Finally! Fermentation temp control!

[beanstalk]

Just set myself up a new brewfridge there with an Inkbird temp controller and a 45w tube heater. I'm a bit concerned that the heater is too close to the roof of the fridge, and that it might burn/melt the roof but I can't imagine the heater ever being on for that long. Should I be worried about it?  It's only in the way otherwise for fermenters and eventually a tap/dispenser/corny etc. It's in the garage anyway... You can just see the probe above the glass on the bottom left.

Sorry for the crap picks but I'm excited now about the world of 17C fermented ales, and 10C lagers, and 29C saisons!

[Leann ull]

Better to put your heater in base as heat rises, with a 12v fan if you can.

[mick02]

I don't think it will matter too much to be honest. These fridges are well insulated so that shouldn't have that much heat loss.

The heat tube shouldn't get hot enough to melt any of the plastic so I'd say you're safe enough

[Ciaran]

You'll get more accurate control if you tape the temperature probe to the side of the fermenter under some bubble wrap.

[beanstalk]

Thanks everyone!

I moved the probe down and sealed up the holes above with silicone.

Definitely notice a difference and the heater is much more effective.

Got a pecan nut brown ale going today!

here are the pecans crushed:



then the brew:




add a bit of ammonia: 



in then for fermentation:



it was the strangest brew ever:

Pre boil gravity was 1.022 

final gravity after 5l boil off was 1.060.

can't get me head around what the hell thats all about.

sitting pretty now at 18C in the fermenter.

[Qs]

Must have been an off reading

[Leann ull]

You'll get more accurate control if you tape the temperature probe to the side of the fermenter under some bubble wrap.

According to experiment on Jim's best control for buckets is with a thermowell in wort just above half way point or next best freely suspended in fridge half way up.
Glass or metal is different.
Plastic bucket is insulator from temp of ferment as is bubble wrap and tape.

[Ciaran]

Interesting - got a link?  I have always went by this one which in fairness starts off stating in the conclusions that "no matter where the probe is placed, a high level of temperature control is achieved".  But it claimed the sidewall was the best. 

http://www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=68518

Maybe I'm not reading far enough down will take another full read of it