Beer Forum

I have a second "side by side" fridge that will be in my basement workshop and I am going to buy a temperature controller for it -- should I get single stage or two stage?

Background : I am not looking for computer control thru software or for tearing the guts out of my fridge...maybe in the future. My workshop is internal to the house and temps generally never go over 76F and never below 66F. I brew both ales and lagers and am looking to do more careful fermentation control.

My question is if my, what is my best option -- single or dual?

Advice?

Lot's of views...no replies...hmn...let me see if I can simplify my question...

For those who do temperature control of your fridge are you using one stage (cooling only) or two stage (cool with fridge and heat with heat wrap) controller?

There is about $20 difference, just was wondering what everyone is doing.

I keep my ferment fridge in my garage, and right now am only using a single stage controller.....not sure how cold the garage will get in the winter...in the south.

Single stage here in Louisiana, but temps rarely get below freezing. If it is goinging to be cold for a while, I'll put a heat lamp in the fridge and let them duke it out.

slaman992003 wrote:For those who do temperature control of your fridge are you using one stage (cooling only) or two stage (cool with fridge and heat with heat wrap) controller?

There is about $20 difference, just was wondering what everyone is doing.

I use a 2-stage controller on my Sanyo 4912 with a Fermwrap heater on the heater circuit. Works great. Pinpoint temp control regardless of ambient (and it gets plenty fucking warm in my garage.)

I use a dual stage in my freezer with an old waterbed heater. Works like a champ!
I also have a single stage, but that has been repurposed for my serving fridge (not much need to warm up the serving fridge).
There’s much more control with the dual stage. Go for the dual stage for fermentation. You'll be glad you did.

Thanks for the advice all. I appreciate it...as always.

I had the same question when I was looking at setting up my kegerator/lagering frig. I am notoriously cheap but I could not imagine a reason when I would want to cool and heat at the same time. I have a Fermwrap that I use in the winter to warm my ale fermentation carboy (I do all of my fermenting in my spare shower/bathroom) and a spare frig in the garage for kegs and lagers.
Regardless of your decision on the single or dual stage, I would strongly recommend using the thermowell to take the temp inside of the fermenting wort. The temp inside of my frig can be 10 degrees different from inside the fermenting carboy. It is only a few bucks extra to take the temp in the center of the carboy and it saves me the effort of taping the temp sensor to the outside of the carboy with bubble wrap.
or similar: http://morebeer.com/view_product/6666/1 ... d_6_gallon
Just my $.02.