I just bought an InkBird wifi temp controller, I was fully planning on sanitizing and dropping the probe directly into the fermenting wort. However, I'm reading several posts that people are using a thermowell sheathing or something like this. Then again, I read other posts saying they drop the probe directly into the wort. Does anybody have direct experience regarding the water-proofness of the InkBird ITC-308 model temp probe? Thanks!
I wouldn't recommend that for a few reasons, but mainly because you can't keep an air tight seal on the fermenter with the the cord going into the wort. I use Inkbirds, and I actually have the best results with the temp probe on the side of the fermenter, taped on with a folded paper towel over it. This allows for gentler temp ramping. I use a tilt hydrometer floating in the wort, and have found the temp differences between center of fermenter and the side negligible at best. In my keezer, I actually keep the temp probe in a beer bottle filled with water, but not past the stainless part of the probe. Don't do that for fermenting though, you want to be able to control the temp of the ferment, which will rise as activity increases. cheers!
I've done both. Placed the probe against the plastic bucket fermentor and insulating the probe from the ambient temps by covering it with bubble wrap, and modified a 15" SS thermowell and inserted it to about the middle of the bucket (through the top). No issues with either.
This is an interesting read about probe placement in a keezer: https://www.homebrewfinds.com/2014/10/temperature-probe-place-to-immerse-or-not-to-immerse.html
Thanks, both of you, your comments are incredibly helpful. I will tape and insulate the probe for sure now. A follow up for bonus. I'm setting this up for small experimental 1 gal batches and have a heat wrap (model here) that perfectly fits around the circumference of the fermentor. Would you recommend: 1.) Wrapping half of the fermentor (the other half of the heating element would be just warming the air) and taping the probe on the opposite side? 2.) Wrapping the entire fermentor and taping the probe on the bottom of the primary? 3.) Put the heating element on the bottom (like a heating pad) and the probe on the side? I'm trying to avoid warming the probe before the beer.
...suggests you might have more than one 1-gallon fermentor, so maybe run some tests with water. My guess is a hybrid of #1 and #2 would work. Wrap the whole jug with the heat mat, place the probe against the side of the jug and insulate it exceptionally well from the mat. Keep in mind the smaller the mass, the quicker it respond to temperature swings. However, some folks put the temp controller probe in the fermentation chamber (when available) and dial in the settings based on the wort temp as measured either in a fermentor thermowell or on the side of the fermentor. If that description is confusing, maybe page @PortLargo for his input.
Are you fermenting in a chest freezer or fridge of some kind, or just in the open air? Keep in mind you want to heat the beer gently and not overshoot your setpoint. you might get away with just having it sit near your fermenter if you are in a chamber, or if in the open air, I'd go with option #3 you have there, personally.
Once again thanks to you both. I have a 4.3cu ft mini fridge that is overkill for a 1 gal but I'm planning on growing into it... I also will absolutely test this out with water, the heater and inkbird arrive tomorrow and Thursday. Currently, I'm trying to wrap my head around this setup without ruining beer and/or thermometer controllers in the process. I'm just happy I didn't drop the probe in the wort. I will try the four options (full wrap, half wrap, bottom wrap, ambient heat) using water and let yall know if one works better than any other.
Everything arrived and after playing with it I better understand the less than strong feelings the group had regarding how to place the heater and probe. Currently, the heater is loosely wrapped around the fermentor and secondary, not actually attached to either but it is making contact. It's heating up the ambient air more than the fermentors. With the door closed the little heat pad can raise the temperature well over 10 degrees F in under 15 min. The fridge is very new and can drop temp incredibly fast. I did not put water in the fermentors, I would imagine that would slow the system down quite a bit. However, I haven't brewed in 15 years and my itch to brew has overcome my need to quantify. Today is brew day!
