SeanS4 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 I'm a complete novice at brewing, and many posts on here have been very helpful. I was hoping to roll with the seasons (just like garden vegies) in terms of choosing the right brew for the time of year. Melbourne weather is of course unpredictable at best, and we don't have air con. With an Irish Ale on the go, hoping to keep it at 20C ish, it's now at 28C. Am too busy to control it manually with inflatable rubber duck kiddie bath, wet towels, ice, fan, swearing etc. So I got a fridge and just ordered an STC1000 temperature controller. Hopefully I will soon have cooling under control. Some people on here talk about heat mats. I assume these are the type used for reptiles etc.? Either way, does anyone have a recommendation for a suitable (hopefully cheap) mat to do the job? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Personally i use the heat pads, .but from what i understand, reptile.heaters are good too, light bulbs, i even know of a guy who has a little fan heater in how fridge, though i feel this is too much. A more gentle heat is, IMO the way to go, dont apply the heat directly to the FV but heat the ambient air. Yob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I have the Reptile Heat Cord and personally think it is safer than some other items. Can buy them on Ebay. To save members here repeating themselve, check these sites for your info. http://www.coopers.com.au/the-brewers-guild/talk-brewing?g=posts&m=30799 http://www.coopers.com.au/the-brewers-guild/talk-brewing?g=posts&t=3042 http://www.coopers.com.au/the-brewers-guild/talk-brewing?g=posts&t=3515&p=2 There are others but these will probably benefit the most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanS4 Posted January 18, 2012 Author Share Posted January 18, 2012 Personally i use the heat pads, Yob Thanks Yob, I will check them out... I have the Reptile Heat Cord and personally think it is safer than some other items. Can buy them on Ebay. To save members here repeating themselve, check these sites for your info. Thanks BillK, noted. I think I will build a 'tribute version' of your finished controller [cool] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyG4 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 i gotta say Bill, i sh!t my pants when i looked at those links. i think i'll have a fridge by this weekend. i was going to buy one of these STC 1000s. is it not just as simple as plugging the fridge into it (at this time of year) and setting a temperature? i might have to give the whole thing a rethink if i'm going to need a science degree to sort it out... with heating i'm prepared to wait a few months and think about it i much prefer the idea of ambient heat than something directly on the fermenter, i would just imagine it would give an uneven beer heat? edit: although, thinking about it... could you just use uv lamps for heat? i know they're a more expensive option, and far be it from me to suggest nefarious uses for a temperature controlled fridge with uv lights in it, but another alternate use for when i've got more beer than i can drink just occurred to me. (give me a break, i live in canberra, i can't believe it took me this long to think of it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PB2 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I bought one of these a couple of years ago. No wiring required, just plug in and go. [cool] Mind you, I'm not 100% sure whether they are normally supplied as a complete unit?? You might need to confirm with an email to the supplier [wink] edit: looks like BeerBelly also have this item. I'm sure they would help with wiring advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisK Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Where are you Andy? KegKing in Melbourne sell fully assembled two way (heat/cool) thermostats and I believe they're... "almost" certified. [innocent] Otherwise yes, you'll need to do some wiring yourself. As for the heat pads, most homebrew or hydroponic shops sell them. I think I paid $40 odd for my heat pad and I rest it on the side of my fridge with a ceramic tile underneath (I'm very cautious of fridge plastics and their intollerance to heat, though I think this probably overkill) You can see how my fridge is set up in this post: http://www.coopers.com.au/the-brewers-guild/talk-brewing?g=posts&m=30911#post30911 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanS4 Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share Posted January 19, 2012 I bought one of these a couple of years ago. No wiring required' date=' just plug in and go. [cool'] Mind you, I'm not 100% sure whether they are normally supplied as a complete unit?? You might need to confirm with an email to the supplier [wink] edit: looks like BeerBelly also have this item. I'm sure they would help with wiring advice. Going to a home brew supplier for 'wiring advice' before tackling electrical work in your home (or wherever) is about as good a bit of advice as going to your local lighting supplier and asking for home brewing tips. Sure, you might get lucky and find a multi-skilled master brewer electrician in the light shop... chances are you will not. Even if you do find this rare individual, there's no guarantee that you have the knowledge and tools to do the work safely. Unlike a home brew gone wrong, wiring gone wrong often results in house fires and sometimes death. Or maybe a bit of vapourised copper in your face. Do I sound like a drama queen on a rant? Maybe. But this is a global public forum and no doubt many of the people reading this in coming years are not as bright as many of the contributors. My advice (having seen many bad results from shonky DIY wiring): get a sparky to check it[wink] You may even choose to delete that post and this, not my call, and not looking for a fight, I plan to continue to learn about brewing from what seem to be a great bunch of contributors on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PB2 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Yes, poor choice of words on my part [pinched] The unit comes with a wiring diagram and instructions - my intent was to suggest that the friendly Beer Belly people could direct you to a qualified person with the necessary skills, if need be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanS4 Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share Posted January 19, 2012 Yes' date=' poor choice of words on my part [pinched'] The unit comes with a wiring diagram and instructions - my intent was to suggest that the friendly Beer Belly people could direct you to a qualified person with the necessary skills, if need be. Thanks for your swift reply. I feel better now[cool] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 Well I somewhat disagree and too many people embed a fear factor into a simple job. However, rightly so though considering worst case scenarios. These things are very straight forward and simple to wire. I actually recommend doing it yourself to save some dollars but if you do then ensure to have a sparky check it before using it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 is it not just as simple as plugging the fridge into it (at this time of year) and setting a temperature? i might have to give the whole thing a rethink if i'm going to need a science degree to sort it out... once setup you are correct. It is only a case of plugging your fridge into it and setting the temp you want, You certainly do not need a science degree to sort it out. with heating i'm prepared to wait a few months and think about it i much prefer the idea of ambient heat than something directly on the fermenter, i would just imagine it would give an uneven beer heat? I know a lot of people who apply heat on the FV by means of either a heat pad or heat cord with no adverse affects. edit: although, thinking about it... could you just use uv lamps for heat? i know they're a more expensive option, and far be it from me to suggest nefarious uses for a temperature controlled fridge with uv lights in it, but another alternate use for when i've got more beer than i can drink just occurred to me. (give me a break, i live in canberra, i can't believe it took me this long to think of it) No I wouldn't be using UV lights for a heat source. UV is probably the worst light for beer. You need to be cautious of light strike when using lights near beer and especially UV lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyG4 Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 i have spent a lot of time today looking into fridge temperature control. correct me if i'm wrong, but is it the case that all these complex thermostats that people build is purely in aid of being able to control both a heater and a fridge? is it also the case that getting a thermostat to do just one or the other is incredibly easy to just buy off the shelf? maybe one day when i get into hardcore brewing i will look into building one of these (i need to find an electrician to become mates with first). but for now, i live in canberra. when it comes to brewing and controlling the temp of a fridge, i wonder if i'm over thinking this. its bloody hot in summer (not so much this summer) and it's bloody cold in winter. i clearly only need a thermostat that plugs into heating or cooling at this stage. am i right? or do i have this completely wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kearnage Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Andy, For at least half the year you could get away with a controller with only one function, maybe more. My last three brews, nothing has been plugged into the heat output as it's simply not required. If you can find a 'plug and play' single function controller at a reasonable price and are not keen to build one yourself, go for it. Back when I was looking around they were still hard to find and expensive - doing it myself was the only sensible option so I wired a dual function controller. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossm Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 G'day Andy, I don't use a fridge to brew in, my custom built brew room has an air con in it and I wired it through a remote thermostat, that will drive a heatsource as well if required and believe me, it gets cold in the desert too! However, if you are just trying to keep a brew cold in a working fridge, I can see no reason why you would need an extra thermostat at all! you should be able to work out what temperature you need to set your fridge thermostat to keep your brew at a good temp. The advantage of using the type of unit described here from my perception anyway, is that you can actually monitor and control the FV temp rather than the the air space in the fridge. Either way I would be experimenting with the fridge's built in thermostat until you work out what you want to do with heating/cooling down the track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 A cheap way around it is to use a $5 timer. Plug the fridge into that and once you work out the cycles you would barely have to touch it until a dramatic change in weather.... i.e. Summer to Winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewDK Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I posted this up in another thread, thought I'd post it heer aswell as some contributors also seem to be looking for a already wired unit in this thread. PB2 suggested Keg King might have them, the unit on their website is not wired so I sent them an email. Heard back from them today. Yes we also sell them fully wired into a jiffy box as well. They cost $69.95 fully wired. If you just give us a call you can order one on the phone and we can send one out to you. Kee D\xf6\xe9ry Proprietor Keg King \u2013 Keg Dispense Specialists Warehouse 2/33-35 Smith Rd Springvale VIC 3171 Australia Tel: +61 3 9011 1698 Fax: +61 3 9011 1697 Email: keedoery@mchaustralia.com Web: www.kegking.com.au Pretty good price considering the parts cost $50. Afraid I don't know the full specs/design of the unit maybe Paul can put up a pic of his, otherwise just send them an email or call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanS4 Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 Sounds like a good option, if it's done right. By the time you add up the parts and the hassle of getting the stuff, and the time putting it together, this would be a very cheap way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 He's a great bloke too, very honest and a very good nature, I cant praise him highly enough. Great Prices, great products, as a matter of fact he gave me a replacement barb without me giving him the faulty one without hesitation. (was still in the HLT) It is a bit out of the way if you dont have a car though. Yob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyG4 Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 70 bucks and i don't have to wire it myself? sold. would've been cheap at twice the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Yeah a great price for $70 already wired. I have had a few things through KK and found them to be pretty good and happy to help also. Cheap postage rates too [joyful] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raider Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Hi Guys, I finally got a second hand fridge yesterday, plugged it in and it was working fine for about 4 hours then bang, everything turned off, the safety switch was tripped. I unplugged the fridge and flicked the swith back on and everything else was good. I plugged the fridge in again this morning and this time the safety switch tripped straight away. I am getting a temp controller from Keg King delivered today all wired up, do you think I should try this with the fridge or would I risk breaking the temp controller as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Waters Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 I'd be inclined to return the fridge if you can Raider...sounds like you may have a dud on your hands. Pure speculation on my part though as I am not by any means an electrician [rightful] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanS4 Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 Hi Guys, I finally got a second hand fridge yesterday, plugged it in and it was working fine for about 4 hours then bang, everything turned off, the safety switch was tripped. I unplugged the fridge and flicked the swith back on and everything else was good. I plugged the fridge in again this morning and this time the safety switch tripped straight away. I am getting a temp controller from Keg King delivered today all wired up, do you think I should try this with the fridge or would I risk breaking the temp controller as well? My two cents... if the fridge was working when you picked it up but is now causing problems, it might have gone wrong because of moving it. Sometimes, especially with older fridges, if they are not put in place for up to 24 hours before switching on you can get air bubbles in the coolant liquid. These can damage the compressor. Also, some fridges have a drip tray at the back which sits around the compressor and uses the heat there to evaporate the condensed water from the fridge plate inside. These often get blocked and when you move them water splashes around the wiring. After 4 hours, my first guess would be the air bubbles. Assuming the house and fridge wiring is ok, the controller will not help. Using it might not help the controller though. I would still have a close look at the fridge lead and plug for any signs of damage or tampering (with it unplugged of course). Might be none of those reasons... could just be that it died soon after you got it. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raider Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Well I gave it another go last night and no good. I tried it in a few different outlets, with and without the temp controller. The fridge was only $40 so not so much worried about that just annoyed because I was looking forward to to taking my brews to the next level. [biggrin] With the temp controller could I still use it to keep track of the temp inside the fridge without having the heating and cooling appliances plugged into it? Figure I might as well keep the brews in the fridge and I can just add ice bottles while it is hot and plug in the heating pad when winter arrives if I don't have a new fridge by then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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