brewfreeordie

Recipes 

I'm planning the same thing and this helps a lot to visualize what I need vs what I want. $2k for controls when I have no plans to grow beyond biab is ridiculous (but BOY would I love one of Kal's boxes!) I've got to get over the idea of "building for the future" and keep it simple.

Thanks for a great thread.

Antler

Recipes 

This is my problem. I always dream of having a Kal Clone setup, but then after every BIAB, I realize I can make some awesome beers this way, and love the simplicity.

My goal is to have a setup like this BIAB setup, but I'm focusing on fermentation before I upgrade my brewing equipment anymore. Oxygenation, yeast starters, and temp control get the next upgrades.

jCOSbrew

Recipes 

Good plan.
The electric part of eBIAB helps with repeatability and convenience but you can achieve the same result (good all grain beer) with a stock pot, a bag, and a $50 propane burner.

FYI, my fermentation temp control setup is a swamp cooler + an acquarium heater, about $30 total.

Antler

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When I give up this type of work and will be home every night the swamp cooler could work for me but right now I work from home 3 weeks at a time.

My basement sits at about 16-18 degrees Celsius, I ferment everything I make @ those temps.

jCOSbrew

Recipes 

FYI, The calculated the mash efficiency on my first eBIAB all grain batch at 80%. I think that dialing in the grain mill and temp control during the mash both helped significantly. Looking forward to a strong batch of AHS Holiday Ale.

Antler

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Awesome job! That's great numbers!

biertourist

Recipes 

I received the same enclosure in the mail yesterday. It's actually smaller than it looks. -I'm doing a 2 element, 240v, 2 pump build so I need a lot more contactors/relays (and they're pretty big); I also really NEED a heat sink for my SSRs as there's just going to be a lot more energy going through them. It's going to be a really, REALLY tight fit and I'm going to have to plan the internal layout VERY carefully. I don't think I can even accommodate the blade connectors attaching to my PID controller as I really need the room in the box...

I'm also flabbergasted that the box didn't come with a back panel.

I'm also dealing with 240v 50 amp service coming into the box and the only connector I've found that will support it is just HUGE and takes up a ton of precious space in that box... I do like it but I wish I would've planned a bit better (I see you made a number of design trade-offs that make your system perfect for a box this size.) -The low power pump, as one example.


So what tools did you use to cut the square holes in the box?
Adam

jCOSbrew

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I use stepbit and jigsaw for square holes. Plastic is easy to work with.

External heats sink will save some space. I also use 30 amp power relays. Hard wired power cord and speakon type connectors for elements will help.

jCOSbrew

Recipes 

Check out the auberins control panel with built in heats sink and 3x PID cutouts. Most people are using a 12x16 or 16x16 enclosure for a complex 50amp build. The small panel I used is great for a simple eBIAB setup.

jCOSbrew

Recipes 

Attached my control panel to a small stand. Makes a compact eBIAB setup.