Fermenting in Two Carboys: Where do you stick you probe?

Sat Jan 22, 2011 4:51 pm

I'm stepping up to 10 gallon batches pretty soon, and am planning ferment in 2 6.5 gallon carboys. For years, I've been just taping the temperature probe to the side on the carboy covered with a piece of insulation. If I've got two carboys in one fridge, where do I place the probe? On one carboy and assume that the fermentation in the other is pretty similar? Justin once mentioned wedging the probe in between the two carboys. I suppose I could do that and cover with tape & insulation.

What do people out there do?
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andy77
 
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Re: Fermenting in Two Carboys: Where do you stick you probe?

Sat Jan 22, 2011 5:16 pm

You mention a fridge so your only using the probe for cooling? I gave up on taping the probe to the fermenter when cooling. With an ambient air temp with a 3 or 4 degree temperature difference you should be able to monitor temperatures of both fermenters with a fermometer on both fermenters. I check mine morning and evening and never had any problems with fermentation. When I see the yeast slowing down and the fermometer temp falling I raise it accordingly.
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Re: Fermenting in Two Carboys: Where do you stick you probe?

Sat Jan 22, 2011 5:59 pm

I tape and insulate the probe to one of the fermenters. I also have the sticky thermometers on both of them, that way I can see if there is a difference in temp. So far I have not noticed any difference in temp between the two carboys.
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Re: Fermenting in Two Carboys: Where do you stick you probe?

Sat Jan 22, 2011 6:03 pm

edisonst wrote:I tape and insulate the probe to one of the fermenters. I also have the sticky thermometers on both of them, that way I can see if there is a difference in temp. So far I have not noticed any difference in temp between the two carboys.


i do it this way as well. if there is a difference in temps ive never noticed it.
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Re: Fermenting in Two Carboys: Where do you stick you probe?

Sun Jan 23, 2011 2:32 pm

I have always felt that if your one carboy is temp controlled and where you want it during fermentation that the other one in the same fridge is pretty much going to be similar in temps (more or less). So, use the probe on one fermenter and the other will be fine.
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Re: Fermenting in Two Carboys: Where do you stick you probe?

Sun Jan 23, 2011 3:48 pm

Maybe you should ask JP where he sticks his probe? (Unless you don't really want to know. :shock: )

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Re: Fermenting in Two Carboys: Where do you stick you probe?

Sun Jan 23, 2011 4:24 pm

some things dont need to be asked
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Re: Fermenting in Two Carboys: Where do you stick you probe?

Sun Jan 23, 2011 4:31 pm

I think it also depends on where you place it. If you had a big chest freezer and put one carboy in the middle, and one up against the wall right where the thing cools, obviously the one closer to the wall will be colder. Kind of how your kitchen fridge has warmer and colder spots.
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