SS Brew Tech FTSS Temperature Control

[Beermonger]

The FTSS got me thinking about building something similar myself (well, got me thinking  again). I think that what Ciderhead described above is probably all you need, but looking at the FTSS, the guts of it is nothing special. Not to go too "Coyboys, Ted!" on it, but it's mostly cheap (in a good way) Chinese stuff with a bit of stainless steel thrown in. It's not worth anything like $250.

The controller looks like an STC-1000, available for about €10 (see URL below). The coil could be profitably replaced by one that's easier to clean and which goes deeper into the fermentation vessel (this one looks like it mightn't reach the beer if you don't have it very full). I wouldn't use copper in beer (fine in wort, of course), though, so you'd need a stainless steel coil.

The 12V pump they use is also available for very little (see below).

If guess if you prefer to buy than build, the FTSS might be OK. Still, if I were paying $250 for it, I would like if it was for a two-phase heating/cooling solution. It seems like they expect you to change hot to cold by the season, but that's going to be a pain if you're trying to keep an ale at 20 *C in a warm room or a weizen at 17 *C in a cooler room or a lager at 10 *C in a shed - which seems to defeat the purpose of the T control, doesn't it?!

[1] STC for €10, free slow shipping: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/50-99-Degree-STC-1000-220V-110V-12V-Digital-LCD-Thermostat-Regulator-Temperature-Controller-with/32222288784.html?ws_ab_test=201407_2,201444_5,201409_1

[2] Various pumps:
http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?shipCountry=IE&shipFromCountry=&shipCompanies=&SearchText=solar+pump&exception=&minPrice=&maxPrice=&minQuantity=&maxQuantity=&isFreeShip=y&isFavorite=n&isRtl=n&isOnSale=n&isBigSale=n&similar_style=n&similar_style_id=&isAtmOnline=n&CatId=4104&SortType=price_asc&initiative_id=AS_20150906030652&needQuery=y

Something similar to the pump they have for €10, free slow shipping: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Mini-6V-12V-DC-Brushless-Solar-Water-Pump-Submersible-Motor-Pump-2-3M-280L-H/32384587369.html?ws_ab_test=201407_2,201444_5,201409_1

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

One word of caution in case anyone is thinking of using Glycol as a secondary refrigerant, make sure it is food grade or better still add table salt or dissolved sugar to your circulating water to get more cooling from the ice.

[Beermonger]

Salt or sugar is a great idea for recirculating cooling systems. Is there any chance that salt could result in corrosion problems for either stainless or copper (thinking of using a recirculated copper immersion cooler at the end of the boil, too)?

I casually mentioned a two-phase FTSS-like system. Well, they say in their FAQ that they may be working on something like that, but I think that any solution like that is going to have to involve two pumps, two coils, and two water sources. Otherwise, if you have only one volume of cooling/heating medium, you're going to be constantly heating and cooling it around the set point of the system and it's going to be really slow. Not to mention that the only convenient source of cold I can think of is ice water, and once you've gone through a heating phase the ice will be gone.

So... two coolers or perhaps insulated 10-15 litre buckets, each with a solar pump and a coil immersed in the beer. Put ice and salt water in one, wrap heating tape around the outlet pipe of the other, hook the cold pump to the cold side of the STC, the tape and warm pump to the warm side, put the T probe in the beer and.... it would probably work, but it's complicated. And with the coils and tape it's getting expensive.... Anyone see any simplifications? I like the idea of immersed coolers but this seems a bit much

[Dr Horrible]

I'd be of the same opinion, using the coil for both heating and cooling is too complicated. I just use a heating belt for the heating side and a cooling setup like you've described controlled by an STC. I think salt water would be a bit too corrosive,  water on it's own works fine.

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

The advantage of the salt water is that your ice from the freezer will be at -18C but the lowest your circulating water can get to would be zero because at this temp it will turn to vice but by adding salt you can get down to -6C (it's how the Romans invented ice cream, with the salt added they could freeze milk)

[Beermonger]

Thanks, Dr H. I was definitely overthinking it. Heatbelt and circulating ice is probably good enough.

Anyone have recommendations for a good heat belt? I see some in the online shops, but the crappy 1980s homebrew brands like Youngs and Ritchies don't inspire confidence...

Salt - yeah, maybe a little bit would be less corrosive. I guess it doesn't matter too much since it's only the inside of the cooling coil Sugar might be better if you pump oxyclean through it to strip out the gunge. The extra few degrees would cut down on replacing the ice.

[Will_D]

Yes obviously immersion is MUCH more efficient but cooling a fermenter is not like crash cooling a boil batch to piching temperature.

For lagering yo often you want a slow cooling ramp down and 0.5C per hour will still drop you from room temp to lagering in 24 hours.

[BigDanny84]

Cheers for all the replies.
Ya they are adding a heat belt for it which will be good.

Cheers for all the cheaper suggestions and I will look into them. I'm not very "handy" so that's why I am slower about the DIY systems than others on here.

[Dr Horrible]

Let us know how you get on if you do go this route, would be very interested to hear about other people's experiences of this type of setup.

[Hop Bomb]

You should get in touch with brewbuilder.co.uk   He does stainless cooling coils for 50 pounds.



You'll still need an STC & a solar pump but you've made the same setup as SS for a third of the price. Use a yoga mat or old wetsuit as insulation for your FV.

Ive also seen people use trace heating wire for the warm side of their FV temp control systems. Look into that also.

Immersion heaters like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Home-Brew-Wine-Making-Thermostatic/dp/B004O2K21W  could be used for the warm side also.

Depending on where you plan on leaving your FV, ambient temp might be suitable as the cooling side. I dont know how cool your house is though. (My utility room is 15c this time of year & beer fermenting there is at 20c)

Without having a chilling method in or around your FV (either cooling coil internally, or a fridge to crash cool your FV or corny keg full of beer) you'll just bottle as normal & the yeast will flocc out in the bottle. You'll have some sediment but no big deal once your pour correctly.