AdyG
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
- Messages
- 3
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- 2
Hi Everyone
I’ve not really posted on here, I visit occaisionally but mainly use Twitter for homebrew chat, but thought I’d do a little write up about the recent modifications to my 3 vessel kit recently connected to the Einbrew 3V2P Controller.
I’ve had the kit around two years, built from a two 70L stainless steel stock pots for the HLT and the boiler, then a 50L thermopot for the mashtun. All the fittings and modifications have been done with parts from Homebrew Builder and Angel Homebrew and fitted by me.
I used the kit for around 18 months just doing batch sparging, but wanted more accuracy, control and efficiency. I also wanted an easier way of controlling mash temperature and the ability to do step mashes. I wanted to install a HERMS coil, and I also wanted a controller like The Electric Brewery.
Einbrew were looking for people to test their controllers in the field and were kind enough to send me a 3V2P to trial. Once the HERMS was installed connecting the controller was very easy as the PT100 temperature probes replaced the temperature dials I had in the t-piece connectors for the sight glasses in the HLT and boiler. I fitted the mashtun temperature probe in a t-piece connector before the tap. The pumps and element plugs were swapped for C20 & C13 connectors to plug into the controller. I have two 2.4kw elements but it can run 3kw maximum on a 16A circuit. It was a very quick and simple plug and play install.
My first brew day was a Flanders Red Ale Cuvee Des Jacobins Rouge clone to try the stepped mash. I wanted 40 minutes at 63C, 20 minutes at 72C then 10 minutes at 76C. The HLT was set to 76C strike temperature which was probably too hot, as cold water was added to the HLT get back to 63C. Pump 1 was turned on manually to recirculate through the HERMS coil and back onto the top of the grain bed with a Flexible Sparge Hose. You can pre program up to 9 mash steps and 9 hop insertions in advance, but you can pause and amend the brew day as you progress. The controller also pulses the pump on/off a few times before running to assist priming.
The mash worked exactly to plan, and for the sparge I could just run pump 1 from the HLT and pump 2 simultaneously to drain from the mashtun to boiler. At this I started heating up the boiler.
There were a couple of default settings I had to change on the controller to get both pumps to run simultaneously and accept temperatures higher than 95C but a quick look at the instructions easily solved that.
I had two hop additions at 60 minutes and 10 minutes pre programmed, and the alarm sounds to notify you. After the boil you set the required cooling temperature and let the pump recirculate through the plate chiller until you reach 21C in this case. The pumps always have to be turned on manually, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing as it encourages you to keep an eye on your brew day.
The following day I did a 50L batch of 6% IPA to give the controller another run, again everything went to plan. I had an issue with the filter in the boiler clogging with hops and run off really slowing down but that always happens with really hoppy beers.
Overall I was very impressed with the way the Einbrew 3V2P performed, it's an awesome bit of kit and well worth getting if you want to take your brewing to the next level. It’s a really well made and easy to use controller, and did everything I wanted it to do. I think at some point I will upgrade my elements to 3kw to speed things up a bit.
I have several more brew days planned over the next few weeks including a Saison, an Tripel, an Orval Clone and a Gose, so looking forward to getting the Einbrew to brew these too.
Here's some pictures of the kit and controller, any questions then let me know.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127849091 ... ed-public/
I’ve not really posted on here, I visit occaisionally but mainly use Twitter for homebrew chat, but thought I’d do a little write up about the recent modifications to my 3 vessel kit recently connected to the Einbrew 3V2P Controller.
I’ve had the kit around two years, built from a two 70L stainless steel stock pots for the HLT and the boiler, then a 50L thermopot for the mashtun. All the fittings and modifications have been done with parts from Homebrew Builder and Angel Homebrew and fitted by me.
I used the kit for around 18 months just doing batch sparging, but wanted more accuracy, control and efficiency. I also wanted an easier way of controlling mash temperature and the ability to do step mashes. I wanted to install a HERMS coil, and I also wanted a controller like The Electric Brewery.
Einbrew were looking for people to test their controllers in the field and were kind enough to send me a 3V2P to trial. Once the HERMS was installed connecting the controller was very easy as the PT100 temperature probes replaced the temperature dials I had in the t-piece connectors for the sight glasses in the HLT and boiler. I fitted the mashtun temperature probe in a t-piece connector before the tap. The pumps and element plugs were swapped for C20 & C13 connectors to plug into the controller. I have two 2.4kw elements but it can run 3kw maximum on a 16A circuit. It was a very quick and simple plug and play install.
My first brew day was a Flanders Red Ale Cuvee Des Jacobins Rouge clone to try the stepped mash. I wanted 40 minutes at 63C, 20 minutes at 72C then 10 minutes at 76C. The HLT was set to 76C strike temperature which was probably too hot, as cold water was added to the HLT get back to 63C. Pump 1 was turned on manually to recirculate through the HERMS coil and back onto the top of the grain bed with a Flexible Sparge Hose. You can pre program up to 9 mash steps and 9 hop insertions in advance, but you can pause and amend the brew day as you progress. The controller also pulses the pump on/off a few times before running to assist priming.
The mash worked exactly to plan, and for the sparge I could just run pump 1 from the HLT and pump 2 simultaneously to drain from the mashtun to boiler. At this I started heating up the boiler.
There were a couple of default settings I had to change on the controller to get both pumps to run simultaneously and accept temperatures higher than 95C but a quick look at the instructions easily solved that.
I had two hop additions at 60 minutes and 10 minutes pre programmed, and the alarm sounds to notify you. After the boil you set the required cooling temperature and let the pump recirculate through the plate chiller until you reach 21C in this case. The pumps always have to be turned on manually, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing as it encourages you to keep an eye on your brew day.
The following day I did a 50L batch of 6% IPA to give the controller another run, again everything went to plan. I had an issue with the filter in the boiler clogging with hops and run off really slowing down but that always happens with really hoppy beers.
Overall I was very impressed with the way the Einbrew 3V2P performed, it's an awesome bit of kit and well worth getting if you want to take your brewing to the next level. It’s a really well made and easy to use controller, and did everything I wanted it to do. I think at some point I will upgrade my elements to 3kw to speed things up a bit.
I have several more brew days planned over the next few weeks including a Saison, an Tripel, an Orval Clone and a Gose, so looking forward to getting the Einbrew to brew these too.
Here's some pictures of the kit and controller, any questions then let me know.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127849091 ... ed-public/
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