mrfurlly: as you said, these work fine for primary fermentation. During the first week there is so much CO2 coming out it doesn't matter that it isn't sealed. If we left it in this for longer than a week maybe there would be oxidation, but I always transfer to a glass carboy.
Usually I get...
That is really cool.
The only thing that could make it better would be to set up a latch that is triggered by a secret book... that only you know the name of.
Its pretty good. Tastes like a lighter, slightly more bitter verson of the pale ale.
Which ones have you done, and which was your favorite?
Edit: I guess I could have just looked under your post with whats in your keg.
$38 is too much. I get mine for 10 bucks less. That being said, these are good super easy kits. I have done the pale ale, pilsner and american premium lager is in the 2ndary right now.
If its a transparent rocker, it is probably a neon spdt dwitch. I would assume 2 is the common and 1 and 3 are the switched. I think the light will come on when switched toward the "+/-" side.
If you dont already have a multimeter.. buy one. You shouldnt be doing any sort of wiring without...
For a linear supply, this is true.
If it is a switching supply (which more and more supplies are these days) there will be a minimum load requirement, and surely 250mA will not meet it on a 50A supply. Some have built in protection though.
Some water bottles will work fine. Just make sure they resemble pop bottles are are not the cheap flimsy kind.
The critical part is the bottom, it will pop out and make your beer jump off the shelf if it is not the soda style 5 pointed thing (I speak from experience, that was quite the shock...
I'm not sure if its been mentioned, but that switch has two LED's in it. Just reverse polarity for a different colour. Could get a little tricky if you want to light both LED's at different positions. I would suggest only using the green one for ON.
Its easy to find the resistor value. ( Vsource - LEDVoltage) / LED current
8ma = 0.008A
( 12V - 1.9V ) / .008A = 1.262k
Anything around there will work.
Make sure to put a good lock on the door. The last thing you want is the neighbourhood delinquents to get wind of a bunch of beer locked up in a lonely shed in your backyard. Maybe a beer alarm...