mrbeachroach
Well-Known Member
Iv seen some units advertised but still have no idea what any of this means
I've done exactly this. I've used Kal's information to electrify one kettle with one sensor. I controlled it with one PID and SSR. I used it as a HLT, moving the water from there into an IGLOO MLT, and draining the MLT into a better bottle while I sparge. Once the HLT was empty of all the sparge water, I put the wort from the better bottle in and used it as a BK. It's an inexpensive way to start, to get most of the benefits of electric brewing for closer to a couple of hundred dollars.
From there, when time and money permit, you can make another kettle, and create a real HLT, with HERMS. You can still use the same PID and SSR to control it, since you don't have to heat the HLT and the BK at the same time. Given even more money, you can add another PID and SSR and control them independently. Add a pump or two if/when you can afford it.
Building an incremental system takes some creativity and planning, but it's not all that hard. Kal's information is invaluable and a great set of tools to build from.
I get asked this all the time. "How can I build this in a staged approach". It can be done but would most likely cost considerly more than just saving up your money and doing it once.but how about some tips for building a brew-as-you-go budget e-brewery? from the ground up, a little bit at a time. Not really scrimping/going cheap on parts, but something you can build over time, but still be able to use to brew a batch every month or so.
budget $50-100 a month, plus once-a-year big purchases with Christmas bonus/tax refunds
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