Maintain ferment temp

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Maintain ferment temp

Postby rossgillespie » Fri Mar 09, 2018 11:28 am

Hi all just gathering info for future plans
I do like the idea of herms heatings for micro distillery mashing but is this an economical method for heating a 100-200 litre mash
Also what is micro distillers methods for maintaining ferment temp?
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Re: Maintain ferment temp

Postby bluc » Fri Mar 09, 2018 12:13 pm

Climate controlled room or cupboard /fridge is best bet depending on fermenter size of course..
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Re: Maintain ferment temp

Postby rossgillespie » Sat Mar 10, 2018 11:19 am

I'm talking 200ltr fermentrers so temp controlled box isn't practical
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Re: Maintain ferment temp

Postby EziTasting » Sat Mar 10, 2018 11:27 am

rossgillespie wrote:I'm talking 200ltr fermentrers so temp controlled box isn't practical


Climate controlled box/cupboard IS the best way and easy to make yourself - MDF and insulation...

But HERMs could work, but it wold be a lot more expensive paying for the electricity!

Where I live we have some really hot days (8-10 months of the year) and my ferments were all over the place. Once I put the FVs into a store room attached to the house (not directly air-conditioned) the results became predictable and reliable. We use 60L & 200L FVs... so don't count this idea out!

Its not hard to make an MDF box with a hinged door... even for me, a glorified pencil pusher!
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Re: Maintain ferment temp

Postby res » Sun Mar 11, 2018 3:50 pm

To keep my 180ltr fermenters warm I use the double punch combination of wrapping an electric blanket around the outside and aquarium heater inside, both controlled by a STC-1000.
I also have a lid with a HERMS coil attached I can pump cold water through. But I only ever use it in the hight of summer. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Maintain ferment temp

Postby bluc » Sun Mar 11, 2018 11:09 pm

Or match ferment to climate rum when stinkin hot whiskey when cold..not sure about neutral though maybe autum and spring :-B
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Re: Maintain ferment temp

Postby woodduck » Tue Mar 13, 2018 4:25 pm

Aquarium heaters work well.
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Re: Maintain ferment temp

Postby coffe addict » Tue Mar 13, 2018 5:26 pm

Cheap blankets from opshop and an aquarium heater if I have to do rum in winter most others just blankets as a 200L ferment will produce quite a bit of its own heat!
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Re: Maintain ferment temp

Postby woodduck » Tue Mar 13, 2018 5:29 pm

Just beware that some cheap aquarium heaters float so they float to the top run dry and pop. Don't rely on the dodgy suction caps that come with them. Use a stainless hose clamp or the like around the rubber of the heater to act as a weight.
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Re: Maintain ferment temp

Postby EziTasting » Tue Mar 13, 2018 6:04 pm

woodduck wrote:...Use a stainless hose clamp or the like around the rubber of the heater to act as a weight.


Nice! That’ll be of use when I make use of my Aquarium heater...
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Re: Maintain ferment temp

Postby res » Sat Mar 17, 2018 10:41 pm

I bought a couple of the 500w stainless steel aquarium heaters, they work well. I hang them through a hole in the center of the lid and aim for about a foot from the bottom of the 200ltr fermenter.
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