240V 30A HLT and BK with 120V 20A RIMS running BCS-460

Hi All
First off than you so much for all of the support you all provide to these forums.

Right now I am in the process of going electric. I have a "2 1/2 Tier Stand" (HLT below the MLT, with the BK on a mid-point tier next to them). One pump will feed the strike, recirculation, and sparge, while gravity will deliver the wort to the BK.

I am leaning towards going with BCS to control the whole system and most recently am leaning towards a RIMS tube to maintain mash temp.

I have access to a GFCI protected 240V 30A feed as well as multiple GFCI protected 120V 20A feeds. What I am wondering is if I can use the 30A feed for the HLT and BK (with coil contactors and switched per P-J's diagrams to ensure only one is in use at any given time) and use a 120V 20A feed to run a smaller element for the RIMS tube as well as power the BCS. Basically a control panel (or two separate but connected CP's) with two feeds in.

If such a setup is feasible I am thinking it will give me a bit more flexablity to do back to back (I know it will be slower) as well as allow me to not have to worry about the temp loss in the HLT after moving the strike water to the MLT and then adding in the additional sparge water that some face with HERMS.

I have a 25' 3/8 copper IC that I was going to repurpose for HERMS but given that is probably on the small side of what is needed I am thinking spending the few extra bucks on a RIMS system might give me the flexibility I need.

Any thoughts on the feasibility of this setup are really appreciated.


Thanks
Tom

There should be no problem with multiple power feeds, but I would recommend that they each go to a separate control panel. I'm not comfortable with multiple power sources going into one panel. I would rather see one panel with the RIMS and pump control containing it's own SSR's @ 120v feed, possibly containing the BCS also. A second panel containing the SSR's and power contactors etc. for the HLT and boil kettle. Connect them together with low voltage wiring only.

I have a 30A 240VAC feed into my toolbox controller. I have a switch that ensures that the two 5500W elements can't be on at the same time. I have 1 PID controlling both; the switch switches control signals and thermocouple signals. It's worked great for over 50 batches.

ChuckO said:

There should be no problem with multiple power feeds, but I would recommend that they each go to a separate control panel. I'm not comfortable with multiple power sources going into one panel. I would rather see one panel with the RIMS and pump control containing it's own SSR's @ 120v feed, possibly containing the BCS also. A second panel containing the SSR's and power contactors etc. for the HLT and boil kettle. Connect them together with low voltage wiring only.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the thoughts. I was figuring that two boxes was probably the safest way to go but would certainly rather do it in one. Is here any reason beyond the potential for a wiring cross not to do it all in one. I know the ground terminal could be shared.

Has anyone seen anyone seen any wiring diagrams showing such a setup.

Thanks

Ultimately, a single feed to your contol panel is best. When you build your own system, you know how it is put together and its limitations. How many of us walk away from our brewery going full bore? It is a supervised system. If something goes wrong, we will likely know about it immediately if not sooner

Go HERMS IMO. I'm one sided but it just works so well for me...

So I was all set to go HERMS and then came across a couple of issues I thought this build might address.

1). Loss of Temp in the HLT after moving strike water to MLT and then adding in enough sparge water.

2). Right now I have a only have 25' 3/8 copper IC to use for the HEX.

3). A RIMS tube running off a separate feed would allow me to use the tube to start heating strike water for a second batch during the boil on the first.

Tom_FL said:

So I was all set to go HERMS and then came across a couple of issues I thought this build might address.

1). Loss of Temp in the HLT after moving strike water to MLT and then adding in enough sparge water.

2). Right now I have a only have 25' 3/8 copper IC to use for the HEX.

3). A RIMS tube running off a separate feed would allow me to use the tube to start heating strike water for a second batch during the boil on the first.

Click to expand...

1) It depends on the size of your HLT. I heat 14 gallons to mash-in temp. I mash in with about 9 and the remainder tempers my refill so it reheats pretty quickly for circulation and sparge.

2) I have 50' copper 3/8 HEX coil. It is SO efficient. If scrap prices go up again, I may cut it in half and sell the rest.

3) No comment. I know and like HERMS...no offense RIMS guys

Thanks for the thoughts. I pulled the trigger on going RIMS with a good deal on a TC Tube in the classifieds.

Now I just need to figure out the best way to wire it together with the 120 RIMS and 240 HLT/BK

Thanks

Any other thoughts out there on this?

If I decide to go with one box, I would just treat the 120V/20a as Line 3, with it's own neutral bus to prevent overloading the the same gauge wires. Any reason both circuits can't share the same ground block? No problem keeping them separate if folks think that is best.

Tom_FL said:

Any other thoughts out there on this?

If I decide to go with one box, I would just treat the 120V/20a as Line 3, with it's own neutral bus to prevent overloading the the same gauge wires. Any reason both circuits can't share the same ground block? No problem keeping them separate if folks think that is best.

Click to expand...

The neutrals must stay separated. Bonding the enclosure and all ground wires that enter is the proper method.

Thanks that is what I thought.

By bonding the grounds together, isn't there a chance that a 30amp short could go down the 12 gauge ground wire (part of the 120v 20amp side)?

Chugmaster said:

By bonding the grounds together, isn't there a chance that a 30amp short could go down the 12 gauge ground wire (part of the 120v 20amp side)?

Click to expand...

It could and probably would but no harm can come of it. Equipment ground only carrys fault current. You basicially just end up with a more substantial equipment ground conductor.

Tom_FL said:

I have access to a GFCI protected 240V 30A feed as well as multiple GFCI protected 120V 20A feeds. What I am wondering is if I can use the 30A feed for the HLT and BK (with coil contactors and switched per P-J's diagrams to ensure only one is in use at any given time) and use a 120V 20A feed to run a smaller element for the RIMS tube as well as power the BCS. Basically a control panel (or two separate but connected CP's) with two feeds in.

If such a setup is feasible I am thinking it will give me a bit more flexablity to do back to back (I know it will be slower) as well as allow me to not have to worry about the temp loss in the HLT after moving the strike water to the MLT and then adding in the additional sparge water that some face with HERMS.

Tom

Click to expand...

Tom,
I was wondering why you would not want to split 240V inside a _single_ control panel to power up your BK/HLT with 240V and RIMS with 120V?
Do you have 3-wire 240V line with no neutral?
Or do you want to build two separate panels for back-to-back brewing?