Inkbird ITC-100VH

[bazzac]

I have aquired a used control panel. I have no idea if its all working or not but thats not an issue as i got it at a fair price with some other gear.

Anyway, i want to build a 3 vessel HERMS system utilising these inkbird PID controllers. So, i am thinking of a 3 PID system.

1. controlling the HLT
2. controlling Boiler
3. controlling the Mash Temp

My question relates to how these controllers drive a heater or whatever they output to..... I assume it's pulse width modulation? Maybe thats a main design reason for using SSR's in most systems?

Assuming this is the case, and if heating elements are mostly happy on PWM control. To further this question, i wonder if PWM can be used to drive my HERMS pump through the 3rd INkbird.

From searching various sources. I find that many people only monitor the mash temp and have a "feel" for their system. Setting an estimated differential between HLT and MASH. meanwhile running the pump continuously.

I am pretty new to brewing and most of the electrical/electronic side too. I value any thoughts you may have.

 

[bazzac]

I should add that i have already bought three stainless vessels and have much of the assosciated parts for my build but am nowhere near finalised on my build design so any input at all is appreciated.

Having been doing extract kit brewing for a while and a handful of basic all grain brews. I am simply and perhaps blindly just trying to further my hobby.

 

[cheeseyfeet]

Hi,

I use the same PIDs in my control panel. As they are the VH version they are designed to drive an SSR. These can withstand many more operations than a traditional relay, so they are used for PWM.

Some PIDs can change the duty cycle of the output and run your elements at a percentage of maximum, i.e. set to 50% to have them half on/half off. This is good when you have a powerful element and you don't need the full whack to get a rolling boil.

Unfortunately these inkbirds don't have that feature (to my knowledge) so they will pulse the element until the set point temperature is reached, slowing the pulses down in order not to overshoot. Then when you have the set temperature, they will pulse as required to maintain that temperature.

In my 3 vessel herms setup the only vessel that I need to accurately control is the HLT, it has my HERMS coil in it. So although I have 3 PIDs in the control box, 2 of them are only there to display the temperature from their probes.

My setup is -

PID controlling HLT - probe in HLT thermowell
PID displaying Mash Tun temp - probe in T fitting that is on the end of the hose from the return of the HERMS coil to the mash tun
PID displaying Boil temp - probe in boiler thermowell
I have a 3 way switch on the controller that energises the HLT output (controlled via the PID), off, and energises the boiler output (always on)

My approach is -

1. Fill HLT and get it to strike temp
2. Transfer strike water from HLT to mash tun, add grain
3. Set HLT temp to mash temp + 1 degree - adding extra cold water to bring it down a few degrees
4. Recirculate through the HERMS coil after 15 mins
5. After mash is over, increase HLT temp to mash out (76c)
6. Let it run for 10 mins before starting run off from mash tun to boiler
7. Fly sparge from HLT through HERMS coil into Mash tun while running off to boiler
8. Start the boiler by switching the controller output to the boiler element

I find that mash temps are held by keeping the HLT set at mash temp + 1c whilst recirculating through the coil during the mash.

My control panel also has a 12v PSU in it to drive two pumps used for the transfers and recirculation - I manually switch these on and off. I wouldn't use the PID to drive the pump.

I did review the 'classic' electric brewery designs from the States a lot when designing my panel and setup, they do seem to use a PID to control the mash temp using the mash tun probe, but I thought that this was over complicating things.

Happy to answer any more questions!

 

[bazzac]

Thanks for taking the time. Very helpful!

I may add more questions later. Possibly on a new thread depending on content.