HERMS questions

[tadytomas]

well, homebreweing as a hobby really got me.. I know, that you can brew delicious beer with half equipment i posted and most of it plastic, but now I have some money to spent :party: and it seems like an invetment I will never regret. So that is the reason why I choosed high quality PIDs and steinless steel...

 

[Aleman]

it seems like an invetment I will never regret. So that is the reason why I choosed high quality PIDs and steinless steel...

:clap: :clap: I wish the cheap stainless pots etc was around when I was first setting up as I know that would have been the route I would have gone . . . After three plastic breweries and a couple of stainless ones . . . I know I would have saved myself a fortune.

The good thing is if you know that brewing is definitely for you and you are going to make a long term commitment, then stainless is most certainly the way to go.

Personally I would not go for PID control on the boiler (Although I have done :wha: ) As you either want a boil or you don't. . . . If you want to control the ferocity of the boil then a PID is not going to do that for you . . . you need some sort of power controller, Either a Burst Fire Controller Or a Phase Angle Controller Does the job perfectly. In my case I have the PID controlling the temperature of the wort in the boiler at 78C as I run off from the mash tun, then I switch the PID out of the circuit and switch the Phase Angle Controller in, once I have it boiling then I turn the boiler power down to just keep a rolling boil.

I built my HERMS Heat Exchanger / Controller as a completely seperate plug in unit, with its own power supply, PID and SSR. Which means I can use it or not depending on how the mood takes me. . . . It's worth a thought

 

[tadytomas]

I do not want boiler controlled by PID. PIDs are for HLT and HERMS unit. In boiler, I plan to have probe and digital temperature meter, just for knowing temperature- heating and cooling, not for controll.

also I guess that some sort of power controller is good idea too..

What do you think about the set I described? Any incompabilities?

also SS mesh? does somebody use it as a hop stopper?

 

[Aleman]

Also SS mesh? does somebody use it as a hop stopper?

I do . . . I use #30 mesh . . .with Pellet hops its not too bad although I would suspect #40 mesh is better. As I mostly use whole leaf hops #30 is best for my configuration

 

[tadytomas]

SSRs, probes, auber PIDs, solar pump ordered few days ago, steinless steel mashtun already at home.. :)

now dealing with powering and regulating solar pump- what to order :hmm: .. My solar pump is 14W- the strongest one- runs for 12V DC, so I suppose I need DC adaptor- draw 14W/12V- is 1,16A - so at least 1000mA.

I like the LED dimmer for controlling the flow, but I am not sure how exactly dimmer works.. :hmm:

I connect the output from DC adaptor to dimmer- so the dimmer (8A max.) gets 1000mA (1A).. and the output from dimmer to pump. So the the dimmer will regulate power only on first eighth of his scale? because I am feeding him with just one Amp? Or on the beginning of dimmers scale there will be 0A and at the end 1A?

maybe a silly question but I never saw one before

thanks

 

[Aleman]

Dealing with powering and regulating solar pump- what to order :hmm: .. My solar pump is 14W- the strongest one- runs for 12V DC, so I suppose I need DC adaptor- draw 14W/12V- is 1,16A - so at least 1000mA.

No, you need at least 1.5 amps . . . Your power supply needs to supply more than the pump will draw, or you will burn out the power supply. A simple plug in regulated DC power supply like This one will be suitable, as as it has variable voltage you wouldn't need anything else to control the flow rate.

I like the LED dimmer for controlling the flow, but I am not sure how exactly dimmer works.. :hmm:

I connect the output from DC adaptor to dimmer- so the dimmer (8A max.) gets 1000mA (1A).. and the output from dimmer to pump. So the the dimmer will regulate power only on first eighth of his scale? because I am feeding him with just one Amp? Or on the beginning of dimmers scale there will be 0A and at the end 1A?

If you use a variable voltage supply there is no need to use a dimmer. In my set-up I had a fixed 12V output so bought One of these Dimmers to control the power fed to the pump. I get smooth speed control from 0 to full across the whole of the scale not just the first part of it.

 

[tadytomas]

Hi, I have another question :)

can I regulate one of my two tesco kettle element- 2,2kW in my boiler, using this?

I think so, but not sure

thanks

 

[Vossy1]

Yes you can, if the boil is too fierce, otherwise there's no point :thumb:
There's also another way of controlling them, I think it's called a burst fire, but it's not an area I'm familiar with, Aleman and others know about them.

 

[tadytomas]

I was also considering getting another PID, to control one element in boiler, but I think that direct regulation of one element is better..

no idea, what you mean by burst fire.. :hmm: anybody?

 

[Vossy1]

Have a look here

** found by typing in burst and fire into search top right :thumb:

 

[tadytomas]

so I ordered phase angle controller, I spoke with my friend- educated electrician, he suggested to use some shielding roud the controller, case or somth. and use shielded cable.. and I should be fine

and here is the early lay-out of control box

all components are 1:1, size of box 40x40cm