Keeping wine warm-maintaining temperature

[Dhaynes]

We live in an old house with big rooms. We keep our wine making equipment in one of the bedrooms with a thermostat controlled electric heater. Trouble is the electric bill has gone up $25-30 a month since we started making wine. I've seen references to people building temperature controlled boxes for their fermenting equipment. Has anyone done this? Does anyone have a link to DIY plans for such a contraption? My wife loves the cold and keeps the house on 55-60 F when I'm out of town 5 days a week so a brewer's belt isn't going to cut it.

 

[olusteebus]

I use a "rope bucket", water and an adjustable aquarium heater. I cover it with a first aid blanket. Works fine.

 

[RegionRat]

This is what I did

http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/f3/temp-control-my-latest-build-35450/

 

[Bartman]

... My wife loves the cold and keeps the house on 55-60 F when I'm out of town 5 days a week ...

Whoa. That's cold. My wife gets mad if it is set to 70 (or lower) in the winter.
I can see how raising the temperature to 70 or higher would significantly affect your heating bill.

 

[MrKevin]

I went to a home supply store and bought the space blanket type insulation, (it looks like 1/4 in reflective insulation with a air space in the middle) .
I cut it so it was about 2 inches bigger in diameter then my carboy, taped it together with packing tape and made a flat lid with a hole for my air lock to stick out. I heat it with a heat mat and brew belt if depending on the weather) and monitor the temp with a temp control for starting seedlings. The whole mess, brew belt, pad, temp control and insulation cosl me about $80.00.

Works great I like in Alaska were cold can cause problems.

Kevin

 

[robie]

The aquarium heater idea is great because the heater is thermostatically controlled, unlike a brew belt, which heats constantly.

My only recommendation would be to use two heaters, in case one goes out on you.

 

[Chiumanfu]

See link in my signature for DIY temperature controller article.

 

[olusteebus]

some put aquarium heaters in the primary ferment barrel. That would be great but not if you need heat for a carboy. I like the idea of a brew belt and a thermostatically controlled electrical connection

 

[Dhaynes]

Thanks to all for all of the interesting ideas.
Kevin - Where did you get the temperature controller? Do you know the manufacture, model & cost?
RegionalRat's giant watering tub with aquarium heater for up to 4 containers at a time was also interesting but I don't think I have room for it and hauling water from the bathroom to fill it and empty it seems like a pain.
Chiumanfu's approach seems similar to Kevin's. I ordered one of the controllers like he used from Amazon. It was cheap and had free shipping but when I got the shipping acknowledgement I found out it is coming by boat from China and will be here in 1-2 months :-( you would think if something had a 1-2 month delivery delay they would tell you that in big letters.

I need to be able to keep anywhere from 2-4 primaries & carboys warm at one time. I don't rely want to buy 4 temp controls and 4 heat sources. I was thinking more in terms of an enclosure of some kind and a small electric space heater with temperature control. Anyone every try something like that?