Brew System I've been building

. 2 tier, 3 kettles, with 3 pumps and 2 controllers.

The pumps are 12v pumps that flow 6gpm and will take 250 degrees. Can't wait to get the control panel from the fab shop

Lookin good!

Design is cool, did you do the fab? still not sure about the 12v solar pumps being food safe / sanitary.

They are as food safe as the march pumps and the reasoning behind 12v pumps is you can control flow with voltage using a rheostat vs having to change the position of a ball valve

They are not "solar" pumps and yes I do all the fab work

Great design and nice work!

TVHABrewguy said:

They are as food safe as the march pumps and the reasoning behind 12v pumps is you can control flow with voltage using a rheostat vs having to change the position of a ball valve

They are not "solar" pumps and yes I do all the fab work

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First the fab work looks great! I would strongly suggest a PWM control verses a rheostat. Lowering the voltage creates heat in the pump creates excessive wear and is less accurate than a PWM control. Look on eBay you can find them for $15.00. Post some more pictures of the stand.

Nice looking design! Where did you find the mesh material on the bottom, and is there a proper name for that? I need a section to finish off the mash tun shelf (cooler) of my 3-tier, and the local box stores look at me crazy when I ask for "heavy steel mesh," so I'm not even sure I'm asking for the right stuff

CastleHollow said:

Nice looking design! Where did you find the mesh material on the bottom, and is there a proper name for that? I need a section to finish off the mash tun shelf (cooler) of my 3-tier, and the local box stores look at me crazy when I ask for "heavy steel mesh," so I'm not even sure I'm asking for the right stuff

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Expanded metal...... I would check with Lowe's or Home Depot if you are just needing a small section.

TVHABrewguy..... Very nice! Post more pics when you get a chance.

Very nice work. I'd love to see more pics at different angles. Be sure to keeps us updated. :rockin:

subbed

Will do

The stainless panel is almost done but here's one of the pumps and controllers

MaxOut said:

First the fab work looks great! I would strongly suggest a PWM control verses a rheostat. Lowering the voltage creates heat in the pump creates excessive wear and is less accurate than a PWM control. Look on eBay you can find them for $15.00. Post some more pictures of the stand.

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The pumps are brushless, magnetic drive, just like the March pumps. Just smaller so wear is a non issue as they have been in operation at a local breweries pilot system. So they have been tested a fair bit

Can you provide a link to where you purchased the pumps? I'm in the market and am shopping around.

nosnhojm20 said:

Can you provide a link to where you purchased the pumps? I'm in the market and am shopping around.

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OP, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe they are these pump.

nosnhojm20 said:

Can you provide a link to where you purchased the pumps? I'm in the market and am shopping around.

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Those look like them but that was not my source.

That is a really neat design.

Well, life got in the way for abit but I spent some time on the system this weekend. Got the control panel done on the water jet, bent and welded. It's 16ga aluminium that will be powder coated the same as the stand. Also started on the gas system.. More pics to come soon.


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Nice work, I really like the design.

Looking good.

Powder coating on panel done, prefitted controllers and switches. Wiring tonite and then plumbing the kettles

Looks very nice! I like the design

It's Alive!!!

TVHABrewguy said:

Those look like them but that was not my source.

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There's a ton of people who rebadge this pump and sell it in the US, USSolar being one. Its just another Chinese pump that people mass buy and resell in the US, similar to the even smaller P38-i pumps you can get for $20 on ebay.

Should work fine if you dont have a huge head requirement to push the liquid up.

Once you start pushing the liquid up 3-4 feet though your GPM is going to be much slower than their stated, which is flat and level.

Related to the STC1000's, are they fast enough when flashed with the + firmware to cycle on and off the relays for use with with a panel like that? I know they changed a bunch of stuff in that FW but can you alter how fast the STC can cycle power to make it similar to the PID panels?

I guess I'll find out on the first brew day, but one of the local breweries is using them on their main brew system and for their all of their fermenter and glycol chiller controls without issue.


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You have something planned for a heat shield on the back of that control panel?
Looks like it might get some heat on it.

The panel is sealed but there is a stainless panel that shields it. It's just not on yet


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I dig the design quite a bit. Nice.

Nice rig, and neat design!

Tell us how much you enjoy that powder coat smell after you put it into service, and it burns back to where it's cool enough to survive......

Interested to near how well the stc's work vs PIDs.

Stealthcruiser said:

Nice rig, and neat design!

Tell us how much you enjoy that powder coat smell after you put it into service, and it burns back to where it's cool enough to survive......

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Not my first rodeo doing this. First one burned back to about an nice from out frame. You just have to burn it in first before the first brew day. Next one is going to thermometer coated as the shop I use just started using a high temp product

Stealthcruiser said:

Nice rig, and neat design!

Tell us how much you enjoy that powder coat smell after you put it into service, and it burns back to where it's cool enough to survive......

Click to expand...

Not my first rodeo doing this. First one burned back to about an inch from outer frame. You just have to burn it in first before the first brew day. Next one is going to thermo coated as the shop I use just started using a high temp product

love that stand design

Because life gets in the way sometimes. Finally got time to finish it. The only thing not pictured is the Blichman Therminator Chiller. Cycled water through a few times now to get flow set up. Now on to cleaning and brewing


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