Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.  (Read 13382 times)

Offline yugamrap

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 377
Re: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.
« Reply #15 on: December 16, 2009, 11:48:56 am »
I have done the same with a low watt bulb in the temp controlled chest freezer (in the unheated garage) during the winter months.  I usually ferment in steel or plastic, and have not have any skunking issues.  Given that the chest freezer is well insulated a very small source such as a night light or 15 watt lamp is enough. 
+1  I do the same thing to keep my fermenting fridge and my serving fridge (both are in my unheated garage) from getting too cold in the winter.  I use 15-watt bulbs in reading lamps in the bottom of the fridges.  This provides just enough heat that the temperature control will cycle the fridge to run occasionally.
...it's liquid bread, it's good for you!

Offline abraxas

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 191
Re: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.
« Reply #16 on: December 18, 2009, 06:15:39 pm »
I'd recommend making a "heat bomb".  Just put a submersible fish tank heater in a plastic bottle of water and seal it with some high temp silicon (or don't).

For less than $30 you could get one with a built in adjustable thermostat.

Offline abraxas

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 191
Re: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.
« Reply #17 on: December 18, 2009, 06:18:27 pm »
I wonder if you could use a high temp spray paint on a bulb like grill or exhaust paint.  Might cause some uneven expansion and ultimately shatter, but you never know till you try.  I'd probably only try it in a GFCI receptacle though...

Offline Thirsty_Monk

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2514
  • Eau Claire WI
    • Lazy Monk Brewing
Re: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.
« Reply #18 on: December 18, 2009, 08:04:38 pm »
Picture is worth 1000 words.
I am using 40W light bulb wrapped in aluminum foil.

Image is here:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/data/1/medium/img_02452.jpg
« Last Edit: December 22, 2009, 07:27:27 pm by Thirsty_Monk »
Na Zdravie

Lazy Monk Brewing
http://www.lazymonkbrewing.com

Offline Brew.Drink.Repeat.

  • Conference
  • Cellarman
  • *****
  • Posts: 36
Re: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.
« Reply #19 on: December 29, 2009, 02:34:26 pm »
I use a dual-stage temp controller for my fridge; the cool side is for the fridge (obviously), and for the hot side I picked up a small (well, tiny actually)  space heater at Target for $10. Works like a charm.
Brian Pylant
BJCP National B0565

South Jersey Fermentation Club (formerly Barley Legal Homebrewers)

Offline riverrat

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 109
Re: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.
« Reply #20 on: December 30, 2009, 07:08:33 am »
I wonder if you could use a high temp spray paint on a bulb like grill or exhaust paint.  Might cause some uneven expansion and ultimately shatter, but you never know till you try.  I'd probably only try it in a GFCI receptacle though...

I tried this already.  It works well, but the bulbs seem to burn out significantly faster, and it's harder to tell when they burn out, as you can't see any light coming out of the fixture whether it's on or not.
Founding member, California Street Brewery

Offline Kaiser

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1797
  • Imperial Brewing Geek
    • braukaiser.com
Re: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.
« Reply #21 on: December 31, 2009, 09:27:54 am »

Offline Hokerer

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2654
  • Manassas, VA
Re: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.
« Reply #22 on: December 31, 2009, 09:50:42 am »
Why does this come up as "HOMEBREWTALK.COM NO HOTLINKING" ?

Kai

Kai, a lot of web sites don't allow "hotlinking".  Hotlinking means a link that points directly at (usually) a picture.  They don't want people to do that because they'd rather that you go to the actual site (not just the picture).  That way you have to look at their site and any ads and such that might go along with that.
Joe

Offline Kaiser

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1797
  • Imperial Brewing Geek
    • braukaiser.com
Re: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.
« Reply #23 on: December 31, 2009, 10:12:13 am »
Why does this come up as "HOMEBREWTALK.COM NO HOTLINKING" ?

Kai, a lot of web sites don't allow "hotlinking".  Hotlinking means a link that points directly at (usually) a picture.  They don't want people to do that because they'd rather that you go to the actual site (not just the picture).  That way you have to look at their site and any ads and such that might go along with that.

I have a lot of support and friends over there at HBT.com but there are many things that annoy me. This is one more.

Kai

Offline Thirsty_Monk

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2514
  • Eau Claire WI
    • Lazy Monk Brewing
Re: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.
« Reply #24 on: December 31, 2009, 10:21:39 am »
Image is here:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/data/1/medium/img_02452.jpg

Why does this come up as "HOMEBREWTALK.COM NO HOTLINKING" ?

Kai
I thought that when I post direct link to it (instead of inbedding) it would work.
Try right click on link and open in new tab.
Let me know if it works.
If not I would have to get some service as photobucket or picasa...
Na Zdravie

Lazy Monk Brewing
http://www.lazymonkbrewing.com

Offline Kaiser

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1797
  • Imperial Brewing Geek
    • braukaiser.com
Re: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.
« Reply #25 on: December 31, 2009, 10:34:17 am »
Try right click on link and open in new tab.
Let me know if it works.
If not I would have to get some service as photobucket or picasa...

You need to copy the link and paste it into a browser. If you just click it, even opening it in a new window, the "referrer" information is retained and you'll get the NO HOTLINKING message.

I still think it is very annoying.

But I see the problem with hotlinking just images. But just posting the image and not giving a source you might technially be violating copyright. I do encurage others to use my stuff for non commercial purposes (e.g. forum posts) but the source needs to be mentioned.

If you post a lot outside of HBT and want to show images you may have to host them somewhere else. Some forums do allow image attachments, which is nice, but not all do. They might be a disk space or admin hassle.

Kai

Offline Thirsty_Monk

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2514
  • Eau Claire WI
    • Lazy Monk Brewing
Re: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.
« Reply #26 on: December 31, 2009, 12:07:12 pm »
O.K.
Let's try it now:

I am actually racking here but the heat source is in the back.
Na Zdravie

Lazy Monk Brewing
http://www.lazymonkbrewing.com

Offline dontblake

  • Conference
  • Assistant Brewer
  • *****
  • Posts: 103
    • Indian Peaks Alers
Re: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.
« Reply #27 on: January 22, 2010, 05:18:14 pm »
Just don't use a high wattage halogen light.
See this thread from the BN  (hoping that hotlinking works)

http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=18695

This guys fridge is seriously messed up!
Don Blake, Erie CO
Founder, Indian Peaks Alers
Grand Master BJCP Judge

Offline Thirsty_Monk

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2514
  • Eau Claire WI
    • Lazy Monk Brewing
Re: Light bulb in fridge to control temp.
« Reply #28 on: January 22, 2010, 07:26:44 pm »
Just don't use a high wattage halogen light.
See this thread from the BN  (hoping that hotlinking works)

http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=18695

This guys fridge is seriously messed up!
All I can say is WOW.
Glad nothing rally bad happened.
Na Zdravie

Lazy Monk Brewing
http://www.lazymonkbrewing.com