There are so many ideas and sources of inspiration floating around these forums, I decided I should share my journey over the past few months...
Have a condo in the city (Chicago) without a dedicated space for the brewery (but we do have a patio). I started running all propane but struggled with temp control given lack of a controller and no permanent stand to configure something more automated.
Without a 220v outlet to go all electric (or one that could be cheaply installed), I decided I needed a hybrid setup that can be put up and broken down for storage relatively quickly (the wife isn't a big fan of brewing equipment as home decor).
After spending months designing the stand, I considered full scale welded, modular, foldable, strut weldless, etc. I drafted 3 or 4 near final designs and parts lists each running me $250-400+. After strolling through Orange/Blue, I came across a $19 black steel shelf with decent weight capacity and configurable positioning that gave me the inspiration:
120v RIMS stand that I can bolt everything to and leave the HLT and BK powered by their KAB6 burners independently.
Integrating 2 pumps, a RIMS tube, and temperature probes for all vessels into a DIY RPi controller running CraftBeerPi accessible over Wifi and an old iPad 1, you have a semi-automated kit with flexibility to reconfigure and expand in the future (and one that can be stored away to keep the Mrs happy).
The benefit of having the control panel, BeerSmith, my brewing calculators, and HBT (of course!) all accessible in the same interface made the maiden brew day this weekend super enjoyable.
And the whole kit can be stashed away in the closet (minus propane tanks, of course!).
Cheers!
Metzen
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Have a condo in the city (Chicago) without a dedicated space for the brewery (but we do have a patio). I started running all propane but struggled with temp control given lack of a controller and no permanent stand to configure something more automated.
Without a 220v outlet to go all electric (or one that could be cheaply installed), I decided I needed a hybrid setup that can be put up and broken down for storage relatively quickly (the wife isn't a big fan of brewing equipment as home decor).
After spending months designing the stand, I considered full scale welded, modular, foldable, strut weldless, etc. I drafted 3 or 4 near final designs and parts lists each running me $250-400+. After strolling through Orange/Blue, I came across a $19 black steel shelf with decent weight capacity and configurable positioning that gave me the inspiration:
120v RIMS stand that I can bolt everything to and leave the HLT and BK powered by their KAB6 burners independently.
Integrating 2 pumps, a RIMS tube, and temperature probes for all vessels into a DIY RPi controller running CraftBeerPi accessible over Wifi and an old iPad 1, you have a semi-automated kit with flexibility to reconfigure and expand in the future (and one that can be stored away to keep the Mrs happy).
The benefit of having the control panel, BeerSmith, my brewing calculators, and HBT (of course!) all accessible in the same interface made the maiden brew day this weekend super enjoyable.
And the whole kit can be stashed away in the closet (minus propane tanks, of course!).
Cheers!
Metzen
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1487734893.263669.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1487735007.071722.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1487735062.142407.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1487735086.594312.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1487735116.351885.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1487735337.785780.jpg