Recommended tube heaters for fermenting fridge

[I'm Spargetacus!]

Evening, I'm after some recommendations on a good tube heater setup in a fermenting fridge. I've adapted an old fridge to work for me, with an inline stc. Heating comes from a brewbelt at the sec. All good. but want something more effective and efficient to keep the space temperate in the winter.

Got a decent space at the front floor, forward of the ledge created by the condenser. Will look to wire whatever I get back thru the fridge drain hole, and in to said stc.

Any recommendations from own efforts, projects or experiences will be appreciated.

Ta,
Spargetacus

 

[Clint]

If the heat belt is working why change? The fridge,once at temp will hardly change,maybe a degree or two warmer as fermentation kicks off,even if your fridge is out in the garage.
If you really need to buy one mine came from Toolstation and cost under £20.

 

[I'm Spargetacus!]

Hey Clint. Guess that's part of the question really. I'm anticipating a tube heater to be more efficient and effective at getting the fridge up to temp, and holding it there. than the belt around the FV (30 litre plastic job, for 23 litre batches). Might be overthinking it.

To give it some more context, it's out in a conservatory (only place I could put it) so it's been on cool the whole time as that rooms been roasting. But I'm expecting quite the opposite for the winter.

 

[Bigjas]

I got a 45 watt tube heater from Amazon. Had it for over 4 years now. Works perfectly. Wires go through the drain hole to an Inkbird 308. I have the tube heater on the floor, no fans and the thermometer just dangles in the air. The Inkbird maintains a steady temperature without constant cycling between heating and cooling.

 

[Clint]

I find you chill the wort to ferm temp or as close as you can,put your temp probe under a lump of sponge taped to your fermentor,it'll get a more stable reading so the fridge or heater will be less inclined to cycle. If the wort is too hot the fridge will kick in and vice versa..once at temp the fridge insulation as well as the thermal mass of the wort, will stabilise everything. My fridge or heater don't cycle on/off regardless of the outside temp.

 

[Banbeer]

I use heat belts in all 3 of my brew fridges and have done for years, no problems.

 

[marshbrewer]

I've got two, one in a fermentation fridge, one in my Kegorator. One came from eBay, the other from Toolstation. Both have been fine. I'd probably go for Toolstation if I built another one, just because of the convenience.

 

[TheOsprey]

I have this:

https://www.toolstation.com/dimplex...T5viFyqJGQp574TOiM4FcvoXm0lABN7xoCCZgQAvD_BwE
On recommendation from this board. Warning though, the heater is 1ft, not including the handle, and I couldn't find full dimensions anywhere online.
Happy to measure mine tomorrow if you're concerned for space.

 

[Gerryjo]

If a light bulb can do it so will your belt and certainly worth a try so you can spend a few quid on more beer to brew..

 

[MickDundee]

I have this:

https://www.toolstation.com/dimplex...T5viFyqJGQp574TOiM4FcvoXm0lABN7xoCCZgQAvD_BwE
On recommendation from this board. Warning though, the heater is 1ft, not including the handle, and I couldn't find full dimensions anywhere online.
Happy to measure mine tomorrow if you're concerned for space.

That’s the same one I have. It’s the same price on Amazon.

 

[rocketman_k]

I bought my heater online from Superlec Direct.....I wanted one without the integral thermostat as one of my fridges is too narrow for the type with thermostat.

If you are going through the drain hole (I do that ) make sure the cable dips into the evaporating tray on top of the compressor before routing it vertically, that forms a "drip loop" so that any condensation that flows through the drain hole goes where it should rather than dripping off the wiring behind the fridge.

 

[Baz Chaz]

I bought my heater online from Superlec Direct.....I wanted one without the integral thermostat as one of my fridges is too narrow for the type with thermostat.

Yup, I got the same one, a neater job and also bought the inkbird, so no worries about the lack of thermostat on the heater. Very pleased with the setup, so easy to set up and use.

 

[Old Geezer]

I got mine from Toolstation, £14.98 now Dimplex Thermostatic Tubular Heater IPX4 1ft 40W it comes complete with flex and 13amp plug already fitted.

 

[RockTKaz]

I built mine using this one:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/dimplex-ecot1ft-wall-mounted-tubular-heater-40w-408-x-81mm/3951f
So far so good and have seen little to no fluctuation in the temps so far:

Only thing I would say is the plugis a sealed moulded one soyou will have to cut the cable and try-wire

 

[Graz]

Just used the cheapest one I could find on eBay that was 40/60W and 1ft long. There's really not much too them, just a coil of wire in a metal tube. Just found the details for the last one I bought, cost £14.10

 

[Spratt]

One thing to watch out for is the internal thermostat, which will stop heating above a certain level. Some have quite a low threshold of 20C which is a pain if you want to do a Kveik or indeed if you just want to bump up the temp to 21 or 22 at the end of the brew

 

[Hoppyland]

I use a reptile heating mat - different wattages available. Got mine via eBay

 

[Datanode101]

so sorry for being dumb, and a n00b, what and why do you do this in a fridge?

 

[TheOsprey]

so sorry for being dumb, and a n00b, what and why do you do this in a fridge?

It helps to keep fermentation temperature steady. If you have a day when it's 35 outside, then a day when it's raining and 17 outside, your wort temp is going to fluctuate significantly. If you can put it into a fridge set at 19 degrees, problem solved.

People use fridges because they insulate well.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

so sorry for being dumb, and a n00b, what and why do you do this in a fridge?

Have a look at this - Fermentation Fridge build