Rather than post on my brewday thread, I thought it might be useful/interesting/helpful to have a separate thread to post my experiences with the new big beastie of an all in one system that has now arrived. I am also going to need to set up my own Brewfather equipment profile for this since I can't find one anywhere on the internet, so I'll record my experience with that too.
Mine is second hand, but this is a link to the current specification Brauheld Pro Mash Kettle
First impressions are he's quite stout and solid looking, very little plastic overall and presents as suitably robust, unlike the smaller versions, the pump is contained under boiler, easily accessed through four machine bolts with washers and looks like would be fairly straightforward to replace. It has a sight glass that the previous owner has marked with pen but no numbers. The control unit only comes on once the power switch is clicked on so it can be left switched on at the mains without drawing power unlike the brewzilla.
Picture 2 shows the ball valve drain which does sit fairly low in the kettle, however picture 3 shows the pump drain which is mounted on a right angle post to join to the mesh filter, this means there's quite a bit of fluid the pump can't reach below it and limits the pump as an option for full drainage as it is at present.
It comes with interchangeable recirculation arm and whirl pool arms (picture 4 and 5) which even when tightened can rotate without twisting the upright pipe, which is better than the camlock solution on the brewzilla. Picture 6 shows the mash pipe in place which has a fixed mesh grid base and a two part central drain, the screw like bolt is to block it while loading with grain, it doesn't screw at all or have a thread, just lifts in and out. The mash pipe sits further away from the wall of the boiler than I'm used to, and has two positions for lifting it out, ie two levels for the sparge.
It is second hand and the wires for the controller are a little exposed and I'd like to repair with a bit of insulating tape, and the cable is a two pin European plug, which I'm not happy about using at high current. Having taken the bottom off to check, it is definitely a 3 core earthed cable and is earthed inside, so I'm going to cut the plug off and fit a UK plug. Inside the base, the cable ends are joined at crimp points with heat shrunk plastic covers, which limits my options for fitting an entirely new cable as this one is really short.
I'm going to have to work out the proper equipment profile for this which will be the next task, oh and find something to put it on that's not too tall or short, since at the moment the cable can't reach my plug when it's on the floor, and the drainage tap would be a bit meaningless at that level too.
Anna
Mine is second hand, but this is a link to the current specification Brauheld Pro Mash Kettle
First impressions are he's quite stout and solid looking, very little plastic overall and presents as suitably robust, unlike the smaller versions, the pump is contained under boiler, easily accessed through four machine bolts with washers and looks like would be fairly straightforward to replace. It has a sight glass that the previous owner has marked with pen but no numbers. The control unit only comes on once the power switch is clicked on so it can be left switched on at the mains without drawing power unlike the brewzilla.
Picture 2 shows the ball valve drain which does sit fairly low in the kettle, however picture 3 shows the pump drain which is mounted on a right angle post to join to the mesh filter, this means there's quite a bit of fluid the pump can't reach below it and limits the pump as an option for full drainage as it is at present.
It comes with interchangeable recirculation arm and whirl pool arms (picture 4 and 5) which even when tightened can rotate without twisting the upright pipe, which is better than the camlock solution on the brewzilla. Picture 6 shows the mash pipe in place which has a fixed mesh grid base and a two part central drain, the screw like bolt is to block it while loading with grain, it doesn't screw at all or have a thread, just lifts in and out. The mash pipe sits further away from the wall of the boiler than I'm used to, and has two positions for lifting it out, ie two levels for the sparge.
It is second hand and the wires for the controller are a little exposed and I'd like to repair with a bit of insulating tape, and the cable is a two pin European plug, which I'm not happy about using at high current. Having taken the bottom off to check, it is definitely a 3 core earthed cable and is earthed inside, so I'm going to cut the plug off and fit a UK plug. Inside the base, the cable ends are joined at crimp points with heat shrunk plastic covers, which limits my options for fitting an entirely new cable as this one is really short.
I'm going to have to work out the proper equipment profile for this which will be the next task, oh and find something to put it on that's not too tall or short, since at the moment the cable can't reach my plug when it's on the floor, and the drainage tap would be a bit meaningless at that level too.
Anna
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