Heater

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Heater

Postby akkanomore » Sun May 14, 2017 11:32 am

Ok heading into winter and I think I need to get some sorta heating device for my wash. Any suggestions? Is anyone using the pad to sit wash on or the wrap around heater?

Cheers
Alan
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Re: Heater

Postby coffe addict » Sun May 14, 2017 11:36 am

I've used the wrap around heater they are ok but have found a submersible fish tank heater much more effective. 300w set to the highest temperature and it's good for 200L wash, cpl blankets to insulate so heater doesn't run constantly.
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Re: Heater

Postby akkanomore » Sun May 14, 2017 11:41 am

coffe addict wrote:I've used the wrap around heater they are ok but have found a submersible fish tank heater much more effective. 300w set to the highest temperature and it's good for 200L wash, cpl blankets to insulate so heater doesn't run constantly.


Thanks for that. I am only doing 25 litre TPW but I guess if it's got thermostat it would work. ;-)
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Re: Heater

Postby Yurugaboy » Sun May 14, 2017 2:31 pm

akkanomore wrote:Ok heading into winter and I think I need to get some sorta heating device for my wash. Any suggestions? Is anyone using the pad to sit wash on or the wrap around heater?


Hi,
I am using an old 1kw wall heater set On 500 watts and thermo set Om 3.5 . It just keeps the 2 X 30 l near it at 20 dec C during cooler nights. Storeroom is in downstairs storeroom. Wrap them up maybe after lag phase - 2-3 days .
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Re: Heater

Postby Lowie » Sun May 14, 2017 5:54 pm

I use the belt heaters mate for my spirit washes (wrap your fermenter in something that will act as insulation - cardboard works well, get your fermenter off the ground too. ) Beer washes go into the temperature controlled fermenting fridge :handgestures-thumbupleft: btw, there's a lady that sells insulted fermenter jackets on fleabay, I've got one, work ok, and Adelaides Ferkin cold over winter...
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Re: Heater

Postby akkanomore » Mon May 15, 2017 2:54 pm

Thanks for your help.

Alan
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Re: Heater

Postby Amfamora » Mon May 15, 2017 3:13 pm

I use a large seedling mat with temp controller strapped to the outside of my 200l or 25l fermenters wrapped in a old sleeping bag.

Works great :D
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Re: Heater

Postby pingu » Mon May 15, 2017 6:42 pm

:text-+1: for the fish tank heater. cheap and easy.
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Re: Heater

Postby Wobblyboot » Mon May 15, 2017 7:46 pm

Iv used heat belts running on temp controllers with towels around them in my laundry for last couple yrs :teasing-tease:
I use 2 on the 220l in garage sitting on 8mm rubber with thick fire proof insulation I got from job I was on and it gets cold out there in winter. I usually set the temp at 27-30 and they at temp and off more than they on, good insulation and controller are the most important parts in my opinion :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Heater

Postby ed9362 » Tue May 16, 2017 10:21 am

I bought the fish tank heater from the pet store, cost 40 bucks and its simple to use. Set the temp thrown it in the wash and plug it in, simple
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Re: Heater

Postby warramungas » Tue May 16, 2017 11:57 am

I've always wondered about the fish tank heaters. The internal seals are designed for water. How do they handle alcohol even at a low proof let alone the power cord which you can guarantee is made from the cheapest plastic possible? Leaching???
Anyway, unless someone shows me where it says the plastics are suitable for alcohol I wont use one. :handgestures-thumbdown: Plenty of external options out there.
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Re: Heater

Postby Zak Griffin » Tue May 16, 2017 12:42 pm

I'm not concerned about the seals... a normal air lock grommet is rubber, that's for those of us who don't just use glad wrap or shrink wrap.
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Re: Heater

Postby bluc » Tue May 16, 2017 1:31 pm

warramungas wrote:I've always wondered about the fish tank heaters. The internal seals are designed for water. How do they handle alcohol even at a low proof let alone the power cord which you can guarantee is made from the cheapest plastic possible? Leaching???
Anyway, unless someone shows me where it says the plastics are suitable for alcohol I wont use one. :handgestures-thumbdown: Plenty of external options out there.

If you worried about the heater in the wash how about a heater well built in to the lid filled with water or oil? put the heater inside sealed copper pipe filled with liquid then submerge that in the mash. I like hillzabillies idea with the coil of pvc pipe with insulation over the top..
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Re: Heater

Postby ed9362 » Tue May 16, 2017 2:19 pm

warramungas wrote:I've always wondered about the fish tank heaters. The internal seals are designed for water. How do they handle alcohol even at a low proof let alone the power cord which you can guarantee is made from the cheapest plastic possible? Leaching???
Anyway, unless someone shows me where it says the plastics are suitable for alcohol I wont use one. :handgestures-thumbdown: Plenty of external options out there.



How is that different from the El cheapo fermenter i bought from bunnings. Thats cheap plastic also.
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Re: Heater

Postby bluc » Tue May 16, 2017 4:15 pm

Think youll find its different type plastic.
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Re: Heater

Postby warramungas » Tue May 16, 2017 4:33 pm

Each to their own with plastics and submerged non solvent rated electrics but I'll stick to my lights and fridge.. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Heater

Postby Doubleuj » Tue May 16, 2017 4:37 pm

For shits and giggles I filled up 2x 1.25L soft drink bottles with hot water from the tap (50 ish degrees) and dropped them in my 25L fermenter, it raised the temp by 2 degrees.. not much I know but if your lagging below 20* then with a bit of effort you could bring a wash back up to temp cheaply.
Especially if you live off the grid, hey Brian!
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Re: Heater

Postby pingu » Tue May 16, 2017 8:09 pm

Only the glass part of the fish tank heater is in the wash tho...
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Re: Heater

Postby Cheersbigears » Wed May 17, 2017 8:55 pm

Yes I'm looking at getting something but I work away for a week or so, so I want something I can leave and not worry about. In the past I have used a sleeping bag and a tarp over the top on a 120Lt but would not know if it stays at temp or not but sometimes it's still bubbling when I get home so must of been on the low side. Only done that with TPWs but now I do rum and Mc Whiskey etc, but have a UNinsulated shed now so maybe still enough.
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Re: Heater

Postby Kenster » Thu May 18, 2017 6:43 pm

Fish are a bit like the canary in the mine shaft...very sensitive to all sorts of chemicals. If a heater is designed for safe use in say, a saltwater aquarium, i reckon the plastics are more than suitable for our needs. I have used one for over a year in an 85 lit esky and have found it perfect. A 100w chinese heater for around 12 bucks sits on whatever temp you set, with ease, and cheap to run.
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