Due to popular demand, this is a follow up post outlining the electrical layout of the temperature control circuit for the fermentinator.

Due to popular demand, this is a follow up post outlining the electrical layout of the temperature control circuit for the fermentinator.

This is an interesting question that I have found myself asking lately.
I rant the first test through my cabinet with the following conditions.
I used a Coopers ‘kit and kilo’ kit of their Sparkling Ale.
It was mixed as per instructions to make up 23l.
BEFORE pitching the yeast I took 11.5l out into a second carboy.
Yeast was divided and pitched.
Yes, yes you can.
In my previous post I outlined what I was hoping to acheive with this project. I have now completed the mark II revision and will soon have some results to taste.
The process was reasonably simple with a little electronic magic.
The first part of the project was to build a cabinet to hold the fermentation carboy. This is a 30 litre container that is used to hold the beer mixture while the yeast chows down on the fermentable sugars to produce alcohol. The cabinet is basically just a 6mm MDF box with another 6mm MDF box a little smaller on the inside. This creates a 1 inch void on each side that I filled with marine expanding foam.
Voila! A big ice-box basically.
That was the easy part.
OK onto the electronics and hardware.
In order to control the temperature, you are going to need two components.
1. a method to control the temperature
2. a method to affect change on the temperature