Setting freezer temps with a temp controller

[Beer-lord]

What should you set the freezer temperature gauge on if you're using a temp controller? Mine goes from 1-7 (coldest). With my Johnson controller, I set it midway but I would think it really doesn't matter as long as it's on.

[BigPapaG]

Assuming this is a freezer only unit...

You can safely set it to 'coldest' since all the control and sensing is done with the temp controller.

It is only gonna run as long as the external controller allows it...

On the other hand, if you set the internal one toward warmer... It may cut off before hitting the lower temp set on the external controller.

If it is the freezer section of a fridge/freezer, the same is probably true but experimemtation may be required.

[RickBeer]

The answer is it really doesn"t matter, but do 7. The warmest any freezer goes should be colder than you would ever want to ferment at, maybe 40? Let the temp controller do the work.

[BlackDuck]

I agree with RickBeer. I have a Johnson Controller hooked up to a refrigerater and I have that set to the coldest dial setting. Like Rick said....Let the temp controller do the work.

[Beer-lord]

I have it set low tonite to see what happens and so far, its dead on with 3 thermometers. Tomorrow, I'll set it to the coldest and see what happens as well. That's the way I have my Johnson Controller set on a dorm fridge.
Thanks guys! It's great to have backup (and a freezer)

[Beer-lord]

Set the temp on the controller for 64 overnight and woke up and it was at 64.3. Can't get any better than that.
Now to figure out the rest of this fancy-smancy Fermostat cuz the new toys are being used tomorrow!

[RickBeer]

I found that folding a papertowel and putting it over the sensor and then taping them to the LBK did NOT work for me. I did find that using a facecloth and folding it until it was around 2 x 2 and putting that over the sensor DID work.

You want the temp of the beer, not the temp of the air.

[Beer-lord]

I'm planning on using a sponge for that. Between that and the stick on, I should be pretty close.

[Kealia]

I just fudge it. My JC hangs in the air, versus being taped to something like the carboy. I know that the temp runs about 4-6 degrees higher in the carboy than the air around it so I've been able to set my JC @ 60 when I want to ferment at 65, for example. I suppose I could tape it to the carboy but this has been working for me so far.

[BlackDuck]

I just fudge it. My JC hangs in the air, versus being taped to something like the carboy. I know that the temp runs about 4-6 degrees higher in the carboy than the air around it so I've been able to set my JC @ 60 when I want to ferment at 65, for example. I suppose I could tape it to the carboy but this has been working for me so far.

I do it the same way.

[Kealia]

Sweet - me and the duckman, in sync.

Oh, and I keep all my units on the coldest setting as well, letting the JC do the work as others have said.

[RickBeer]

Hanging it in the air (the probe, not what you were thinking...) didn't seem as good to my thinking, because of the temp spike during fermentation. If you start at 64 and the beer kicks up a few degrees, then by attaching the probe the frig/freezer will better maintain the set temp - fermentation gets more active, temp goes up, frig/freezer kicks on to hold temp. Fermentation drops, temp inside starts to fall, frig/freezer reacts and turns off and lets temp come down.

I suspect there is little difference between the two methods as far as the end product.

[Beer-lord]

You can usually get close (after the major fermentation is over) if you keep a cup of water in the chamber and put the temp probe in the water.
Since I use a SS fermenter for most of my beers, it does a better job of transferring the temperature from the inside to the outside if I tape the probe to the side and cover it with a sponge.

[BlackDuck]

I suspect there is little difference between the two methods as far as the end product.

Me too....especially if you are able to maintain the temps in the ideal range for the yeast you are using.

Take S-05 for an example. Fermentis' published "ideal" range is 59 - 71.6. So if the set temp is at 63, then that allows for a fermentation spike of up to 8.6 degrees to keep it in the "ideal" range. And if it goes a touch above that, it should be fine since their published fermentation temp goes as high as 77.

[Kealia]

I account for the temp spikes when I set my JC. I set it lower for the first few days and as fermentation slows down I simply increase the temp on the JC so it meets the beer where I want it. For example, I'm using US-05 now and I set the JC at 62 knowing that I would ferment around 66 (based on previous batches). As fermentation slows down and the temp in the beer starts to drop, I ramp up the temp on the JC to 64, then 66 over a couple of days to keep it at that same 66 temp.

Maybe more effort than others, but it works for me.