Electric Thermostat and heating mat

I have both a brew belt and brewbelt, and they both work fine. Be sure to check dimensions of the heater you plan to buy and your fermentation space: part of the reason I have both is that the brew pad is difficult to fit in one of the spaces I have for fermentation.

 

I ferment in my kegerator using this, a Ranco temp controller, and a stopper thermowell.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/...ure-control/electric-fermentation-heater.html

 

I use a heated throw blanket. I have 2 of them. I am using one right now to keep 2 carboys at 73*F on a Bavarian Hefe. The other is wrapped around my Saison (Dupont strain) keeping it above the 78*F Fermometer reading. Great thing is that they can be used for multiple beers at once which the brewbelt and fermwrap and brewpad cannot. I have also draped it over my boxes of bottled beers for 2 weeks to maintain 72*F to have them carbonated right away, none of the other heaters can offer that.

 

So are you using this with a thermo control as well?

 

A light-bulb in an enclosed container (paint can) is another commonly used option.

 

I have my probe attached to the outside of the carboy under insulating material to buffer the temp from the blanket and pick up the temp from the plastic carboy. From what I've read the temp in the middle of a carboy fermentation is maybe 1-2*F higher than the edge of the carboy. I typically start my ferments low and then raise them to finish so if the ferment is 2*F higher at the core I am not making any fusels or excessive esters.

 

I imaging that it's not an issue w/a belt, but a heating pad - someone might place the fermentor on top. Any trub and as yeast drops to the bottom would create a not so nice layer of insulation between the heat source and the beer. You don't want to cook that stuff.