Heat belts and pads

brydo · Mar 11, 2021

Hi guys, quite simply wanting to know if heat belts and pads are any good ? I've seen them for around £20 on a couple of home brew shop websites which seems pretty cheap. Do belts distribute heat evenly and is it ok that the pads sit on the bottom underneath the all the trub ? Also they dont seem to have tempreture control, just on or off. What's folks experience with these ?

Cheers again

Ezza · Mar 11, 2021

I got a thermostatic Reptile heat pad from ebay for £12 works well

yrhendystu · Mar 11, 2021

I have a pad, it works well. Also use a hot water tank jacket to insulate and a timer switch to cycle it off and on without worrying about a temp probe.

Once you heat up a liquid it'll start to form a convection current. How much it does it at 20C I don't know.

Redwulf · Mar 11, 2021

I sat a bucket of water on a heat mat for 48 hours and it held at 28°C in a 18-20°C room so you probably want some kind of temp control.

Hanglow · Mar 11, 2021

I wrap the heat pad on the side of the fermentor, works fine.

Chippy_Tea · Mar 11, 2021

I bought the one below a couple of years ago it doesn't have a controller but in winter it keeps the FV at 26c - 28c when left on 24 hours a day.

I believe heat belts can be a bit of a pain if you have no controller as you have to move it up and down the FV to find the sweet spot.

brydo · Mar 11, 2021

That's my worry of buying one and it raises the temp to 28 without me monitoring it when I'm work

yrhendystu · Mar 11, 2021

It takes a lot of effort to heat 5 gallons up. I have a timer plug so it cycles on and off at up to 15 minute intervals. I then adjust as needed. It's not as precise as a probe but it's quick and easy.

Moe · Mar 11, 2021

I have a heat belt on my fermentor. I put them both in the fridge and control with an ink bird. Works a treat

Chippy_Tea · Mar 11, 2021

brydo said:
That's my worry of buying one and it raises the temp to 28 without me monitoring it when I'm work

If temperature is a worry you are going to have to use a controller you could gamble and use a timer as suggested but if you want peace of mind spend £26 (free postage) -
Inkbird Thermostat Temp control 230V Heat Cool 12 Period Temperature Homebrew UK | eBay

Hanglow · Mar 11, 2021

Definitely use controller with them. I use mine with wines and now with my seedlings, great bits of kit.

labrewski · Mar 11, 2021

I use a pad keeps at 28 but I cut out like ring donought shapes of yoga mat starting with a small hole on the middle going to large to control the temp large hole keeps it at 25 small 21to20 in winter

starseeker · Mar 11, 2021

I use a heat pad with a inkbird ,works great .

gavp1979 · Mar 11, 2021

I do the same as @Moe, heatbelt and a fridge both plugged into an inkbird, works perfectly

brydo · Mar 12, 2021

Cheers guys, I've went for the mangrove jacks heat pad and controller from the home brew shop

danmac · Mar 12, 2021

brydo said:
Hi guys, quite simply wanting to know if heat belts and pads are any good ? I've seen them for around £20 on a couple of home brew shop websites which seems pretty cheap. Do belts distribute heat evenly and is it ok that the pads sit on the bottom underneath the all the trub ? Also they dont seem to have tempreture control, just on or off. What's folks experience with these ?

Cheers again

I use the heat pad I had for my dogs

Chippy_Tea · Mar 13, 2021

danmac said:
I use the heat pad I had for my dogs

You used a heat pad in your underpants. ashock1

Dogs = Slang name for underpants here.

mac1611 · Mar 13, 2021

Keep clear of the orange rubber chinese heat belts .They are death traps badly wired and get so hot they would melt plastic !!! Ordered one threw it away .Once I had sorted the wiring plugged it in and with 5 mins was so hot it burnt my finger bigtime .Supplier obviously knows this. He said he would give me my money back as long as I didn't leave negative feedback on ebay

foxy · Nov 27, 2021

For those of you who b ferment out in the garage or shed in the UK winters a Heat Therm complete with thermocouple is the answer, used in conjunction with a thermal jacket/ fridge will keep your brew at an ideal fermentation temperature. 12 volt 60 watt, so cheap to run.

Clint · Nov 27, 2021

I have a heat pad and second inkbird for when the fv fridge is full. I wrap the fv with a patio bench cushion held on with a bungee.

Heat belts and pads

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