Autumn is upon us and then the winter of our discontent

[Superslim007]

Well a bit over dramatic but I'm now facing the problem of keeping my wash at the right constant temperature.

I make my wash in a spare room in the house, as it gets cooler without keeping the central heating on 24/7 it is difficult to keep and maintain the temp circa 18 degrees so I have invested in a couple of little fish tank heaters (25w) which should be fine for 25-50 litres each.

Does any of you guys use these?

What is the ideal temp setting for 25L TPW?

Thanks

[Frank]

mate, it all depends on your yeast and its temp tolerances/ideal. what yeast are you going to use?
With a typical TPW (and getting into cold times; where you are), then aim for a starttemp on the upper end of the tolerance and use the heaters (ie 1 per fermenter) AFTER the first couple of days...as the vigorous ferment beginning will be a heat producer in/of itself (esp. if insulated via a cover, etc)

mind you....wtf would I know...I live in the subtropics!

[Superslim007]

Oh yeah I am using Alinsons dried active yeasd (yellow tin in Asda)

[amaark]

If you check out a thread on here called "winter fermenters" I think. It showed how to ensure the temperature was maintained using a soil heater I believe coupled with a controller of some description off ebay.

Hope that helps.

[chill]

I use those heaters. Not sure what the ideal temp is, I aim for about 28c according to the thermometer on the heater.

Chuck

[Superslim007]

MMmm thanks for your feedback but Iv'e just seen the price of the soil heaters and they are about £50 each the aquarium heaters were only £6.80 each so I think I'll give them a whirl, just trying to get the ideal temp to set the stats at

[Almanac]

Bread yeast like Allinson's works best at around 30oC.

AM

[Superslim007]

Thanks Aidan

[Capt-Cudellez]

A few things you can do......

Insulate the fermenter - an old blanket or sleeping bag will do.

Pitch with a yeast starter, this should mean as you are pitching when the wash is still warm, the large starter lets the yeasts get working quickly, and they start generating there own heat before the wash cools.

If you are dealing with lower temps, maybe try a lager yeast that is happier at these temps.

I found those aquarium heaters worked okay, but I used to have trouble with yeast burning onto the surface. Also 25w might keep it chugging along indoors for a small wash, but for 50L you'll probably want 100-150w unless the fermenter is insulated realy well

MMmm thanks for your feedback but Iv'e just seen the price of the soil heaters and they are about £50 each

Shouldn't need to pay anything like that.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Biogreen-HK6-0-GB-Warming-Cable/dp/B005N96OS0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379441403&sr=8-1&keywords=50w+soil+heating

[John51]

I use a 4 foot tube heater between the fermenters and the wall.

e2a: Cooler ferments can make for a better quality wash. Can give a bit more alcohol too.

[Capt-Cudellez]

e2a: Cooler ferments can make for a better quality wash.

Depends what you are after, I do my neutral wash at 25.5oC with the yeast I use, and its mice and clean tasting.
For my whisky I dial in 32oC to generate some nice fruity esters, and push the rum wash to 35oC for the same reason.

[Easydrinker]

Wtf do I know Capt.,you have been doing this longer than I....
And I know it must have been a typo but I am unsure I wan't a mice tasting wash

[Capt-Cudellez]

Hehe, no it should have read nice. Although I currently do have a rodent problem, they like the malt too. So maybe it was a Freudian slip.