Hello all! So, I'm stepping up to all-grain and of course I couldn't do it the easy way so I'm building a Brutus 10 setup. I'm "out of town" for at least another month, but my pop has the frame half welded together but at least tack welded, leveled and plumbed square as can be - he somehow fryed the circuit board on the welder haha. What I'm looking for from you guys is your thoughts and suggestions on the actual components as I plan on having them shipped and waiting for me about the time I get home. I would like to do something similar to Lonnie's original setup as I like the simplicity of it - just with some upgrades to the control panel for the RIMS (read arduino). So without further ado...
Kettles - spike brewing 20 gal (maybe 15 gal as 20 could be more capacity than I need at the moment). I have also looked at Midwests heavy duty kettles ($50 off for the time being) and the tall boys. Both come with thermos and valves, but I prefer the sanitary weld setup on spike over the Weldless bulkheads. Anyone else have thoughts or alternatives?
As a side note, what is the advantage of a hinged vs. solid false bottom?
Pumps - 2x stainless chuggers.
Valves - 3 piece NPTs
Tubing - bev tubes, I need some suggestions here and supporting arguments ��
Quick disconnects - the standard is what I was thinking, but right now Cams are on sale as well?
Controller - was planning on putting an arduino PID together that will control the burners just like the original with asco valves and pilot lights...I'm not ruling out the Love controller, I just feel like the arduino is more "expandable" if I want to add serious automation down the line.
Thermometers for controller - everything I've read on here sounds like one-wire is the way to go?
Chiller - plate chiller, haven't picked out a specific one, will a 60 plate be large enough? I know I can always run it longer - I'm not made of money either...although this component list might make it sound otherwise haha.
Burners are already purchased, my dad's got em, can't remember what they are though. Pretty sure they're banjo-ish though.
Anything else I've forgotten or you guys think would be a good upgrade while still maintaining the original "KISS" layout?
Thanks ahead of time for the input, and yes I know that a lot of this info is out there in other threads, I've probably read them - which is where these ideas have come from in large part - but I'm trying to consolidate and see if there's new info ��. Thanks again!
Oh, and here's the stand as of today...
Kettles - spike brewing 20 gal (maybe 15 gal as 20 could be more capacity than I need at the moment). I have also looked at Midwests heavy duty kettles ($50 off for the time being) and the tall boys. Both come with thermos and valves, but I prefer the sanitary weld setup on spike over the Weldless bulkheads. Anyone else have thoughts or alternatives?
As a side note, what is the advantage of a hinged vs. solid false bottom?
Pumps - 2x stainless chuggers.
Valves - 3 piece NPTs
Tubing - bev tubes, I need some suggestions here and supporting arguments ��
Quick disconnects - the standard is what I was thinking, but right now Cams are on sale as well?
Controller - was planning on putting an arduino PID together that will control the burners just like the original with asco valves and pilot lights...I'm not ruling out the Love controller, I just feel like the arduino is more "expandable" if I want to add serious automation down the line.
Thermometers for controller - everything I've read on here sounds like one-wire is the way to go?
Chiller - plate chiller, haven't picked out a specific one, will a 60 plate be large enough? I know I can always run it longer - I'm not made of money either...although this component list might make it sound otherwise haha.
Burners are already purchased, my dad's got em, can't remember what they are though. Pretty sure they're banjo-ish though.
Anything else I've forgotten or you guys think would be a good upgrade while still maintaining the original "KISS" layout?
Thanks ahead of time for the input, and yes I know that a lot of this info is out there in other threads, I've probably read them - which is where these ideas have come from in large part - but I'm trying to consolidate and see if there's new info ��. Thanks again!
Oh, and here's the stand as of today...
. I'm waiting on my Stout kettles. I left 6 inches between, hope that's enough.
