Yikes it got hot!
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 5:49 pm
So last week I started using 4 LBKs in the fermentation freezer (below). Due to space, the paint can heater is on the 2nd shelf as the LBKs won't fit on that shelf propped up.
Freezer is coils, no fan of any type to move air.
On Tuesday I put in White House Honey Porter, and put the temp sensor on one of the LBKs. It's on the top shelf and the 2nd from the bottom (i.e. either side of the paint can heater) No problems, vigorous fermentation in the upper LBK followed by the lower LBK. I did notice that the top one kicked off more vigorous sooner, then the lower one followed a day later.
On Thursday I put in the White House Honey Ale in, one on the bottom shelf, and one of the 2nd from the bottom. I moved the temp sensor from the Porter to the Honey Ale, figuring that it would get warmer and need more control.
More temp strips arrived last week, but I didn't put them on because things were ongoing.
On Saturday I was out shopping and bought some tiles ($.22 each) to prop up the LBKs where the ramp would not easily fit. Again, all was well. It was also fine late Saturday when I was down there, and on Sunday when I came down to get some brews for the Superbowl.
Today I noticed earlier that the paint can heater was on. When I went down later, it was still on so I opened the freezer and found it quite warm. I moved the temp probe to the top LBK and found it was 80.6! I immediately let the freezer run and unplugged the paint can... Yikes.
Applying the temp strips with scotch tape I found that the ones below it were 68 and the bottom was 64.
It appears that the paint can heated the cookie sheet under the LBK and it acted like a radiator, sending the heat up. So the upper LBK increased temp, but the temp probe was on the bottom one which was only creeping upward.
Luckily I caught it when I did. I've unplugged the paint can heater, and the freezer is running steadily. I think I'm ok especially since Nottingham is basically done in 4 days, so it was done on Saturday and today is Monday. I've read that Notty is a very forgiving yeast.
Going forward, I'm thinking I will put the paint can on the top shelf ON a cookie sheet, which will act as the radiator sending the heat down. I will put the temp probe on the LBKs right below it, and if I set them for 66 that will ensure the bottom shelf is closer to 64.
I guess I could also buy a small plug in fan similar to the one I put in my entertainment center to continually move the air in the freezer to better equalize the temps - or not use the paint can heater at all - it runs when I put in my 62 degree wort on day 1 for an hour or two, and ran when I was on vacation and the house temp was 55 - but I can just not ferment if we're away again in the winter.
Freezer is coils, no fan of any type to move air.
On Tuesday I put in White House Honey Porter, and put the temp sensor on one of the LBKs. It's on the top shelf and the 2nd from the bottom (i.e. either side of the paint can heater) No problems, vigorous fermentation in the upper LBK followed by the lower LBK. I did notice that the top one kicked off more vigorous sooner, then the lower one followed a day later.
On Thursday I put in the White House Honey Ale in, one on the bottom shelf, and one of the 2nd from the bottom. I moved the temp sensor from the Porter to the Honey Ale, figuring that it would get warmer and need more control.
More temp strips arrived last week, but I didn't put them on because things were ongoing.
On Saturday I was out shopping and bought some tiles ($.22 each) to prop up the LBKs where the ramp would not easily fit. Again, all was well. It was also fine late Saturday when I was down there, and on Sunday when I came down to get some brews for the Superbowl.
Today I noticed earlier that the paint can heater was on. When I went down later, it was still on so I opened the freezer and found it quite warm. I moved the temp probe to the top LBK and found it was 80.6! I immediately let the freezer run and unplugged the paint can... Yikes.
Applying the temp strips with scotch tape I found that the ones below it were 68 and the bottom was 64.
It appears that the paint can heated the cookie sheet under the LBK and it acted like a radiator, sending the heat up. So the upper LBK increased temp, but the temp probe was on the bottom one which was only creeping upward.
Luckily I caught it when I did. I've unplugged the paint can heater, and the freezer is running steadily. I think I'm ok especially since Nottingham is basically done in 4 days, so it was done on Saturday and today is Monday. I've read that Notty is a very forgiving yeast.
Going forward, I'm thinking I will put the paint can on the top shelf ON a cookie sheet, which will act as the radiator sending the heat down. I will put the temp probe on the LBKs right below it, and if I set them for 66 that will ensure the bottom shelf is closer to 64.
I guess I could also buy a small plug in fan similar to the one I put in my entertainment center to continually move the air in the freezer to better equalize the temps - or not use the paint can heater at all - it runs when I put in my 62 degree wort on day 1 for an hour or two, and ran when I was on vacation and the house temp was 55 - but I can just not ferment if we're away again in the winter.
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