camiller

Recipes 

I'm planning my next build around an old DVD player, also considered an old retired directTV box. In both cases I'm contemplating hacking the power supply part of the system board that converts AC 115v to DC 12v (and other voltages) to drive the fan (assuming the PS isn't what died in the thing). The old DVD player in particular, the drive unit in it is actually a computer IDE drive so I know there is 12v available in there.

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In Nebraska? Nebraska Brewers Group
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My ridiculously easy stir plate build ✵ My Kegerator

Anthony_Lopez

Recipes 

I may also just get a lab stir plate so I can have heat on it as well... I'm going to talk to the head of chemistry at my school to see if he'll sell me one when they replace theirs... If he gives me a good price I might buy them out and sell em on here...

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I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy.
--Tom Waits

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.
--Frank Zappa

My Cheap and Easy Stirplate

jtkratzer

Recipes 

I've been running mine with just water so far trying to figure out how much to crank the pot without throwing the bar. It seems it can go for 10-15 minutes or so at just about any speed and then get tossed. It does not do well with really low speeds and seems fine cranked all the way up, but like I said, it can randomly get thrown. I'm hoping the thicker viscosity of the wort will make it more stable.

I'm using three hard drive magnets stacked on top of each other. I've tried as centered as I can get it and right now, I have it off to the side so the vortex never stays intact to disrupt the stir bar. I'm noticing that pockets of air get pulled down regularly to the bar and then get smashed by the bar throwing lots of bubbles all over, which is probably the desired effect rather than just a smooth vortex swirling in the middle. It's a little noisier as the stir bar seems to be rattling around a bit, but the swirling also seems to keep the vortex from messing with it too much.

The only size the local shops had were 1". Should I try a bigger stir bar from somewhere online? How fast are you guys spinning the bar?

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Drinking:
English Pale Ale, Kölsch, Summer Delight, Apfelwein (Montrachet), Apfelwein (Côte des Blancs), Christmas Beer (bottled Nov 2010), Franziskaner clone

Conditioning:
Wildflower Wheat (weird taste, not sure if this can be salvaged)

Fermenting:
Empty

Dual Stage Fermentation Chamber Build

My e-Brew Magic HERMS build

Homercidal

Recipes 

In my experience, thicker wort makes it less stable. Having the magnet centered is critical, as well as having a strong magnet, and getting the stirbar as close to it as possible.

jdoiv

Recipes 

Ok, I decided to build a stir plate station. I'm going to have 3 separate stirs on one box. Got the box built, the wiring sorted, but now comes the big quesiton. Power? I want to just have one plug to power three fans. Would one 12V power adapter work? Or should I go bigger?

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Drinking on the keg: BPA, Brown Ale, Dry Mead, Wee Heavy aged on Oak, CAP
Drinking in the Bottle:
Conditioning:
Fermenting:
Planning:

camiller

Recipes 

Amperage is what you are asking about not voltage. A typical 80mm case fan will pull maybe 0.25 amps or less though I have seen some as high as 0.5 amps. Your typical used cell phone charger can probably push 0.5 amps, newer "smart" phones usually have better chargers due to higher power requirements, commonly 1 amp or so, but the newer iPhone/iPad chargers can crank out 2 amps (albeit at 5v not 12v). As long as the 12v adapter can supply as much as the sum total of the fans draw, plus any loss in your speed control circuit plus if your adding any fancy schmancy LED lighting add that as well, you will be OK.

Edit: An old (or new) laptop power brick would work easy. her is one with 5A @ 12v http://www.mini-box.com/60w-12v-5A-AC-DC-Power-Adapter

Edit2: here is a 12v 2A adapter: http://www.mini-box.com/24w-12v-2A-AC-DC-Power-Adapter?sc=8&category=980

Edit3 (final): Or you go full out and mount an open frame power supply in your enclosure (such as this http://www.trcelectronics.com/Meanwell/ps-25-12.shtml ) but you will also need to mount a AC socket or power cord on the outside of your enclosure.

You have lots of options.

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In Nebraska? Nebraska Brewers Group
My Club OmaHops Homebrew Club

Put yourself on the Homebrewers Map see the forum thread

My ridiculously easy stir plate build ✵ My Kegerator

jdoiv

Recipes 

Thanks camiller. That is what I needed to know.

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Drinking on the keg: BPA, Brown Ale, Dry Mead, Wee Heavy aged on Oak, CAP
Drinking in the Bottle:
Conditioning:
Fermenting:
Planning:

Flomaster

Recipes 

go to your local, Good Will, Habitat , pawn shop and look for the box of discarded power supplies for cheap. I picked up a 12V and 18V from good will for 1.99 each.

-=Jason=-

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Flomaster's Dual Tower Keezer Build

camiller

Recipes 

If you can get one that has enough power for three fans sure, go for it.

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In Nebraska? Nebraska Brewers Group
My Club OmaHops Homebrew Club

Put yourself on the Homebrewers Map see the forum thread

My ridiculously easy stir plate build ✵ My Kegerator

jdoiv

Recipes 

Just went through a box in my attic. Nothing I have has the amperage I'll need. Looks like I'll order online.

edit: Fans say 12V .18A I'm thinking I need at least 6A with the resistance of the speed control. Does that sound right?

__________________
Drinking on the keg: BPA, Brown Ale, Dry Mead, Wee Heavy aged on Oak, CAP
Drinking in the Bottle:
Conditioning:
Fermenting:
Planning: