would this be ok

[Kevin Wood]

Here we go...

The coil of 8mm copper pipe. Would have been neater if I'd been able to find my pipe bender. The coil measures 85mm diameter by about 135mm height.

Here it is installed in the kettle. Coil sits on a non-heating part of the element and just reaches the "max fill" level.

After removing the scale filter mesh you can close the lid.

Tubes are connected using straight Yorkshire solder joints to provide a "barb" and secured with automotive fuel line clips.

I started off with a 10m roll of pipe and I've got 5.5m left, so about 4.5m used.

So, one "Value" Kettle, 4.5m of 8mm pipe and a couple of Yorkshire fittings. :thumb:

 

[DirtyCaner]

Really like that kettle setup, could I use an STC1000 to control a setup like this?

 

[Kevin Wood]

Really like that kettle setup, could I use an STC1000 to control a setup like this?

I'm not familiar with the STC1000 but I don't believe it's a PID - more of a conventional thermostat?

If so, a PID + SSR would be much better. Since the behaviour of the system is quite complex, a PID would "learn" the relationship between heat into the kettle and the response of the wort temperature and keep the temperature much more stable. Since a PID works by pulsing the element on and off, it can achieve a finer control of the heat output than a thermostat which switches the element either "on" or "off".

I use a homemade PID controller and it kept the output of the HERMS steady to within probably +/- 0.2 deg. C throughout the whole mash. When I upped the temperature ready for the sparge it hit the temperature quickly and without overshooting.

 

[DirtyCaner]

Aye fair enough. Really like your setup there though, might have a bash at it some point.

Cheers,

DC

 

[Cononthebarber]

Sorry this might be a really stupid question but the wort travels through the coil and the kettle is filled with water (the temp of which is controlled but the PID to manage the mash temp?)

 

[Vossy1]

Yep, that's it :thumb: