Fastferment temp

[Deanomite]

Hello,
I am new to the site and home brewing. I just recently(yesterday) brewed my first beer. It is in my 7.9 gallon fast ferment fermenter. I calibrated the thermometer in a glass of ice water and my it is reading 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the thermo-well in my home that is 68 degrees. I shot it with my infrared thermometer and it read 65.2. So I think I believe my infrared since the ambient temp is 68 degrees. I have a question or two.

1. Shouldn't the temperature be at least the temp of my home or a bit more since fermentation increases temperature?
2. I am planning to adjust my fast ferment thermometer to match my infrared thermometer. Any reason not to?


Thanks in advance!

 

[Nosybear]

First, the infrared thermometer has a relatively wide error so I'd trust the calibrated thermometer as my calibration standard. Second, it sounds like your temperature is holding just fine. Fermentation increases temperature but given the small size of our vessels, not by much, so trust the thermometers.

 

[Minbari]

It will equalize eventually. Is it actively bubbling? It will generate heat only when it is active

 

[Donoroto]

I find it hard to believe that a vat of liquid in a 68 F house could be cooler than 68 F.

Assumes no active cooling.

 

[Deanomite]

It will equalize eventually. Is it actively bubbling? It will generate heat only when it is active

This is day 2 in the fermenter. Day 1 was not very active but day 2 is very active.

 

[Deanomite]

I find it hard to believe that a vat of liquid in a 68 F house could be cooler than 68 F.

Assumes no active cooling.

Yeah that is what I was thinking.

 

[Deanomite]

Hello,
I am new to the site and home brewing. I just recently(yesterday) brewed my first beer. It is in my 7.9 gallon fast ferment fermenter. I calibrated the thermometer in a glass of ice water and my it is reading 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the thermo-well in my home that is 68 degrees. I shot it with my infrared thermometer and it read 65.2. So I think I believe my infrared since the ambient temp is 68 degrees. I have a question or two.

1. Shouldn't the temperature be at least the temp of my home or a bit more since fermentation increases temperature?
2. I am planning to adjust my fast ferment thermometer to match my infrared thermometer. Any reason not to?


Thanks in advance!

Update - Day 2 in the fermenter. Active fermentation is going on. The Fastferment thermometer is reading 62. The infrared reads 68.2. The house is ~68.

 

[Daniel Parshley]

The peel and stick aquarium thermometers work well for me. I can live with a 2 degree spread and just getting in the ball park. You can get a pack of them relatively cheap, too.

 

[Minbari]

The thermometer you have, dial type? I have never trusted those, they operate on a bimetal spring. get a lab style stick thermometer and see what that says. $8 on Amazon