Johnson Temp Controller

Systems, Gear, & DIY
1

Just had to shout out about my Johnson Temp Controller.  It’s now below 45F consistenly here in PA, so I bought a little heater and placed it inside my chest freezer to keep it at 50F.  The controller has been on cool so I read the manual and was surprised how easy it was to convert it to heat.  Four screws and one jumper later and it was changed.  Now I have a consistent 50F again and ready to brew a lager tomorrow.  Very psyched!  The little heater only cost $10 at WalMart too…

Dave

2

What kind of heater?

3

It’s a Lasko “My Heat” Personal Ceramic Heater.  WalMart had it on sale for $8.95.  Seems to be doing great.  Making some German Lager today!

Dave

4

Thanks I may try that. Doesn’t get too cold where I am but maybe cold enough to stall fermentation.

5

This backfired on me a little.  Temperature got up to 50F here and with 3-5g fermenters in high Krausen, the chest freezer got up to 57F.  I just opened the lid to let some cooler air in.  Still in range but I like fermenting my lagers around 50F.  Gotta roll with the punches of a new process!

Dave

6

Looks like you might be ready for a two stage controller (Ranco). I’ve been using one with a reptile heat lamp in my chest freezer this fall and it’s been working great.

7

Yea, that would be good!  Or the temp could stay cold for me outside!

I take it controls 2 devices so you have a freezer of some sort and a heater attached?

Dave

8

Correct, a Ranco 2 stage you can get wired for around $80 that comes with a single gang dual receptacle one wired hot the other cold, the single temp probe runs both stages, you can set the set point on both as well as the temperature differential at which you’d like the stage to kick in.  These are really cool ETC’s I use on on my herms system to run the pumps for the mash.