STIR PLATE
Stir Plates are used for increasing the amount of yeast
prior to pitching. A normal smack pack has approx. 100 Billion yeast cells. With a proper starter using a stir plate, that population can be increased to approx. 250-300 Billion cells. For a higher gravity beer (anything with a SG above 1.060), increasing the volume of yeast can be the simple difference between an active vs stagnant ferment.
Plus it's pretty fun and satisfying to build!
prior to pitching. A normal smack pack has approx. 100 Billion yeast cells. With a proper starter using a stir plate, that population can be increased to approx. 250-300 Billion cells. For a higher gravity beer (anything with a SG above 1.060), increasing the volume of yeast can be the simple difference between an active vs stagnant ferment.
Plus it's pretty fun and satisfying to build!
Stir plate parts list:
- 4" computer fan
- 25 ohm 3 watt Rheostat
- Silver tone knob (optional and not used in above picture)
- 1/4" insulated quick disconnects or 1/4" Wire Nuts
- 12 volt dc/30 amp rocker switch with LED
- 7x5x3 project enclosure
- Power supply 6-12 volt (old cell chargers work great)
- Scrap wire
- Riser for magnet - (I used three, 1 inch square 3M sticky pads)
- Magnets (one for fan, one for stir stick when pitching)
- Erlenmeyer flask; 1L or 2L
- Stir stick - (I use a 1 inch bar. Just as long as its not much longer than your magnet.)
$27 without flask, fan, scrap wire, or power supply
$47 with 2L flask (not including power supply, scrap wire, or computer fan)
$67 for everything.
- 4" computer fan
- 25 ohm 3 watt Rheostat
- Silver tone knob (optional and not used in above picture)
- 1/4" insulated quick disconnects or 1/4" Wire Nuts
- 12 volt dc/30 amp rocker switch with LED
- 7x5x3 project enclosure
- Power supply 6-12 volt (old cell chargers work great)
- Scrap wire
- Riser for magnet - (I used three, 1 inch square 3M sticky pads)
- Magnets (one for fan, one for stir stick when pitching)
- Erlenmeyer flask; 1L or 2L
- Stir stick - (I use a 1 inch bar. Just as long as its not much longer than your magnet.)
$27 without flask, fan, scrap wire, or power supply
$47 with 2L flask (not including power supply, scrap wire, or computer fan)
$67 for everything.
**all prices approximate - Costs may be lowered greatly
by what you have lying around! Otherwise, I found
everything I needed at my local Radio Shack and on EBay.