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12-30-2008, 12:32 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 79
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Whats the best Temperature Controller
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hey guys,
Whats the best Temp. controller to get for a 10 gal Picnic cooler MLT? Or maybe my question should be: What's the difference between say the Ranco's and the Amber Interments ones? I want to incorporate it into my bio-diesel production as well, as a side note.
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12-30-2008, 02:14 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Newnan, Georgia
Posts: 1,924
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Just curious why would you need a temp controller for a picnic cooler MLT?
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Do what you like!
Brew what you like!
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12-30-2008, 02:50 PM
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#3
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Vendor
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 449
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I havr Ranco's and a Johnson A419. I like the Ranco better.
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12-30-2008, 03:41 PM
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#4
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control freak
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 175
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Quote:
Originally Posted by abracadabra
Just curious why would you need a temp controller for a picnic cooler MLT?
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I use my controller with a standard cooler MLT. But I have a pump and external heat exchanger. So I measure my strike water out, and put it in the cooler the night before. Then on brewday morning (while I'm eating breakfast and getting my google news and forum fix) I log on via the web and kick off the strike heating process. The controller heats the strike water and holds until I'm ready to dough in. It could also easily be set on a timer.
Also good for steps and mashout. Coolers are nicely insulated, and hold temps well for standard single infusion mashes. But they also make good herms/rims MLTs. |
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12-30-2008, 04:01 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 79
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Eccsynd, you answered abracadabra's question completely to my specifications also. I was also thinking about putting a heating element directly in my MLT surrounded by copper piping, as to no scorch the grains. This way I could set it to 152F and leave it.
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12-30-2008, 05:23 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 79
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I just ordered a Ranco ETC-111000-000 Prewired. I guess Derrin's input and the fact that it is "turn-key" turned me onto it. Thanks for the input guys.
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12-30-2008, 05:30 PM
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#7
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Bee Cave, Texas
Posts: 11,971
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eccsynd
I use my controller with a standard cooler MLT. But I have a pump and external heat exchanger. So I measure my strike water out, and put it in the cooler the night before. Then on brewday morning (while I'm eating breakfast and getting my google news and forum fix) I log on via the web and kick off the strike heating process. The controller heats the strike water and holds until I'm ready to dough in. It could also easily be set on a timer.
Also good for steps and mashout. Coolers are nicely insulated, and hold temps well for standard single infusion mashes. But they also make good herms/rims MLTs.
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Pics please. More beer pron!  |
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12-31-2008, 01:19 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Michigan
Posts: 215
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I just ordered a Ranco as well, $48.95 from All Thermal Controls and it works great.
Tom |
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12-31-2008, 01:47 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 11,620
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If you place any sort of heat source in the MLT, you will need to have a mash mixer. Otherwise your mash will get warm near the heater and cold further from it. You want to make sure your mash is homogenous so that your temp probe is reading the correct temp.
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12-31-2008, 01:52 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Acton, MA
Posts: 1,687
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psi3000
Eccsynd, you answered abracadabra's question completely to my specifications also. I was also thinking about putting a heating element directly in my MLT surrounded by copper piping, as to no scorch the grains. This way I could set it to 152F and leave it.
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Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you, but you don't want to run that heating element dry...
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