tazuk
Landlord.
mmm new shiney all the best let us know how you get on :thumb:
Yet Another Brewery Build
- Thread starter MacKiwi
- Start date
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Cheers for the offer Kev - wish I'd spotted it sooner :thumb:
In the end, there were no major disasters (just plenty of minor ones), and the resulting beer seems to be drinkable... Brew reports here...
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=31339
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=31455
In the end, there were no major disasters (just plenty of minor ones), and the resulting beer seems to be drinkable... Brew reports here...
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=31339
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=31455
A few updates...
Firstly, a PID controller for the HLT. Still not 100% complete, but used it in anger for the first time yesterday and it was grand...
And a fermentation cupboard, made from left-over chip-board and wood-fibre insulation.
Next... probably a HERMs (it doesn't seem to too a big a step from where I am), and I still need a wort-chiller of some kind. And a 2nd fermentation cupboard wouldn't go amiss...
And then I'll be all done
Firstly, a PID controller for the HLT. Still not 100% complete, but used it in anger for the first time yesterday and it was grand...
And a fermentation cupboard, made from left-over chip-board and wood-fibre insulation.
Next... probably a HERMs (it doesn't seem to too a big a step from where I am), and I still need a wort-chiller of some kind. And a 2nd fermentation cupboard wouldn't go amiss...
And then I'll be all done
Vossy1
Landlord.
Well and truly winning MK :clap:
Dieseljockey
Regular.
Well sorted that man... :pray:
RokDok
Regular.
Fantastic set up.
I don't know enough about HERMS to be convinced.
Seems a lot more complicated, more stuff to clean, but that is probably my ignorance
I'm a bit behind you in Brewery development in that I haven't got a fermentation / conditioning fridge, but I think I'm going to go conical for the next step. Would save a vast amount of aggro when bottling.
There must be some way of making one/ getting one made from a couple of shineys that wouildn't cost the earth.
Good Luck and Congratulations
RD
I don't know enough about HERMS to be convinced.
Seems a lot more complicated, more stuff to clean, but that is probably my ignorance
I'm a bit behind you in Brewery development in that I haven't got a fermentation / conditioning fridge, but I think I'm going to go conical for the next step. Would save a vast amount of aggro when bottling.
There must be some way of making one/ getting one made from a couple of shineys that wouildn't cost the earth.
Good Luck and Congratulations
RD
thedrayman
Mild & Bitter
- Joined
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Love the PID unit, MK. Is that for a two element HLT? I'd love to see an image of the internals on that.
Hi Drayman - yes, it is for a two element HLT. I'll get some photos of the internals up when I've completed it, it is still in the prototype phase. Should be sometime this week though...
RokDok - I look forward to the conical how-to! :thumb: I assume you are talking about a jacketed version for temperature control - that would be a dream, and I suspect a bit more of a DIY challenge than HERMs (unless you have welding skills, I certainly don't).
Early on, once I just had pots with taps fitted, I decided I'd start trying to brew and that would influence my thinking on what extras to add next. I think that was a good idea, as some things I was sure I would need I quickly learned I could do without in the short-term, and other things suddenly became more important.
For example, I almost didn't start brewing, thinking a wort chiller was critical. I'm now past AG#5 and still am in no hurry to get one. It obviously is preferable to cooling over-night, but it has fallen down the priority list.
On the other hand, the HLT temperature control is great, as without it I was always forgetting to turn it on/off at the right times, as there was always something else going on.
HERMS I always thought would be well in the future. But my main source of frustration at the moment is getting the mash temperature right. HERMS will let me control that accuratly. And having sorted out the PID for the HLT, HERMS now looks to be a fairly simple step from where I am, both technically and finanically. I'm going to try making a spinny sparge arm (useful for regular fly sparging too), and provided that works ok, the HERMS heat-exchanger and PID control is a simple addition. I've read the arguements for and against, and I'm sure there are good points on both sides, but for me I just want to control the mash temperature and keep it constant.
RokDok - I look forward to the conical how-to! :thumb: I assume you are talking about a jacketed version for temperature control - that would be a dream, and I suspect a bit more of a DIY challenge than HERMs (unless you have welding skills, I certainly don't).
Early on, once I just had pots with taps fitted, I decided I'd start trying to brew and that would influence my thinking on what extras to add next. I think that was a good idea, as some things I was sure I would need I quickly learned I could do without in the short-term, and other things suddenly became more important.
For example, I almost didn't start brewing, thinking a wort chiller was critical. I'm now past AG#5 and still am in no hurry to get one. It obviously is preferable to cooling over-night, but it has fallen down the priority list.
On the other hand, the HLT temperature control is great, as without it I was always forgetting to turn it on/off at the right times, as there was always something else going on.
HERMS I always thought would be well in the future. But my main source of frustration at the moment is getting the mash temperature right. HERMS will let me control that accuratly. And having sorted out the PID for the HLT, HERMS now looks to be a fairly simple step from where I am, both technically and finanically. I'm going to try making a spinny sparge arm (useful for regular fly sparging too), and provided that works ok, the HERMS heat-exchanger and PID control is a simple addition. I've read the arguements for and against, and I'm sure there are good points on both sides, but for me I just want to control the mash temperature and keep it constant.
EskiBrew
Regular.
Very tidy work MK :clap:
No matter how many times we see pics, it is always good to see another brewery in development :party:
No matter how many times we see pics, it is always good to see another brewery in development :party:
For those interested in the internals...
Ok, it's not a marvel of modern engineering, but has performed adequately without catching fire (so far)
I'm happy to put together a schematic if anyone is interested in it...
Ok, it's not a marvel of modern engineering, but has performed adequately without catching fire (so far)
I'm happy to put together a schematic if anyone is interested in it...
evanvine
Landlord.
One PID controlling two SSR's?
Yep. The PWM output from the PID goes to both SSRs in parallel. This is the normal mode of operation, as the HLT has two elements in it (connected via the 240v connectors on either side of the box). I can switch one or other of the outputs off with the blue switches (can't see why I'd ever do this with the HLT though), or both off if I just want to monitor the temperature on the PID display.
To be honest, most of the stuff you see is bling, you could make a much simpler version that was just as useful.
To be honest, most of the stuff you see is bling, you could make a much simpler version that was just as useful.
evanvine
Landlord.
What size HLT are you talking about MK?
thedrayman
Mild & Bitter
- Joined
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Thanks for posting the images of the PID internals, most helpful. If it's not too much trouble, a schematic diagram would also be great for us 'electrical-numpties'.
Does this power two kettle elements? Are the meters just 'bling' or a necessity? :clap:
Does this power two kettle elements? Are the meters just 'bling' or a necessity? :clap:
The hlt is 100l but I've only put up to 50l in it so far. At that capacity, with both elements on full the temperature rises around 1 degree per minute.
Will get a schematic together tomorrow...
The meters are a total waste of space, I was just going for a retro look.
This does power two elements, and I have a dedicated 20A feed from my consumer unit for this purpose. You could do a variant with two seperate 13A plugs, provided you connected them to different sockets.
Will get a schematic together tomorrow...
The meters are a total waste of space, I was just going for a retro look.
This does power two elements, and I have a dedicated 20A feed from my consumer unit for this purpose. You could do a variant with two seperate 13A plugs, provided you connected them to different sockets.
Here's the schematic...
A lot of the switches, and certainly the ammeters, you can do without. The 20A fuse is redundant, as there is a 20A RCBO at the other end of the cable. But I would definitly keep the 10A fuses.
A lot of the switches, and certainly the ammeters, you can do without. The 20A fuse is redundant, as there is a 20A RCBO at the other end of the cable. But I would definitly keep the 10A fuses.
evanvine
Landlord.
Were 2 x 20A SSRs cheaper than 1 x 40A SSR + only half the wiring?
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