Snoozin wrote:Thank you APR, I'm trying my first TPW and mine is sitting around the low 20's without a heat pad so will probably take a few days longer
Others who have more experience than me might like to comment, but so far I am finding if a bakers yeast wash is down to 20 degree C or a bit lower, you can expect it to take 2 - 3 weeks or perhaps a bit longer to fully ferment.
My latest play exercise to keep the ferment temp up is as follows using an old Fowlers Vacola preserving boiler. This boiler must be 50 years old, however, it has a temp controller that allows you to set the temp of the water... this unit has a false bottom that you sit full jars on to heat treat to preserve the contents. I have had this wash up around 35 degree C and it is fermenting OK. The boiler water level is around 3 inches down from the top lip of the boiler, and the perforated false bottom is around 1 and 1/2 inches up from the actual bottom....
The temperature controller allows you to set the temp quite low. I presently have it set so it is trying to keep the wash at around 35 degree. The controller will switch in when the water temp gets down to around 33 degree C and switch out at around 37 degree C, but the wash temp doesn't vary that much. The calibration accuracy of the dial is pretty mundane....