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Author Topic: Safe heating element?  (Read 842 times)

Offline hennesseystealth

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Safe heating element?
« on: September 23, 2020, 11:00:33 am »
I use a kegerator and a temperature controller for fermenting and bottling. The setup is in my garage. It works very well for most of the year, but I want to continue brewing in the winter and my garage will be below my desired set point. I would like to add a very small heating element inside the kegerator running off the same controller. My issue is I don't want the heating element to get too hot (fire hazard) and it has to be relatively small to fit inside the kegerator along with my 3 gallon conical fermenter.

Any suggestions?

Offline chinaski

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Re: Safe heating element?
« Reply #1 on: September 23, 2020, 02:06:02 pm »
I use a reptile heating cable safely.  Available in various wattages, rubber coated.  A heating pad might also do the trick.

Offline EnkAMania

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Some day we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny

Offline hennesseystealth

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Re: Safe heating element?
« Reply #3 on: September 23, 2020, 06:23:45 pm »
Thanks. Both of those are good suggestions as they are low wattage. I also saw reptile heating pads. The cable lengths tend to be pretty long, but since the hole in the back of the kegerator is small, I don't think I will be able to push through a big plug. So, the cable may be the best option, even if a bit messy.

Offline spurviance

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Re: Safe heating element?
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2020, 12:34:17 pm »
A heat lamp bulb under an empty paint can works for me
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Offline denny

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Re: Safe heating element?
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2020, 02:33:22 pm »
I use a reptile heater bulb.  Heat but no light.
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