Using a heat mat

[dean_wales]

Hi guys,

My house is about 18c on average and the next few brews need fermenting at 20c-22c if not higher.

I have found an A3 sized heat mat from a vivarium in the shed which would be good at providing gentle warmth. But I have no enclosure or temp controller.

Does anyone have any ideas how I could use this to keep a fermentation in the low 20's without some serious work?

I was thinking the mat on the work surface with the FV on a cooling rack above it and a blanket over the lot?

Thanks in advance.

Dean.

[Wolfy]

Fridge, esky, cardboard box, quilt, sleeping-bag, your old winter-coat, anything that you can wrap around it to trap the air and keep the temperature as constant as possible.
I tend to not like to use heating mats below the fermentor because I worry that it will warm the yeast-cake more than the rest of the beer, so I'd try to either attach it on the side or use it as a space-heater, if you have an enclosure to keep it in.

[nobby]

What ever setup you use its possible to use a timer plug to control the temp. If its getting too hot switch on for 2 hours and off for 2 hours etc

[crafty john]

What ever setup you use its possible to use a timer plug to control the temp. If its getting too hot switch on for 2 hours and off for 2 hours etc

+1 for using a timer, I use heat pads in the colder months and set them up with a timer depending on ambient I have it set at 1 or 2 hour intervals, works for me.

[Sandybee]

I use a heat pad for fermenting in my garage. I strap a temperature probe from a digital thermometer to the side of my fermenting vessel. The probe is held in contact with the side of the vessel with a sponge. I cover the f.v. with a blanket and, using clips, expose or cover the f.v. to srike the correct temperature. With 23 litres of liquid in the f.v. the temperature is pretty stable. As heat is generated by the fermentation the temperature needs to be monitored closely for the first two days.
It's worked well for me.

[dean_wales]

What ever setup you use its possible to use a timer plug to control the temp. If its getting too hot switch on for 2 hours and off for 2 hours etc

+1 for using a timer, I use heat pads in the colder months and set them up with a timer depending on ambient I have it set at 1 or 2 hour intervals, works for me.

Im there with the timer! Great minds etc.

Initial phase of fermentation and insulation seems to be keeping it above 20c for now. Once this has died back I will start introducing more and more hours a day of warmth to keep it in the low 20's.

I am not too keen on directly heating the FV from below with the mat so will be keeping it on the cooling rack which holds it 5mm above the mat for now. I am using a hood to insulate the FV!!

Thanks,

Dean.

[Beer O'Clock]

I gave up on pads and belts many years ago and now use Aquarium Heaters exclusively. They have a thermostatic control and a truly "set and forget". £10-15 on Amazon. They work really well.