National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Equipment & Chemicals => Topic started by: mr hoppy on December 23, 2013, 07:10:22 PM

Title: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: mr hoppy on December 23, 2013, 07:10:22 PM
My brew belt's conked out  >:(

It happened after I was tightening it around a fermenter - although there's no obvious signs of damage. I checked the fuse, and the power source as well.

Any suggestions for sorting it out would be massively appreciated?
Title: Re: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: Rats on December 23, 2013, 07:46:30 PM
It have a very fine wire wrap around the two insulated wires on the inside for connectivity. If these fine wires are broken somewhere you can throw it away.
Title: Re: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: LordEoin on December 23, 2013, 10:45:16 PM
I'll swap it for a working one.
PMd you my number
Title: Re: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: johnrm on December 24, 2013, 01:04:45 AM
You pulled it too tight ya gobshite. Let me have a look for you, it might be repairable.
Title: Re: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: Liam on December 27, 2013, 09:51:44 PM
Sorry for hijacking the thread but do these brew belts actually do the job or are they just a waste of money. I'm new to this and am hoping to start my first ferment off shortly. The room where I will have the fermenting bucket will be about 14-15c so I will certainly need some added heat? Would it be worthwhile getting a belt?
Title: Re: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: delzep on December 27, 2013, 10:11:54 PM
Just wrap an auld blanket around the fermenter
Title: Re: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: LordEoin on December 28, 2013, 02:35:06 AM
I think they work great, transferring heat directly to the brew, especially when used with an STC1000
Title: Re: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: johnrm on December 28, 2013, 09:59:40 AM
Quote from: ratsathome on December 23, 2013, 07:46:30 PM
It have a very fine wire wrap around the two insulated wires on the inside for connectivity. If these fine wires are broken somewhere you can throw it away.
They are not as complex as this.
Flat rubber outer tube with 1 loop of element wire covered in fire resistant braid.
Title: Re: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: Greg2013 on December 28, 2013, 02:13:18 PM
Are brew belts the best option for plastic bucket type fermenters ? I have a ferm wrap at the moment but i find a lot of the time i have to sit the FV's on it to get good results and with the trub on the bottom this is not good ;D
Title: Re: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: LordEoin on December 28, 2013, 04:26:21 PM
once your fermwrap is closely hugging your FV it should do the job as good as or better than a brewbelt.
Title: Re: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: Liam on December 28, 2013, 10:25:44 PM
Quote from: LordEoin on December 28, 2013, 02:35:06 AM
I think they work great, transferring heat directly to the brew, especially when used with an STC1000

Are they factory set at a certain temperature or is there another way of adjusting the temperature apart from using an STC 100?
Title: Re: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: johnrm on December 28, 2013, 10:38:39 PM
@Liam, Did you read the instructions?
The lower on your FV the higher the temp.
Use the LCD thermometer to tell you the temp.
Title: Re: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: Liam on December 28, 2013, 10:54:38 PM
Quote from: johnrm on December 28, 2013, 10:38:39 PM
@Liam, Did you read the instructions?

John I haven't purchased one yet but was wondering if it is worthwhile and how they work. Some of these things need to have extras added to operate them properly but you never know this until after you've purchased them.
Title: Re: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: johnrm on December 29, 2013, 09:44:06 AM
Gotcha.
As above, there is some crude temperature control on them, but an STC is your best bet.
If you have the space, an old fridge is the best job.
Title: Re: Broken Brew Belt
Post by: johnrm on December 29, 2013, 09:46:50 AM
You can also get an aquarium heater to regulate FV temperature, although I've not used these myself.