Thermometer probe belt device...

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sifty

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Is there anything out there like a neoprene pocket you can snug up against the fermenter to put your temp probe in?
I usually tape a bit of foam to the side and tuck the probe inside against the fermenter, but I'm over cleaning up the messy tape residue.

I'm imagining a simple belt you can tighten around the fermentation device with a small neoprene pad that holds the probe.

No luck searching the interweb, just comes up with heat belts. Could easily make one I guess.

Or is this a silly idea?
 
You can make a probe housing for where it is best suited, right down the guts of the fermenter. Some silicone tube tied off with a cable tie and fitted to a male barb at the top of the fermenter. Or use Blue Tack as an insulator to attach the probe to the outside. Method 1 would be the best.
 
Good points. I'm improving my temp control and obviously the probe right in there is best. Might be tricky with some fermenters though.
And never even considered blu tack...
 
A square of packing foam with a slit for the probe and a bit of elasticated ribbon type stuff.

20220228_094350.jpg


20220228_094449.jpg
 
With my brew fridge I find I get less temp swings with the probe mounted on the side of the FV under a bit of foam than if it is in a thermowell in the middle of the FV. When in the thermowell I think the thermal mass of the wort makes for larger swings, the heater heats up too much by the time the temp rise is measured in the centre of the wort and then it cools down too much the other way.
 
That's interesting. Cheers. Could probably adjust by tuning a PID controller, but would take a few goes.
I'm making up an elastic belt with foam pad now based on pics above..
 
With my brew fridge I find I get less temp swings with the probe mounted on the side of the FV under a bit of foam than if it is in a thermowell in the middle of the FV. When in the thermowell I think the thermal mass of the wort makes for larger swings, the heater heats up too much by the time the temp rise is measured in the centre of the wort and then it cools down too much the other way.
Interesting observation, I use a thermowell and find it gives the most accurate measurement, I have found it to be a couple of degrees cooler on the side. The fermenting wort is constantly moving due to the thermal energy created by the yeast.
I think the insulating property of the plastic could well throw off the temperature measurement when attached to the outside.
 
Interesting observation, I use a thermowell and find it gives the most accurate measurement, I have found it to be a couple of degrees cooler on the side. The fermenting wort is constantly moving due to the thermal energy created by the yeast.
I think the insulating property of the plastic could well throw off the temperature measurement when attached to the outside.

I've got an iSpindel in the wort so can monitor the wort temp and the fridge temp, I can adjust the InkBird if the iSpindel is reporting anything too high (or low). Generally the is-index and InkBird are within a degree or two of each other so no real issue.
 
Regards wort movement, I have a clear fermzilla fermenter and am amazed at the motion during active fermentation when I use this. Almost like it's boiling sometimes, watching the yeast clumps swirl around...
 
So I've got a couple of metres of 50mm elastic strap, and have ordered some plastic quick release clips. I'll shape some nice foam pads and construct something tidy when I have all the bits.
In the meantime, rigged an old surfboard strap on the brew I did today, based on ideas above... 🙂
beer belt.jpg
 

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