LordUlrich
Well-Known Member
I am attempting to build an electric rims system for my mash. My design goals are:
• Use as much of my existing equipment as possible (I like my mash tun , rectangular Colman cooler)
• Be as compact and portable as possible (so I can take it with me and brew off site, I drive a Malibu)
• Use 120v – I will most likely be moving in less than a year, but for now I have two 20A GFI circuits I can dedicate while mashing (they are in the same box, so no need to run extension cords) I also have another 20A circuit with basically noting in it
I would prefer to be able to heat my hot water “on-demand” and therefore eliminating my HLT (both space and more equipment.
Here are my designs thus far:
My original design:
The long horizontal tube contains 2 heater elements (one from each end), I plan to have one on a controller, and the 2nd is on a switch (it is an auxiliary to make steps faster and for heating sparge water)
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lO6JBtrTI4ohy6fOAFa3_s3Algp7tE9mWtxGXviFfwE?feat=directlink
My preferred design:
I think the pump will run better, and I won’t need to have as much fluid in the mash tun to keep head on the pump, but it will make step mashing harder as I cannot use the “Auxiliary” element for heating the mash
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9H1nPbpRkp1GFa5WdOKPSs3Algp7tE9mWtxGXviFfwE?feat=directlink
Based on my calculations (using a spreadsheet I found in this forum) I should be able to get sparge water at just less than 1qt per minute up to 170 F (.87 qt/min using 2 2000w element, or .75 qt/min using a 2000w and a 1500w).
This is too close for my likeing (perhaps the engineer in me) I would like to be able to find a way to improve the heating power just a little bit. Any ideas?
On the other side of design, I am considering using either a Love TS2 temperature controller or an Auber PID (the little one). I vaguely understand the difference, but is there a real difference from a practical standpoint. What I see as differences is
Love:
• Simple concept (if temp is low, turn on heat, when it gets to set point, turn off)
• Built in relay (no SSR as long as I use a 1500 w element)
• Probe/thermowell is cheaper(almost half the price)
Auber:
• Contains logic to prevent overshooting the set temp (is this really a big difference when dealing with the thermal masses involved?)
• Output is just a control, and a SSR with heat sink will be needed
Am I missing something here? Or are they essentaly the same except the need for a SSR (for this situation).
• Use as much of my existing equipment as possible (I like my mash tun , rectangular Colman cooler)
• Be as compact and portable as possible (so I can take it with me and brew off site, I drive a Malibu)
• Use 120v – I will most likely be moving in less than a year, but for now I have two 20A GFI circuits I can dedicate while mashing (they are in the same box, so no need to run extension cords) I also have another 20A circuit with basically noting in it
I would prefer to be able to heat my hot water “on-demand” and therefore eliminating my HLT (both space and more equipment.
Here are my designs thus far:
My original design:
The long horizontal tube contains 2 heater elements (one from each end), I plan to have one on a controller, and the 2nd is on a switch (it is an auxiliary to make steps faster and for heating sparge water)
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lO6JBtrTI4ohy6fOAFa3_s3Algp7tE9mWtxGXviFfwE?feat=directlink
My preferred design:
I think the pump will run better, and I won’t need to have as much fluid in the mash tun to keep head on the pump, but it will make step mashing harder as I cannot use the “Auxiliary” element for heating the mash
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9H1nPbpRkp1GFa5WdOKPSs3Algp7tE9mWtxGXviFfwE?feat=directlink
Based on my calculations (using a spreadsheet I found in this forum) I should be able to get sparge water at just less than 1qt per minute up to 170 F (.87 qt/min using 2 2000w element, or .75 qt/min using a 2000w and a 1500w).
This is too close for my likeing (perhaps the engineer in me) I would like to be able to find a way to improve the heating power just a little bit. Any ideas?
On the other side of design, I am considering using either a Love TS2 temperature controller or an Auber PID (the little one). I vaguely understand the difference, but is there a real difference from a practical standpoint. What I see as differences is
Love:
• Simple concept (if temp is low, turn on heat, when it gets to set point, turn off)
• Built in relay (no SSR as long as I use a 1500 w element)
• Probe/thermowell is cheaper(almost half the price)
Auber:
• Contains logic to prevent overshooting the set temp (is this really a big difference when dealing with the thermal masses involved?)
• Output is just a control, and a SSR with heat sink will be needed
Am I missing something here? Or are they essentaly the same except the need for a SSR (for this situation).