Wow! I can't believe I read the whole thing!! Even after taking lots of notes and saving lots of links I have a question.
I plan to use a single stage controller to control a hot plate that will heat my BIAB sparge water. I want this water to be 168F. Where do I put the sensor? I will be heating a simple 4 gallon pot. I just want to be able to set and forget so when sparge time comes I have the water at the correct temp.
I like the bling factor of the boxes many of you have built, and I will probably replace my digital Johnson controller with a dual stage STC-1000, and perhaps also my keezer analog Johnson controller with a single stage.
A couple of thoughts for those looking for ways to do stuff cheaply:
- You can buy solid wire of any gauge at any hardware, either romex style or single strands. Easy to work with and cheap.
- Almost anything can work as a heat source. I have used an old, cracked soldering iron which worked quite well. But a fan is a real helper with a heat source.
- If you want to use a 12V DC fan, it isn't that hard to build a power source that you could fit in one of the larger size project boxes. I am sure if you Google it, you can find dozens of schematics to do it. Of course, a good 12V wall wort works fine. I have a 12V, but the amperage is not high enough to run the fan.
- There is a product called Sugru which looks like it would have a lot of uses. It comes in small packs, and when first opened is pliable much like Play-Doh. When left overnight, it loses its pliability, but stays flexible. It is temperature "rated" well over 212F and well under 32F. It is said to be non-toxic. It sticks to most anything when pliable. It looks like it can hold barrier strips well, and can do a great job for cord strain relief. I have some on order (they had a 2 for 1 sale when I ordered) from the manufacturer at
Sugru.com. I have no affiliation or first hand experience with it (yet).
Thanks to everyone who added to this humongous thread. The technical information and the pictures of builds have been a great help and inspiration.