NB's bunker brewery build

[Northern Brewer]

That sounds interesting, I was looking at those sintered SS air stones the other day. So just pumping the wort from the copper to FV with the airstone in the tee provides sufficient aeration? I was thinking of using an aquarian air pump at some point as I already have one but this sounds better. :thumb:

I bought an air pump and stone for making organic fertilisers for growing giant pumpkins last year, worked pretty well. Would probably use a different air stone after its been dangling in compost for a few days

 

[evanvine]

That's a cracking build NB, you've really gone to town.
Your idea for splitting the beer line is bordering on genius!
I use both voltage control and a by-pass with my "solar" pump, it gives me the degree of regulation I find necessary when the MT recirc is slow and with my spinney sparger for the same reason.
Very well done! :thumb:

PS. can you enlighten me as to what "TB" rerers to.

 

[Northern Brewer]

That's a cracking build NB, you've really gone to town.
Your idea for splitting the beer line is bordering on genius!
I use both voltage control and a by-pass with my "solar" pump, it gives me the degree of regulation I find necessary when the MT recirc is slow and with my spinney sparger for the same reason.
Very well done! :thumb:

PS. can you enlighten me as to what "TB" rerers to.

Thanks Evanvine, hoepfully going to sneak out today and do a bit more, probably get all the holes cut in the boiler and HLT.

I've been looking for TB in the thread, albeit with an ankle biter dangling off one leg and another trying to teach me line dancing. Without finding the reference I'm guessing Thermo Box.

 

[31bb3]

Yes TB thermombox :thumb:

 

[Northern Brewer]

Yes TB thermombox :thumb:

Initially I thought TB only referred to picnic box mash tun's however it seems to refer to thermos pots too. I guess they do the same thing. Maybe it should be TB and TP :hmm:

 

[evanvine]

Many thanks NB and Eddy!

I've been looking for TB in the thread

Vossey, page 1, fourth post.

 

[Bru4u]

If you ever loose your job in IT (I doubt you would with your skill level), you'd get plenty of work building high end brewing systems, your work is both functional and beautiful, a rare talent indeed.
Hats off to you :thumb:
Bru

 

[Northern Brewer]

Many thanks NB and Eddy!

I've been looking for TB in the thread

Vossey, page 1, fourth post.

Got it! Amazing how much easier it was to find when the kids are busy playing pirates and dinosaurs and not swinging from your legs :grin:

 

[Northern Brewer]

If you ever loose your job in IT (I doubt you would with your skill level), you'd get plenty of work building high end brewing systems, your work is both functional and beautiful, a rare talent indeed.
Hats off to you :thumb:
Bru

Many thanks Bru, praise indeed. I would have never got this far without help from people on the forum and copying ideas from other builds :thumb: However I haven't turned it all on yet, just tested the components individually - don't want to count my chickens just yet :pray:

Got cheapo HK USB temp sensor delivered yesterday - only had a brief look but supplied software looks a bit dodgy considering its on version 22! Should work without software by logging output of USB interface direct to a file and using a spreadsheet for graphing, not sure if you can calibrate it this way though, I'll see if I can check accuracy today, it seemed about 3c off at first glance.

 

[Mark1964]

Hope it works out for you we will be doing a bit more drilling etc today :thumb:

 

[Northern Brewer]

Off to Thackray medical musuem in Leeds this morning with the kids, may get some tinkering time later.....

 

[Mark1964]

Sounds like a good day hope its a bit warmer than it is here

 

[Loetz]

This is great. Keep the photos coming!
I just got my 70L in the mail a couple days ago, so I'm a few steps behind you. You get a lot of the nuts and bolts and washers etc. online right? I'm having a hard time finding all of the parts that I need to make this here in Vienna.

I wouldn't mind if you made a full parts list once you're done with everything. :whistle:

 

[Vossy1]

That sounds interesting, I was looking at those sintered SS air stones the other day. So just pumping the wort from the copper to FV with the airstone in the tee provides sufficient aeration? I was thinking of using an aquarian air pump at some point as I already have one but this sounds better.

TBH, I've had issues with it being too good, and foam just coming out of the end of the gun...amazing how quickly you can fill an fv with foam :shock: :lol:
The only problem I've come across is that if wort gets into the air stone, ie, you start the flow of wort before turning the air pump on, the pump I have isn't powerful enough to push it back through...and mines a pretty powerful pump. If you have a compressor that would do the job nicely.

 

[Northern Brewer]

This is great. Keep the photos coming!
I just got my 70L in the mail a couple days ago, so I'm a few steps behind you. You get a lot of the nuts and bolts and washers etc. online right? I'm having a hard time finding all of the parts that I need to make this here in Vienna.

I wouldn't mind if you made a full parts list once you're done with everything. :whistle:

Hi Loetz - I got most of the stainless fittings and ball valves from this place, they do ship internationally however I'm sure there are other places nearer to you too. Some of the brass and copper fittings come from here too. I've also got a vast pile of assorted fittings from renovating three houses, each needed replumbing, most of the capillary fittings came from this. Some bits have come from the local DIY store. So may not be possible to create a full list however there are how-to-guides on the site for making mash tuns from a thermo pot and putting in site glasses so most parts are listed on there. Stainless washers, silicon sheet and stainless nuts and bolts are all from various ebay sites.

Cheers
NB

 

[Northern Brewer]

That sounds interesting, I was looking at those sintered SS air stones the other day. So just pumping the wort from the copper to FV with the airstone in the tee provides sufficient aeration? I was thinking of using an aquarian air pump at some point as I already have one but this sounds better.

TBH, I've had issues with it being too good, and foam just coming out of the end of the gun...amazing how quickly you can fill an fv with foam :shock: :lol:
The only problem I've come across is that if wort gets into the air stone, ie, you start the flow of wort before turning the air pump on, the pump I have isn't powerful enough to push it back through...and mines a pretty powerful pump. If you have a compressor that would do the job nicely.

Thanks JP - I do have a compressor, I guess I'll need to bypass the in-line oiler :sick:
I can foresee buckets of foam running out of the FV and down the drive if I'm not careful :hmm:

 

[tadytomas]

Hi, what is the diameter of the SS tube going to the spreader? thanks

EDIT: and the probe housing.. it is custum made? or it is available in some shop..

great work by the way :thumb:

 

[Northern Brewer]

Thanks TT

I've filled out the parts list in another thread, here's a slightly updated version.

The brass bit on the right is custom made, its a big lump of brass with a 1/2" BSP female connection on one end and a M8 female on the other. My PT100 has a M8 thread, not all are.

The SS tee is BES part number 14307 1/2" BSP equal tee.
The connector between the lump of brass and the tee is BES part number 14408 1/2" BSP equal hex nipple however I may replcace this with a parallel nipple BES 14462- same purpose, shorter length, much more expensive but I have one that I was thinking of using elsewhere but now redundant.
The hose connector is BES P/N 14558 1/2" hose tail adaptor
Going through the lid is a BES P/N 14451 1/2" barrel nipple
Two BES P/N 14547 1/2" BSP locking nuts are used to keep it in place
I also used two 20mm washers from ebay - M20 form B A2 stainless washers to be precise - loads of suppliers
Going through the middle of the barrel nipple is a short length of 15mm outside diameter 1.5mm wall thickness SS pipe from ebay. You can get 1mm thick wall but I am going to use a clamp and wanted a bit more strength
What is not shown is the clamp, a small custom made collar that fits between the tee and the top of the lid. This is like a thick washer, about 10mm thick, 15mm inside diameter, and about 32mm outside diameter, this holds the pipe in place at the required sparge/recirc height by drilling and tapping the edge using something like M5 and using a small M5 bolt to hold it in place - just tightened enough to hold. Again custom made - I've now made it however no time for pictures just yet, been busy extending power and water into the brewery.

Cheers
NB

 

[Baz Chaz]

a big lump of brass with a 1/2" BSP female connection on one end and a M8 female on the other. My PT100 has a M8 thread.
The SS tee is BES part number 14307 1/2" BSP equal tee.
The connector between the lump of brass and the tee is BES part number 14408 1/2" BSP equal hex nipple
......a parallel nipple BES 14462-
The hose connector is BES P/N 14558 1/2" hose tail adaptor
..... a BES P/N 14451 1/2" barrel nipple
Two BES P/N 14547 1/2" BSP locking nuts
two 20mm washers from ebay - M20 form B A2 stainless washers
Going through the middle of the barrel nipple is a short length of 15mm outside diameter 1.5mm wall thickness SS pipe
... a thick washer, about 10mm thick, 15mm inside diameter, and about 32mm outside diameter,

With brewporn talk like that you'll be getting some very excited members here :lol:

Me, I'm just in awe of you lads ability building all this shiney kit :mrgreen: :thumb:

 

[Springer]

Looks good, glad to see it all coming together.

S