Proposed AG setup - along the right lines?

[Hudson1984]

I’ve got fermenting buckets I’ve been using for kit brews. Perhaps I should just stick with that and forget the conical for a few months...

maybe get one of those pumps and find a way to do a pumped transfer from fermenter to keg... maybe that’s a better option

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

I’d say just use the tap. If you find you really want a pump later you can get one then. My Peco method would work the same for the digiboiler.
Edit ; sorry, just read you post again. Fermenter to keg. Ignore me

 

[Hudson1984]

Haha no worries, I mean I can pump into the fermenter it seems, then from fermenter to keg I can use the tap on the fermenter but would like to try to keen oxygen to a minimum, so perhaps I could replace the fermenter I have with a tap on the side in place of a valve then I can make a pump line from valve to keg....maybe ...

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

get one of those pumps and find a way to do a pumped transfer from fermenter to keg

Well yes you could do, but you probably want to rack off a bit more slowly than that from the fermenter, otherwise you might stir the sediment up :-)
I just lift up the FV (with a block and tackle) and drain it off slowly via the tap...

 

[Hudson1984]

Ah very true. At the moment, I use the fermenter with the tap after first fermentation (for wine) and sit it on the worktop, have bottle or kegs lower and use gravity - just a bit slow is all - have to be patient i guess

hmm playing to do down the line I’m sure all will become clear after a few brews.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Steady, tiger
Honestly the one reason you might want a pump at the moment is to recirculate during mashing
Transfers from kettle to keg to FV are most easily done by gravity - it does help to have a block and tackle arrangement to lift them up though if you're brewing a full 20+ litre batch

 

[Hudson1984]

Haha see I like a project that’s the issue! I like gadgets and I like making things - so pumps and pipes - all fun and games haha have to look for the easy option really

but yes, brewzilla seems the way forward. All pumps where they need to be. The rest I’ll stick to gravity I guess (seems a little defeatist when gadgets could be played with )

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Incidentally a couple of those plastic bins that @chopps posted make a very nice mash tun too. You put one inside the other, putting a bunch of holes in the base of the inner one (or, better, a sheet of 30mesh stainless steel mesh) and put a 3/8" or 8mm pushfit connector through the side of the outer one right down near the bottom. Insulate the outside and then use the pump to recalculate back in via a shower head at the top... Bob's your uncle!

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

If you like making stuff, then doing a DIY recirculating mash tun is a GREAT project. I'll do a list of the bits I used for you in a little bit (I'd better go and do some chores first tho or I will be in trouble LoL)

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

As promised, here are the bits for a DIY mash tun:

• 2 x 27litre plastic pails with lids (e.g. from the link @chopps posted above)
• A3 sheet of '#30' stainless steel mesh (e.g. this stuff, £ 12.99)
• small stainless nuts and bolts (e.g. these, £6.82)
• 1 x 3/8" push-fit bulkhead fitting (e.g. this one, £4.99)
• 20mm O ring seals (e.g. these, £2.24 for ten)
• bit of 3/8" push fit pipe (e.g. this stuff £2.99 for 2m but it's very useful stuff to have around so get plenty)
• 1 x 3/8" push fit to 1/2" BSP adaptor (e.g. this one, £3.49)
• cheap shower head with 1/2" BSP hose (e.g. this one, £8.50 but you may even have an old one kicking around)
• pump with 1/2" BSP connections (see above), and a 12v power supply
• some cheap loft insulation or an old camping mat etc.

I'm sure you can work it out, but basically:

1. fit the 3/8" bulkhead fitting through the side of one of the bins, close to the floor. A cheap stepped drill bit set (£8.99) is absolutely brilliant for cutting big holes like this in thin sheet.
2. cut the bottom out of the other bin, leaving a 1" rim round the edge (use tin snips or a Dremmel)
3. cut a circle from the mesh the same size as the base of the bin (kitchen scissors will cut it, but watch out for the edges because they are VERY sharp)
4. cut a disk from one of the lids the same size as the base of the bin, then cut a hole in it the same size as the bit you cut out of the bin, to make a 'halo'
5. fit the mesh disc in the base of the bin, with the plastic 'halo' on top, using small stainless nuts and bolts
6. put the mesh-based bin inside the other
7. connect the pump inlet to the 3/8" bulkhead, and the shower hose to the pump outlet
8. wrap the whole kaboodle in insulation, mash in, start your pump and off you go!

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

I was getting about 65%-70% BHE with my BIAB just by stirring few times during the mash, sparging through the bag and squeezing it afterwards. The same as what I am getting now with the Brewzilla.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

I was getting about 65%-70% BHE with my BIAB just by stirring few times during the mash, sparging through the bag and squeezing it afterwards. The same as what I am getting now with the Brewzilla.

Yeah, but the OP says he likes making stuff

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

Yeah, but the OP says he likes making stuff

Then I’d suggest making a rope and pulley system and bag squeezer

 

[Buffers brewery]

You want to make stuff!!?
While I like @The-Engineer-That-Brews approach, you can always make one of these. It needs a pump, digital thermometers and a geared electric motor, wheels but no bells


On the subject of closed transfer from FV to keg, I made this (boring) video of my first experience.


Might give you some ideas - more stuff to build!

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

@Buffers brewery are you sure that's not a photocopier? only kidding - I think it's a marvellous device :hat:

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Another great DIY project is to make your own counterflow chiller - good fun, quite cheap and really effective: Build a Counterflow Wort Chiller - Brew Your Own

Really pleased with mine:

 

[Hudson1984]

That’s a whole heap of work there guys! Wow!

but I think the brewzilla is the best option. I do like a project but think I need to know more about what I’m intending for each item to do before I build anything. I’m keen to have a bash with a brewzilla, keep my current fermenters and then see how I go.

my issue is quickly going to become conditioning space.

 

[eyuptm]

Pressurised transfer is THE way to go- dead easy with the Fermzilla and pressure kit... Zero exposure to oxygen, and clean and sanitary. Brewzilla with cheap Peco 15l boiler, for sparge water, controlled by STC1000, about£12 on Amazon (make sure it's a genuine Elitech one, there are some crappy copies out there...)
I made a rotating sparge arm from 8mm copper, but it was a bit of a faff, I'll try to find pictures/vids of it working.
DIY counterflow chiller, and you're there!! Plenty to fiddle with and build, and great results once you've honed your brew day!

 

[Hudson1984]

Yeah it certainly looks to be the right setup for me.
My only issue is a conical won’t fit in my brew fridge - certainly tempted by that temperature chamber I linked. More expensive that a fridge but saves me having a larder fridge

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

You know what I’m going to say...

Make your own temperature controlled chamber - mine is plywood lined with 50mm expanded polystyrene insulation, and a heating/cooling coil immersed in the FV :-)