BCS460 and Brutus - Page 3

**rtrevino** · 02-09-2012, 02:05 PM

Ok, so I finally got a BCS 460 and I've been plying around with it. I am going to use it to control 3 gas solenoid valves and two pumps. I plan on having a temp probe for the HLT, MLT, BOil Kettle and then at the output of my plate chiller. I just feel overwhelmed with the programming. Can anyone help?

**BrentJ** · 02-09-2012, 11:20 PM

Why is the plate chiller outlet temp needed? Won't you be recirculating through the chiller and back to BK until
Target temp is reached and then pump from BK to Fermenter?

Dupell13 · 02-10-2012, 12:08 AM

I highly recommend following the bcs web site and look at the examples given. It's definitely easier to use manual first and then move into writing states.

**rtrevino** · 02-10-2012, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrentJ

Why is the plate chiller outlet temp needed? Won't you be recirculating through the chiller and back to BK until
Target temp is reached and then pump from BK to Fermenter?

Actually my plate chiller gets it down to pitching temp the first pass. With a probe on the output I can remove the analog I have on it.

**BrentJ** · 02-10-2012, 02:20 AM

Ok. I'm down South and summer brewing requires a pass through an ice bath immersion chiller too. I guess in the winter the plate chiller alone might work. Thanks for the feedback. I'm working on new rig design and this helps.

**rtrevino** · 02-10-2012, 02:28 AM

I'm in San Antonio and even when we hit 110 this last summer I was able to get my wort to 78f with my plate chiller. Although an ice bath does provide a safety net, should you not be able to hit the target temp.

**JonW** · 02-10-2012, 03:55 AM

78 is your target temp? Should be more like 68.

Agree that your first brew should probably just use manual mode. Reason for this is that you get used to what needs to be switched on and off and it helps you better understand what you want to do with your processes and states. As a rule of thumb, each time you need to manually change something, you probably need a state change.

I do processes for the following:
- MLT Heat/Hold
- HLT Heat/Hold
- Fly Sparge
- Wort/Hop Boil
- Hop Additions

**rtrevino** · 02-10-2012, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonW

78 is your target temp? Should be more like 68.

Agree that your first brew should probably just use manual mode. Reason for this is that you get used to what needs to be switched on and off and it helps you better understand what you want to do with your processes and states. As a rule of thumb, each time you need to manually change something, you probably need a state change.

I do processes for the following:
- MLT Heat/Hold
- HLT Heat/Hold
- Fly Sparge
- Wort/Hop Boil
- Hop Additions

78 isn't the target, I was just stating that with 110f ambient temps I got the wort cooled down to 78f with a single pass

**BrentJ** · 02-10-2012, 01:53 PM

So my challenge is I can barely make 80 with an immersion cooler with house water and placing my brew kettle in the pool for additional cooling. Now one variable that is probably different is that I live in the country and my water is well supplied and it is stored above ground (allows breathing time as I have gas in the water). So my water is probably lower than ambient but not as cold as typical ground water.

digitalhifi · 02-10-2012, 02:13 PM

^^My typical ground water in Houston reached 98* this past summer for a few weeks. Cooling to 70 required me to get 4 2 lb bags of ice for every 5 gallons.