Ace electric boilers?

[BeerCat]

The Inkbird is automated. I was going to wrap the sensor around my hop filter and then plug the boiler into the heating plug of the inkbird. Set the temperature to my mashing temperature and then mash away.

The pump (listed above) is 12v so I have a 12v car starter battery to run it. Just connect the tap of the boiler to the pump and then pump the wort back into the so it's continually recirculating.

The inkbird will (hopefully) hold the correct mashing temperature so no electrical knowledge needed.

I've ordered that pump btw.

What Inbirk are you referring to Mark? Also i meant how would you wire up the pump you posted a link for? I may order one from China as not in a rush.

 

[GlentoranMark]

What Inbirk are you referring to Mark? Also i meant how would you wire up the pump you posted a link for? I may order one from China as not in a rush.

The inkbird I gave in the link above.

The pump is 12v, it's only a matter of connecting it to a 12v battery. It's pretty simple.... I hope!

 

[GlentoranMark]

For plumbing, connect tubing to the tap and run it to your pump, then connect another piece of tube to the pump and run it to the top of the boiler. You could just hold it manually to spread the wort around or else hook up some sort of sprinkler.

I don't think the whole process is hard to do.

 

[BeerCat]

The inkbird I gave in the link above.

The pump is 12v, it's only a matter of connecting it to a 12v battery. It's pretty simple.... I hope!

Apologies Mark, been a long day. Must have some PC transformers lying around.

 

[donchiquon]

I just won an Inkibrd PID but after days i cannot really suss how to wire it up. Any chance you can share some info. As requested i will start a thread about if but got to connect it up first.
Also i sussed out my leak was caused by a dodgy washer. Does anyone know the size or have a link for a replacement? Find it hard to measure.
And also again been having problems draining. Guess its the hop debris. Does anyone have a link for spare bags as wanna try using one for hops. Thanks :)

Sorry BeerCat - I think I'm in the same camp as you as far as electrickery goes. I've outsourced this bit to someone who knows what their doing!

Re the draining, I've had a few issues with this now mainly on the recirculating mash. I'm going to put a stainless steel scrubby in front of the outlet (no hop filter on) and try and wedge it against one of the false bottom legs. This should stop any of the grains getting through.

On the boil drain I've not had a problem so long as I use some whole hops as these drop first onto the false bottom and act as a great filter for any pellets.

 

[donchiquon]

I just seen your and other posts on page 26 that answers my questions.

I've spotted this on Ebay, worth a punt for �£5.

My Inkbird arrived yesterday, I can use it to control my mash temperature as well as using it for my brew fridge.

I don't own one of these shiny's but I fancy the false bottomed version.

You might be better off looking at the food grade versions as the pond version in your link is only rated to 60 degrees...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_o...v+food.TRS0&_nkw=solar+pump+12v+food&_sacat=0

You can pick them up for around a tenner

 

[GlentoranMark]

I considered this point but mashing will only be 10° higher so I think the pump will be OK. The £10 pumps are based in China and while I've no problems ordering from there (I've ordered many things before), some items have taken 2 months to arrive.

If the pump works I'll maybe upgrade at some point.

You might be better off looking at the food grade versions as the pond version in your link is only rated to 60 degrees...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_o...v+food.TRS0&_nkw=solar+pump+12v+food&_sacat=0

You can pick them up for around a tenner

 

[donchiquon]

This has been a great read, I've got a very basic makeshift setup and this could be the step to making my own kind of electronic brew system.

1 thing though is has anyone been successful in brewing 10-15l batches? As im not sure if the ace would be too vigorous boil for any smaller batches i may make, abit unsure of the water levels for each stage and if I need to adjust the amount of grains compared to literally 1/2 the recipe

Hi BrannBrew!

The ACE should be fine for smaller batches - the newer models with the 1600w element produce a healthy rolling boil. You can always buy a dimmer from eBay later on if you want to dial down the power further. I've found that this is very useful for the recirculating mash.

Any of the Beer software programs will be able to help you with grain quantities and water additions when scaling recipes. I use Beersmith, but Brewers Friend and others are popular. Plenty of info elsewhere on the forum. Most have a free trial facility.

As you say, the ACE is a good starter point for a brew set up. Especially as it can remain in service as a dedicated mash tun or HLT if things grow (spiral out of control!!! [emoji12]).

 

[nigelnorris]

This has been a great read, I've got a very basic makeshift setup and this could be the step to making my own kind of electronic brew system.

1 thing though is has anyone been successful in brewing 10-15l batches? As im not sure if the ace would be too vigorous boil for any smaller batches i may make, abit unsure of the water levels for each stage and if I need to adjust the amount of grains compared to literally 1/2 the recipe

I BIAB and start off with 20L mash, dunk sparge to bring it back up to about 18L preboil, and end up with 15L in the FV. That's a nice comfortable 60min rolling boil, I don't imagine you would have any issues dropping that down by another 5L. [In the 1600w version]

 

[BrannBrew]

Thanks. I'll now however have to wait till the £100 odd ones come back on eBay as they went while I was umm and arring over it. Will be another 3 months supposedly. Just in time to test a Xmas brew

 

[donchiquon]

Thanks. I'll now however have to wait till the £100 odd ones come back on eBay as they went while I was umm and arring over it. Will be another 3 months supposedly. Just in time to test a Xmas brew

That's a pain - I must have just taken delivery of one of their last. I wanted a dedicated HLT.

It will be interesting though to see if they make any improvements in the new batch. The one I just received had the tap set lower and the boiler skin where the valve is fitted had been pressed out into the shape of the ball valve to stop it spinning.

Good to see them making improvements. I think you'll have some fun with it.

Great blog by the way [emoji106]

 

[Zephyr259]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-homeb...101542?hash=item5b0868ac66:g:8LwAAOxycgVTiGBA

Seems there's a few left but oddly a bit more expensive.

 

[nigelnorris]

I spoke to the seller a while ago about the thermostat being unreliable and he told me that they're planning future models with a digital version, probably STC100, so might be worth the wait.

 

[BrannBrew]

That's a pain - I must have just taken delivery of one of their last. I wanted a dedicated HLT.

It will be interesting though to see if they make any improvements in the new batch. The one I just received had the tap set lower and the boiler skin where the valve is fitted had been pressed out into the shape of the ball valve to stop it spinning.

Good to see them making improvements. I think you'll have some fun with it.

Great blog by the way [emoji106]

Thanks your too kind. I don't spend 1/2 as much time on it than I use too. Maybe the odd post every couple weeks/month. Merely an extension of my brew diary. I have managed to get an article posted onto homebrewsupply.com and it recently been a featured article in a newsletter a few weeks ago.

Going by them saying the boiler won't be back in stock for 3 months could mean they are improving it again. An accurate digital thermostat would be very neat

 

[BeerCat]

I know this is probably quite obvious to most people but if you have a persistent leak check the washer is not perished. Mine was quite badly which is odd but i easily sorted it by putting the spare on. Does anyone know where you can buy spares or what size they are? I am also looking for a spare bag if anyone has a link?
Ordered a pump from China and a pot like @donchiquon for reducing the voltage and plan to connect it up to my PID (once i suss it out). Also gonna have to follow suite and etch mine. Exciting.

 

[donchiquon]

I know this is probably quite obvious to most people but if you have a persistent leak check the washer is not perished. Mine was quite badly which is odd but i easily sorted it by putting the spare on. Does anyone know where you can buy spares or what size they are? I am also looking for a spare bag if anyone has a link?
Ordered a pump from China and a pot like @donchiquon for reducing the voltage and plan to connect it up to my PID (once i suss it out). Also gonna have to follow suite and etch mine. Exciting.

It's always good to have company on the road to a garage full of shiny things and certain divorce!

Might be worth asking ACE for the washer spec before ebaying them...

I'll post up some pics once I have the PID, dimmer, and voltmeter assembled.

 

[nigelnorris]

I'll post up some pics once I have the PID, dimmer, and voltmeter assembled.

Yes please!

 

[donchiquon]

Yes please!

I'm on it.

If the Beeb runs the headline "British man perishes in alpine homebrew electrocution" then don't hold your breath.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

:lol:


.........................

 

[nigelnorris]

I'm on it.

If the Beeb runs the headline "British man perishes in alpine homebrew electrocution" then don't hold your breath.

In which case take loads of photos for posterity, so we know what NOT to do.