[Ale Farmer]

I just bought a chest freezer for fermentation and was wondering if it makes a difference whether I use as my heating source a fermenter wrap (I have a Fermwrap) or a heating pad, which seems to be another popular option from what I can tell. In other words, is it better to warm the beer directly or the freezer so as to reach the proper temperature?

My sense is that both are fine--and if so, then I'll just use the wrap. But I'd rather hear from people with experience before I take the next step. Thanks.

[69franx]

I've had both. The pad I bought crapped out on me. I really only had it for when I had 2 batches working at same time. When it died, I bought a second wrap for those occasions

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[69franx]

With some insulation around the wraps, I feel they do a better job and faster than heating the while interior. Both will get the job done

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[Bob357]

I just bought a chest freezer for fermentation and was wondering if it makes a difference whether I use as my heating source a fermenter wrap (I have a Fermwrap) or a heating pad, which seems to be another popular option from what I can tell. In other words, is it better to warm the beer directly or the freezer so as to reach the proper temperature?

My sense is that both are fine--and if so, then I'll just use the wrap. But I'd rather hear from people with experience before I take the next step. Thanks.

A wrap is fine if you only ferment one batch at a time. If you plan on doing more than one, a 60 watt incandescent light bulb does a good job.

[EnkAMania]

My old setup with a heating pad was quite the Rube Goldberg machine.  Since the pad would shut off after being on an hour, I had a timer run it for 55 minutes every two hours.  It worked, but I wouldn't recommend it.

[Ale Farmer]

Thanks for the feedback--it helps a lot to bring the matter into focus.

[toby]

I have a repti-heat cable that I wrapped around the inside with outdoor command hooks. It's a radiant heat and safe to the touch. Made for the inside of reptile terrariums, so it is safe to the touch.

[brewsumore]

I recommend a ferm wrap taped against the inside wall, hooked to a temperature controller.  I do that to ferment two buckets at a time and it works fine -- with the probe in a thermowell placed through a hole drilled in the bucket lid.  I've done this for years.