Temp controller

Northern Brewer General
1

I have a brewer’s Best Temp controller and was concerned about whether it could be immersed in wort to control a heater and the best way to seal it in a bucket primary and a carboy secondary. Thanks

2

I don’t know about the brewer’s Best Temp controller, but I know the probe on the johnson controller is not made to do directly in wort. I just tape mine to the side of the carboy and cover it with some bubble wrap so it measures the wort temp and not air temp
(as per Jamil). It works great, and you don’t need to buy a thermowell. Plastic doesn’t conduct heat as well as glass, so it might no work as well with a bucket, but should still be fine.

3

[quote=“WiVikesFan”]Plastic doesn’t conduct heat as well as glass, so it might no work as well with a bucket, but should still be fine.[/quote]Works well with plastic too - I tested the insulated, taped probe against a thermometer inserted in the middle of the fermenter and the temps were within 1F.

4

I see a Brewers Edge controller. Looks like a rebranded Johnson’s.

http://www.homebrewing.com/equipment/br ... roller.php

To have access to the beer, in a carboy you can use a carboy cap. Or get a rubber stopper with out holes and drill 2 in it. Dangerous proposition.

For a pale, drill a 2nd hole and get a rubber grommet for it.

I’ve heard of sealing the end of a chrome plated water supply line with some food grade silicone. But i would have concerns with the plating flaking off.

Other option is to purchase a keg dip tube. I have read that some of the probes are to big. But if you take off the rubber/plastic protector off they fit.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brew ... -long.html

Or find a SS tube that is the correct size. They can get expensive.

http://www.amazonsupply.com/stainless-s ... 1358796030

Or tape it to the side of the fermenter. Fold up some paper towels to cover/insulate the probe from the air. That is what I do.