STC and Heat Belt (and a keg question)

[googoomuck]

Hi lads,
some advice needed on what way to go about putting all of the above together. To be honest I'm pretty confused by it all. Is the belt wired into the STC? Is the STC (or does it come with) an actual probe of sorts that checks the temp of the brew? Any advice would be great or point me in the right direction with links.
Also anyone use the iBrew mini kegs or the Brew firm mini kegs, what ya make of them?
Cheers,
Lee.

[Garry]

You need to wire the stc to a plug. Then wire a socket for heating and an optional separate socket for cooling to the stc. The heat beat is plugged into the heating socket. The stc comes with a temperature probe which you can attach to your FV using a bit of tape or a bungee strap. You can see the temp. probe in the pic below and the stc in the background.

I haven't used the mini kegs so no help to you there 

Wiring diagram courtesy of LordEoin:

[Damien M]

I use the mini Kegs a bit and like them they are a growler alternative 
Positives: less bottling, party friendly, long term storage,
Negatives: Carbonation is difficult to control, spear is delicate, cleanability?   

[LordEoin]

I have mine set up the same way as garry but in a fridge.
it helps keep it cool in summer or for lagers, and warm in winter, regardless of the normal abmient temperature.

[trev]

im new to this but ive been using a thermostatic heater with reasonable success so far. its a little picky setting the temp before use but once thats done its quite simple.

is this not a simpler solution or am i (likely) missing something?

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Electrim-Immersion-Heater-Home-Brew-Beer-making-NEW-/221324879543?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Food_SM&hash=item3387fda6b7

[Garry]

Welcome to the forum trev

A lot of people are using those immersion heaters in their FVs and there's nothing wrong with it once you make sure the heater is sanitised properly. Personally, I prefer to have the probe on the outside so there's less risk of infection. I've seen some people use the immersion heater in a big bucket of water, then put the FV into that bucket.

Using an stc also allows you to cool (like LordEoin's fridge above). While I don't have a fridge yet, I've got the option to upgrade.

I like to set my stc to 22°C for the first 2 to 3 days of fermentation and then dial it down to 19°C for the remainder of the fermentation. This would be difficult to do if the heater is in the FV.

To answer your question, the immersion heater is simpler. But I prefer the options that the stc gives you.

[Dr Horrible]

There's also the issue with the immersion heater that the temperature probe turning on and off the heater is located right next to the heating element, so there's a danger that you may just be heating a small pocket around the heater unless the vessel is well mixed.  When the fermentation is active, that shouldn't be a problem, but if you want to heat up at the start or the end when the yeast isn't active the full batch may not be reaching the temperatures you think they are.
If you look at the pictures of Garry's and LordEoin's setups the temp probes for both are located a fair distance from the belt so this means that the temp being measured is much more likely to be representative of the batch.  I like the idea of the immersion heater because you're heating the liquid directly rather than through a plastic or glass wall, but if I was going to use one I'd set the local thermostat so that it was always on, then hook it up to an STC with the temp probe insulated and  located on the wall, or better still in a thermowell at the side.  Then you'd be able to look at cooling options, which in the summer will be your main concern.
I do this the other way round, I have a thermowell located centrally and a heating belt around the sides.  I also lag my fermenter (you can get small hotwater tank lagging jackets for about 10EU in B&Q) to minimise the amount of heating I have to do.

[Garry]

I also lag my fermenter (you can get small hotwater tank lagging jackets for about 10EU in B&Q) to minimise the amount of heating I have to do.

That's a very good point. When the FV is insulated, the temperature won't fluctuate too much either. I just wrap an old blanket around mine.

[googoomuck]

Thanks for the replies lads!! It clears it all up, so the STC will (when programmed) either turn on/off a belt or fridge. I have been using the old sleeping bag over the FV and a duvet when its cold trick since I started brewing, nothing has ever gone wrong but I don't like the uncertainty.
Thinking of getting the mini kegs for going to parties or giving mates some beer, but 70 odd euro is a bit steep. I never heard of growlers until now, had a quick google and seen these on HBW http://www.homebrewwest.ie/demijohn-2-litre-straight-ear-and-screwcap-1785-p.asp. They seem to be what I'm after, IF my bottle filling stick fits onto my keg tap then these are perfect. I looked into the immersion heater alright but like Gary said it is just something else to sanitize.  Cheers again lads,
Lee.

[googoomuck]

Whats a thermowell?

[Garry]

Whats a thermowell?

It's a temperature probe which is drilled into the fermenter or boiler.

Like this clickmeyouknowyouwantto 

[googoomuck]

Whats a thermowell?

It's a temperature probe which is drilled into the fermenter or boiler.

Like this clickmeyouknowyouwantto 

Cool, so does this replace the probe that comes with the STC? How do you seal this, what type of gasket could you use?

[Garry]

Cool, so does this replace the probe that comes with the STC?

Yes.

How do you seal this, what type of gasket could you use?

Technically, what I linked to is a probe. These would be put into a thermowell like this. But you can use the PT100 probe on it's own. To seal it you could use a silicon washer. Cut your own from a silicone cake tray. Or you could use a little bit of Tec-7. I fúcking love Tec-7 

[googoomuck]

Cool, so does this replace the probe that comes with the STC?

Yes.

How do you seal this, what type of gasket could you use?

Technically, what I linked to is a probe. These would be put into a thermowell like this. But you can use the PT100 probe on it's own. To seal it you could use a silicon washer. Cut your own from a silicone cake tray. Or you could use a little bit of Tec-7. I fúcking love Tec-7 

Can Tec 7 be used inside the FV?! I'm a fan of the GT 7 Lube, great stuff!!
Cheers for all the info!!

[Garry]

Q. Is it safe to use around in fish ponds and aquariums?

A. Yes, because Tec7 does not contain any solvents, it can be used in fish ponds and aquariums, however, please keep fish away from Tec7 while it is curing.

I love the last bit, imagine poor Nemo stuck to the wall of the fish tank 

If it's good enough for those finicky tropical fish, I reckon it's good enough for beer?