Simon's Brewery Build

[simonranson]

Thanks Sean - Good luck. It's pretty straight forward, and making the first cut/hole is the hardest

My top-tips so far are:

1. Use q-max cutters for the holes.
2. Spending a few quid on Colbalt drills is well worth it, and keep them nice and cool when drilling.
3. If you go to B&Q for plumbing parts, never assume you'll pickup multiples of the same item from the same peg :evil:

... all I'm waiting for now are the elements and O-rings.

Cheers
Simon

 

[Sean_Mc]

I'm just fitting cheap kettle elements for now...Unless Sir Louis comes in at Southwell 3.30 :pray:

Might upgrade to Backer elements later, will just tickle the holes with a grinding stone if I do

 

[simonranson]

... a few more goodies ordered:

2 x Liquid tight RTD sensor, 4” probe, Metric thread (PT100-L100M14) = $67.90
2 x 25A SSR (RS1A40D25) = $30.00
1 x Universal 1/16 DIN PID Temperature Controller (SYL-2362) = $41.95
1 x Universal 1/32 DIN PID Temperature Controller (SYL-1512A) = $35.95

The whole paying with Paypal thing makes buying this stuff far too easy

 

[Vossy1]

Very well done Simon :clap: , great pics

 

[Sean_Mc]

Thanks Simon, I got a couple of decent bosh drill bits 4mm and 10mm for the pilot holes for the qmax cutters and it was all sorted pretty quickly :clap:

Look forward to your next kit upgrade :thumb:

 

[simonranson]

Very well done Simon :clap: , great pics

... I couldnt, or rather wouldnt, have done them without your 'how-to' guides. :

 

[simonranson]

Thanks Simon, I got a couple of decent bosh drill bits 4mm and 10mm for the pilot holes for the qmax cutters and it was all sorted pretty quickly :clap:

Look forward to your next kit upgrade :thumb:

Great news Sean. It goes pretty quick once the first hole is made...

The elements have arrived, so that's my next thing to get done this weekend. I was surprised how small they are.

 

[simonranson]

I've got the elements in today. I could only get a 12.x mm qmax for these, so had to open the holes up a touch with a grinding stone.

I got a couple of weatherproof boxes to cover the terminals. I cut a slot in the back for the element tails, and rounded the backs off touch. I'll attach these with a hot glue gun and some silicone. I'll do a leak test before I do this.

I'll wire these up with high-temp wire...

... nearly there :)

 

[BigYin]

looking good :mrgreen: :drink: :drink: :drink: :drink:

 

[Sean_Mc]

Nice work Simon :clap:

When I did a brew the other day I left the lid on when waiting for the boil, I took my eye off the ball and nearly had a scary boil over. So have a plan for SS guards. Hope to get it sorted over the next week and will do a pic brewday.

Look forward to seeing your kit in action :thumb:

 

[simonranson]

My collection of bits for the controller has got to a point where I can start building it up. Just need to get a few more bits tomorrow including the relays, a male commando socket and some DIN rail then get going.

Just done a leak-test of the boiler. I had a couple of leaks. One on the sight glass (not quite pushed the tube in far enough) and one on the valve - this was just a matter of sussing out what washers were needed and where. I drained the boiler and measured the dead-space. Only 450ml which wasnt too bad :)

Here's the bits... I think the heatsink may be a little on the large side!

Cheers
Simon

 

[prolix]

big heat sink that! I use my aluminium case as my heat sink, with a touch of as5 thermal compound, it never gets above tepid from the outside, on a 25a relay pulling 13a max a big heat sink is not necessary, IMHO. You might want to try maplins or pc world for that matter a north bridge heat sink would do

That Auber stuff is the duck's mate, being able to unplug my cables with their quick release is such a bonus, can't wait to see it all together

 

[alexe]

Simon, what element did you use?

Alex

 

[Springer]

Looks good Simon, keep up the good work, not many action posts at the moment.
Love a bit of brew porn myself, as long as Mrs. S doesn't catch me looking ................ see knows it makes me want to start spending again :lol:

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Cracking stuff, nice idea. :thumb: :thumb:

 

[simonranson]

Simon, what element did you use?

Alex

Alex, these are the elements I've used, 3kW ones:

http://www.heatingelementcompany.co.uk/default.asp?Product=231

 

[simonranson]

big heat sink that! I use my aluminium case as my heat sink, with a touch of as5 thermal compound, it never gets above tepid from the outside, on a 25a relay pulling 13a max a big heat sink is not necessary, IMHO. You might want to try maplins or pc world for that matter a north bridge heat sink would do

That Auber stuff is the duck's mate, being able to unplug my cables with their quick release is such a bonus, can't wait to see it all together

yeah, its a bit on the big side, but it was a 'too good to miss' thing on ebay :)

The Auber PT100 probes are nice. I've got some quick-release plugs for the other end of them too, so I can take all the cables off the control box for storage.

 

[simonranson]

Looks good Simon, keep up the good work, not many action posts at the moment.
Love a bit of brew porn myself, as long as Mrs. S doesn't catch me looking ................ see knows it makes me want to start spending again :lol:

hehe. If i get a leak-test done on the HLT and mash tun this weekend I'll put up some 'action' posts :lol:

 

[simonranson]

Cracking stuff, nice idea. :thumb: :thumb:

Cheers, BB. Fingers crossed that the hot glue gun / silicone will bond the box to the stainless. I may have to rethink the attaching method if that doesnt work. I'm already thinking of a spring steel washer on both of the element posts....

 

[alexe]

Alex, these are the elements I've used, 3kW ones:

http://www.heatingelementcompany.co.uk/ ... roduct=231

Thanks, they look great! At least you don't have to drill a massive hole for them...