Anyone using PLC's?

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There are some sweet electric brew rigs that people are posting up on these forums. One thing I have not seen a lot of though are PLCs. Has anyone played around with using PLCs in their brew rigs?

I am currently building my rig with an automation direct DL06 PLC. I will post some pictures and how to's when I am done. In the mean time though I would be interested to hear what other peoples experiences have been with using PLC's or other programable controllers.

Cheers,

-T
 
I don't have an all grain set-up yet, but when I do build mine I'd like to use a PLC to control it.

I am thinking of using a Modicon Momentum, or possibly an AB Micrologic.

I believe using PLC's would be far better then using single loop controllers.

JMHO
 
I built mine with an AB SLC500 that was given to me. I actually just did my wet test today and will be brewing for the first time tomorrow. I'll be posting the pics shortly...I'll link to the thread when I'm done.

A PLC is overkill (if you ask me) but when it's free and is what you do for a living if kinda makes sense...

EDIT: here's the link https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f170/sobs-plc-erig-228366/#post2684943
 
I am running Opto 22 PLC hardware with a custom .Net application that manages the brew process from recipe to fermenter for a steam injection RIMS system. The hardware has grown to about 40 analog and 32 digital points, with more planned to support auto measure malt system.
 
I am running Opto 22 PLC hardware with a custom .Net application that manages the brew process from recipe to fermenter for a steam injection RIMS system. The hardware has grown to about 40 analog and 32 digital points, with more planned to support auto measure malt system.

PICs\Info please! This sounds pretty awesome... :rockin:
 
Here is the current system schematic https://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.ladue/AutomaticMaltSystem#5526188834702655394.
Here are some of the hardware schematicshttps://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.ladue/Schematics#
and a picture of the first panel https://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.ladue/Phase2BrewingPanel#5134053722278984738
The second panel with the touch screen PC and other boards https://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.ladue/Panels#5339967138764297570
and an older picture that is a couple revisions behind https://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.ladue/CoolingSystem#5248653726957372914
This was designed and built to operate indoors with vented combustion and only take up 4' X 8' of floor space.
 
Here is the current system schematic https://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.ladue/AutomaticMaltSystem#5526188834702655394.
Here are some of the hardware schematicshttps://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.ladue/Schematics#
and a picture of the first panel https://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.ladue/Phase2BrewingPanel#5134053722278984738
The second panel with the touch screen PC and other boards https://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.ladue/Panels#5339967138764297570
and an older picture that is a couple revisions behind https://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.ladue/CoolingSystem#5248653726957372914
This was designed and built to operate indoors with vented combustion and only take up 4' X 8' of floor space.

That is a bad ass looking set up! So how much of the process have you successfully automated? Looking at some of your diagrams and the auto feed hoppers it looks like all you need in order to brew is a web connection. Nice work!

-T
 
The auto feed hoppers have not been built yet, a prototype feeder has been built and tested, just have not built 8 chamber hopper yet. The rest of the automation is built and tested. To operate you do the recipe on the touch screen, add malt to hopper, hang hop bags, connect fermenter, touch auto run icon and walk away, all the water amounts were automatically calculated, and times were set in the recipe build. Other than a test batch to verify operation it has been idle while I work in Arizona and continue to improve the control application and add features.
 
The brewing system represents 1-1/2 years design and purchase of components, 6 months to fabricate, wire, and test, and over 2500 hours in the software write and test phase. As a home brewing system it is insanely expensive to build with new components, with control components and hardware purchased off Ebay over a year+ it was still a bit of cash.
The system is basically an R&D unit which lets me solve the engineering issues on a small scale so a larger scale system could be built that offers the brewing flexibility, control, and safety no other system can match. The end goal is to have a system that can be operated by a novice and still produce a quality product safely and repeatably, while meeting all the code requirements in design and assembly so it can be legally sold.
 
The brewing system represents 1-1/2 years design and purchase of components, 6 months to fabricate, wire, and test, and over 2500 hours in the software write and test phase. As a home brewing system it is insanely expensive to build with new components, with control components and hardware purchased off Ebay over a year+ it was still a bit of cash.
The system is basically an R&D unit which lets me solve the engineering issues on a small scale so a larger scale system could be built that offers the brewing flexibility, control, and safety no other system can match. The end goal is to have a system that can be operated by a novice and still produce a quality product safely and repeatably, while meeting all the code requirements in design and assembly so it can be legally sold.

That is a rather large undertaking. I am guessing you have an engineering background of some sorts?

What is your target market for this product when you finish? Are you going to make this available to home brewers, or by larger did you mean more on the microbrewery scale?
 
I am using two DL06, one 05 and some Siemens PLC's.


Cheers,
ClaudiusB

Claudius I would love to hear more about your set up. Pics would be great if your willing. I am using a single DL06 and I believe it has about 20 I/O. If you are using two.. you must have some serious automation going on! :rockin:
 
Claudius I would love to hear more about your set up. Pics would be great if your willing.

The first DL06 with a 05 slave (not pictured) is used for the brewery.
PLC is on page #6
http://s238.photobucket.com/albums/ff156/ClaudiusB/Brewery/

If you are using a display the DL06 is easy to interface.
http://s238.photobucket.com/albums/ff156/ClaudiusB/Brewing for dummies/

The second DL06 is used for the grain processing system (always under construction), the process could be incorporated into the first PLC.
http://s238.photobucket.com/albums/ff156/ClaudiusB/Automatic Grain Dispensing/

I am using a single DL06 and I believe it has about 20 I/O.
Base unit has 20 inputs and 16 outputs plus four additional I/O slots and is expandable if needed.

Cheers,
ClaudiusB
 
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