning on keeping it outside open air?
maybe buy a small box trailer and turn it into a brewery
now that would be pretty neat

 

[Brewer #423642]

are you planning on keeping it outside open air?
maybe buy a small box trailer and turn it into a brewery
now that would be pretty neat

It's in my very poorly insulated garage.