New automatic electric brewery

[bobsbeer]

Well my bits have started to arrive. It has taken a few of months in the planning, but hopefully the build can commence. The plan is to go nearly all automatic, with a micro controller at the heart of the system. Controlling 8 x 12v 2 way valves, 2 heating elements and 3 x 12 v pumps. The code for all this has been borrowed from the Brewtroller system. My wife has been going barmy and has said I need to move out if I don't get this project finished as it has been taking over the kitchen, as I tested all the various bits attached to my arduino. And she is also sick of answering the door as various bits have been arriving, mainly from China. Below is a plan for the control panel. I have laid it out with RGB led's so I can see what is going on. As I said earlier it is nearly automatic, but things like hop additions will be added manually at set times. The plan at this stage is just a single stage mash with batch sparging. So a manual valve has been incorporated to control the flow. If I want to upgrade to HERMS later I have the room in the box and plumbing system. I'll keep you posted on the build. As usual all this started with me deciding I needed to upgrade my plastic HLT. Then it grew and grew and grew. It's become a monster. But hopefully the result will be drinkable beer. :lol:

The components:

 

[adomant]

When finalised the picture needs a man and a dog. The dog to stop anybody messing with it and the man to feed the dog.

I love the idea of automated systems but would somehow miss all the swearing, scalding, electrocution and flooding that goes with a manual brew day :thumb:

 

[bobsbeer]

I love the idea of automated systems but would somehow miss all the swearing, scalding, electrocution and flooding that goes with a manual brew day

That bit hasn't been automated. Probably doubled it. :lol:

 

[Vossy1]

:lol: ....looking forward to watching your progress Bob :thumb:

 

[bobsbeer]

I finally started building today after months of planning. I made a start on the control box. It's slightly different from my original plan, in that I have made it so I can upgrade to a HERMS system in the future. There is space on the panel to add another pid in the middle. The plan is to use thin red car detail tape to mark out the flow, which has led's showing the state of the various valves. I haven't started on the inside yet, but plan to fit a couple of din rails and mount the hardware onto those. But at least it's a start. The box is 300 x 400 x 150 so plenty of space.

Rough layout before drilling:

And the actual layout with the pid's, led display, encoder and loads of led for the valves.

I will keep updating as I progress.

 

[aamcle]

It must be the week for it I have started on a BreadMaker/NextGen clone :).

My control options are - Arduino or a PID ramp/step controller or directly from a computer.

Im now waiting for the remaining bits to arrive so I'm stuck although I may well fill some time by cutting the filter support disks.

ATB. Aamcle

 

[bobsbeer]

The heart of my operation is going to be a Brewtroller DX1 which is based on the arduino. Good luck with your breadmaker. I still have to wait for some bits to come. But hoping they will arrive this week. Then I'm sure I will have forgotten something. :lol:

 

[aamcle]

"Forgotten something" Me to! but it will be January before all the parts have drifted in.

Good Luck. Aamcle

 

[bobsbeer]

It's looking like that for me. China and USA shipping takes way too long.

 

[aamcle]

I've found shipping from the US to reasonable but China is bazaar, I've had deliveries amazingly fast and other things that seem to have been sent by pack mule! Months!!

Aamcle

 

[bobsbeer]

And in the case of China some things don't arrive at all!!!!!!!. But the wait is usually worth it compared to the cost of locally sourced stuff. One thing I have found is HMRC seem to jump on USA packages and levy VAT while China stuff sails straight through. But with my build some of the stuff is only available in the USA as it is made there. So I am stuck with having to pay VAT. But hopefully the end result will be worth it.

 

[bobsbeer]

Finally finished the design of the interior of the control panel. Here is a diagram. There are 4 x 240v inputs. 3 for the 3 elements controlled via SSR's and one for the 12v power supply for all the valves and microcontroller. On the side are 14 XLR outputs for all the valves and temp probe along with the pressure sensor inputs. On the right side is a 12v fan ripped from an old computer to help cool the unit. The build is in progress with the front nearly finished. The inside of the box will have din rails fitted to mount the various components. The outputs to the elements is via 16 amp round sockets mounted on the base of the unit. I started drawing the wiring, but gave up as it was beginning to look like a bowl of spaghetti. But hopefully the end result will be a bit tidier. Hopefully photo's of the real thing coming soon.

 

[Jay7792]

Very impressive, can't wait to see how this turns out:)

Jay

 

[IPA]

Finally finished the design of the interior of the control panel. Here is a diagram. There are 4 x 240v inputs. 3 for the 3 elements controlled via SSR's and one for the 12v power supply for all the valves and microcontroller. On the side are 14 XLR outputs for all the valves and temp probe along with the pressure sensor inputs. On the right side is a 12v fan ripped from an old computer to help cool the unit. The build is in progress with the front nearly finished. The inside of the box will have din rails fitted to mount the various components. The outputs to the elements is via 16 amp round sockets mounted on the base of the unit. I started drawing the wiring, but gave up as it was beginning to look like a bowl of spaghetti. But hopefully the end result will be a bit tidier. Hopefully photo's of the real thing coming soon.

This certainly gives proof to the saying

Artists make wine
Engineers make beer

 

[Fil]

Looking Good.. Very Good am jelouse..

when do the valves get an airing ?

 

[bobsbeer]

I have all the valves, but waiting for a few more bits from Mark at Homebrew Builder to put all the plumbing bits together. Then drill a few more holes in the HLT, MT and boiler for the extra fittings. Hopefully by about mid Jan it will be finished and ready for brewing in anger. Fingers crossed. But figured I would start with the control box as that is central to the whole operation. And all the wires for the valves, pumps, one wire temp probes and the level sensors all connect into the box. For that there are 14 XLR connections on the box. Building is in fits and starts as bits arrive from China. And not always in the order I ordered them. :evil: But I'm getting there. The control box is now looking like a control box from the outside at least.

 

[bobsbeer]

It's now starting to come off the drawing board. The panel is now completed and just needs to be wired up. I'm still waiting for the engraved labels but apart from that all the components are in place.

The front

A peek inside

More to follow as the build continues.

 

[bobsbeer]

Started to put all the wires in now. Looks a bit messy, in the photo, but looks a bit tidier now I've added a few cable ties. But still loads more wires to go in.

 

[Vossy1]

Getting there Bob

 

[bobsbeer]

We now have partial lift off. The wiring of the control box is complete. AND it didn't blow up when I switched it on. :clap: Now I need to program the thing to make it do what it's supposed to do. But at least it looks pretty with the led's flashing. I'm sure a nuclear power station has less wiring than this thing. It still looks like a bowl of spaghetti no matter how much I try to tidy it up. But it's working and that is a major cause for celebration in the Bobsbeer household. :party: :party:

The front with the flashing led's. Not all are flashing as they are connected by i2c and I have isolated half of them to program the controller.

And the inside. :wha: