Temperature control fridge needs heat

I use the ferm wrap.

 

I use a reptile light bulb in a paint can w/a dimmer switch. Just don't turn the dimmer so low that the bulb won't come back on.

I might invest in the ferm wrap though. But I think that there are advantages to both depending on how cold the interior of the fridg/freezer.

 

Fermwrap here. I use two Johnson A419's. One controls the ambient temp in the freezer, with the probe in the freezer compartment air. The other controls the fermwrap, with the probe in a thermowell in the wort.

 

cool to hear vikeman's approach. I'm a Ranco fan. Though I still don't have a dedicated ferm vessel, my plan is to get a 2-stage Ranco when I do:
http://www.etcsupply.com/ranco-etc212000000-2-stage-24v-p-107.html?gclid=COKdibuGsLICFQJx4AodUmEAyA
You could also just get the single stage Ranco which with a push of a button can switch between heating & cooling:
http://www.etcsupply.com/ranco-etc111000000-digital-temperature-controller-p-86.html

MoreBeer has them pre-wired with outlets so you could just unplug the fridge in the winter and plug in the fermwrap:
http://morebeer.com/search/102282
I got one of these instead of the fermwrap:
https://www.homebrewing.org/Heat-Pad-for-Beer-and-Wine-Making_p_2509.html

 

I use a Sunbeam Heated Throw Blanket. I can wrap it around 2 carboys and maintain heat on them. I use it to sour mash as well as make yogurt. Sorry that I can't find my pic, but at this very moment I have 2 Better Bottles and a Carboy in my ferm fridge, the Temp Probe is taped between the 2 BBs, one containing a Red IPA on 1056, and one a Brown Ale w/ 1469, set to 66-67*F, controlling them perfectly on the cool side with my controller/fridge. The glass carboy has a White IPA with 3726 and is wrapped in the blanket (doubled over) and plugged into the wall set to either low or med (I check 3 times a day and adjust) and is maintaining 74*F in a fridge that is forcing the other 2 back down to 66*. That blanket works great. Only issue is when I did my Saison this past Feb and used it to hit 74*F using the temp control unit, when it hit 74 and killed power to the blanket, the blanket would not automatically turn back on when the power kicked back on (have to set the blanket to low, med, high each time plugged in.) But, I've run it for a week straight plugged into the wall to culture Lacto from yogurt for brewing sours. I love it.

 

1. I use a mini fridge on the warmest setting, and a ferm wrap/ digital thermostat.

 

Sure, but you set the fridge to a higher temp when fermenting warmer. I normally set my freezer controller 5 degrees lower than my desired fermentation temp, and my fermwarp controller at the desired fermentation temp. Since my average freezer temp will be about 1-2 degrees below freezer set-point (due to ‘swing’ when finished cooling), this puts the average freezer temp about 7 degrees below the desired fermentation temp, leaving room for vigorous (non heated) fermentation if necessary, and heated fermetation when it needs help.

 

I'm sorry, I do have this connected to a controller. But I have one that can switch form cooling to heating. Does yours have that feature?

The main take-away is that this seems to be a cheap low powered heat source. Normally in heating mode I have the controllers probe monitoring the ambient air. It's in a small amount of water to buffer.

So I'm not sure if this set up is what you want. To explain my set- up a bit better, I use the heating mode to drive fermentations like Saisons. I'm trying to let the yeast drive the fermentation and not heat the wort. I try to give it a warm environment.

Is your garage totally separate from the house? Now I might be out running around in the weeds again, but I'd look at what you have to heat and how much you have to heat it. Basically your heat source has to heat not only your beer but the fridge. If the garage only gets into the (just to pick a number) the low 60's I'm sure that a ferm-wrap will work. But just to be dramatic, lets say the garage gets down to 35*F. In that case I would think that you'd be better of with a stronger heat source that heats the compartment.

 

I use a ceramic space heater (small one) and hook it up to my Ranco controller on the heat setting. That way I can keep the chest freezer at about 65F during the winter when my basement gets closer to 60F. Works just fine. I don't use it too much because I tend to brew less in the winter and usually do two lagers which require me to use the cool setting on the Ranco.

 

FWIW I was watching one of the N.Brewers youtuber's where (badass brewery) uses a hair dryer. Having not ever tried it I can't recommend it, but I really like how it will move warm air around.