Loading... Please wait...
Categories
Popular Brands
- Home
- FAQ
FAQ
Will this work for my fermenter? Cool Zone was designed to work with a variety of fermenters. They work with glass carboys, plastic carboys, and plastic fermentation buckets (fermenters sized from 5 to 6.5 gallons).
Does this work with Better Bottle fermenters? Cool Zone will work with the Better Bottles. Please note, you should use the Cool Zone heating element P021 with Better Bottle carboys due to the contours on the sides of the carboy. This heating element will fit the 5 and 6-gallon models.
When using multiple fermenters, should I use the same style of fermenter? Yes, it is recommended to use the same type of fermenter when using multiple Cool Zone systems together. This will ensure consistent performance between each fermenter.
Can I use Propylene Glycol? Yes, we designed Cool Zone Fermentation Control so it would work with water or Propylene Glycol. The cooling jacket material, tubing, and quick disconnects are compatible with Propylene Glycol. The submersible pumps we have in our Kits state they are compatible with water (only) so if you want to use Propylene Glycol, please make sure you select a compatible pump.
Can I use a submersible pump? Yes, these pumps work very well and are used in our starter kits. Since they are inside the water cooler or kegerator, the Cool Zone system runs almost silently (great for the apartment or spare bedroom). As with other pumps, submersible pumps have a range of output water pressures. Cool Zone is designed to work with pumps that generate less than 8 PSI.
Can I use a March 809 or 815 pump? Yes. We have designed Cool Zone to operate with hardware many brewers already have, specifically the March 809-PL-HS and 815-PL pumps. The cooling jacket was designed to operate 8 PSI or less. In our tests, the March 809-PL-HS and 815-PL pumps generated about 6 to 8 PSI at the pump head.
Can I use a diaphragm pump? No. Diaphragm pumps operate at too high a PSI (in the 25 to 45 PSI range) and will damage the cooling jacket. The cooling jacket was designed to operate 8 PSI or less. March Pumps like the 809-PL-HS and the 815-PL work well, as do the submersible pumps in our kits. The March Pumps operate at about 6 to 8 PSI while the submersible pumps in our kits operate at much less than 8 PSI. If you have any questions about whether your pump will work, please contact us prior to use.
Can I attach the output of one cooling jacket to the input of the next cooling jacket? It depends.... If you are using a large fermenter with multiple cooling jackets (like a wine tank as shown on our Compatible Fermenters page), yes. This configuration works well since you are cooling the contents of one fermenter. If you are using multiple fermenters, it is not a recommended configuration because the cooling performance will not be consistent from one fermenter to the next. The cooling liquid absorbs heat as it moves through the circuit; therefore the cooling capability will diminish as it moves from fermenter to fermenter. This can affect the consistency of the batch when using multriple fermenters.
Can I connect the Cool Zone cooling jacket to my tap or faucet on the house? No. The Cool Zone cooling jacket is designed to operate at 8 PSI or less. Household / city water supplies have significantly higher water pressure (between 60 to 70 PSI) and will damage the cooling jacket.
Do I have to use a heater? Cool Zone works fine without a heater when you do not need to warm the fermenter. If you are brewing during hot weather, you would not need a heater. In this case a single stage controller will work fine.
Can this be used for Lagers? Yes. The Cool Zone Cooling Jacket is very effective at cooling fermenters, and depending on the fermentation temperature, ambient temperature and coolant source, can be used for Lagering. In our tests, we have cooled two 5-gallon carboys to 39 degrees F in a 114 degree F environment; however to ferment a lager during the hottest summer months would use A LOT of ice. From a "practical" standpoint, we suggest using a kegerator or refrigerator to cool the water (in a bucket or Corny Keg), then pump the water from the kegerator / refrigerator directly to the Cool Zone Fermentation Control Enclosure/Cooling Jacket(s). This way you can: 1) control fermentation temperatures, 2) ferment larger batches than you could normally fit in a refrigerator, and 3) use the refrigerator for keeping your finished beer cold and ready to drink (or whatever you choose to put in the refrigerator/freezer).
How often does one need to add ice or change the frozen water bottles? When using the water cooler, generally no more than once or twice a day.
Can I use ice packs (like the ones that come with yeast) instead of ice or frozen water bottles? While ice packs will keep your yeast cool for shipping, unfortunately they do not provide enough cooling capability for controlling fermentation temperatures. It is best to use ice and/or frozen water bottles.
What diameter of tubing do you recommend? We recommend using 0.5” ID x 0.75” OD silicone tubing. This tubing performed very well in our tests. It stays flexible at low temperatures and seals well around the hose barb fittings we use in our kits.
How do I install the temperature sensor? We recommend using a thermowell so the temperature sensor can be placed inside the fermenter, providing the most accurate temperature feedback. First, install the Carboy Cap/Thermowell or the Stopper/Thermowell, and then insert the temperature sensor into the thermowell. Please note, make sure the temperature sensor is fully inserted in the thermowell (so it rest at the bottom of the thermowell). This way you will get the most accurate temperature ready.
What are the Benefits of Temperature Control? The advantages of precise, accurate, and repeatable temperature control basically comes down to better tasting beer. Beer that more closely matches the style you wanted. Beer that you can replicate, time and time again.
Yeast and its byproducts account for approximately 59% to 75% of the flavor and aroma of the finished beer. Each yeast strain has an optimal temperature range for its best performance.
Accurate fermentation temperature control is perhaps the most important thing you can do to improve the quality of your finished beer.
When your fermentation temperatures are just right, your yeast will: 1) produce the optimal aroma and flavor profile, 2) minimize off flavors and fusel alcohols, and 3) reach the target attenuation, flocculation and alcohol tolerance.
When your fermentation temperatures are too hot, your yeast may: 1) produce excessive amounts of esters causing off flavors, or at least “inappropriate” flavors for the style, 2) produce excessive fusel alcohols, a hot, solvent-like off flavor, 3) develop low alcohol toxicity and die off before the proper attenuation is reached (resulting in an incomplete fermentation), and 4) die off early and basically result in an “under-pitch”.
When your fermentation temperatures are too cold, your yeast may: 1) start fermenting slowly, or not at all, allowing bacteria a chance to take hold and spoil the batch, and 2) produce inadequate concentration of esters for a given style, resulting in a poor flavor profile.
