Island_Dan
Well-Known Member
Hey all,
I have wanted to move to all electric brewing since I first started home brewing in October 2014 but money constraints has always kept me from making the jump. I always kept my eye on the grainfather and the unibrau systems. I was excited when the brewers edge mash and boil hit the market at the low price of $299 and pulled the trigger recently and purchased one. I knew of the limitations of the unit but I liked the double wall construction and it seems like a great starting platform to modify it to what I needed it to be.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492488815.352527.jpg
Shortly after my first brew, I knew instantly that I couldn't live with the 6 degree hysteresis programmed into the control unit. I liked the grainfather controller and the ability to enter the sub menu and adjust the hysteresis. The timing was also perfect as the new grainfather connect just launched and many members are upgrading so I was able to pick up an older controller for a reasonable price.
I ended up removing the factory controller and rewiring the power cord directly to the heating elements, routing the 600 watt element through the wattage selector switch so the 1000 watt element can be isolated for mashing only.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492489256.949840.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492489277.036967.jpg
One of the bigger issues I came across was with the temp sensor for the grainfather controller. It fits into a proprietary thermowell that the mash and boil doesn't have. The temp sensor in the mash and boil was measured and is a 100k ohm NTC sensor and the grainfather's sensor is a 10K ohm NTC sensor. I managed to order a 10K sensor probe that I used to replace the sensor in the mash and boil. I had to drill out the 6mm hole to 8mm and sealed it in place with silicone gaskets.
I also had to figure out how to mount the grainfather controller to the mash and boil and hanging it from the handle seemed like the easiest choice. I designed a plate that the grainfather controller could bolt to and 3D printed it.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492489702.976932.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492489717.660139.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492489736.644360.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492489746.694961.jpg
I also hated the 1/2 - 1 gallon kettle loss with this unit so I added a flush mount bulkhead fitting with a pickup tube. I had to cut the inside basket to help it fit. I'm also trying to directly mount my pump to the ball valve. Not sure how well that will work but I will see after the first brew day with the new setup.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492490203.810455.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492490217.659116.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492490230.878010.jpg
It's almost all done but I am still trying to decide how I want to recirculate the mash. I used a soft tube resting on the grain bed before but may build a hard tube that I can drop in through the lid but can be disconnected from the pump with quick disconnects and removed easily. Still debating that one. I may also buy a grainfather connect for this setup once money allows. I water tested the unit today and it does work as designed. Rises to set temp and holds it there with a 1 degree hysteresis.
Anyway I dragged on long enough. Here is what it looks like all assembled so far.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492490266.227654.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492490283.696376.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492490292.897149.jpg
All criticisms and welcomed and any helpful ideas would be great! Hopefully this will help anyone wondering how to get around some of the limitations of the brewers edge mash and boil.
I have wanted to move to all electric brewing since I first started home brewing in October 2014 but money constraints has always kept me from making the jump. I always kept my eye on the grainfather and the unibrau systems. I was excited when the brewers edge mash and boil hit the market at the low price of $299 and pulled the trigger recently and purchased one. I knew of the limitations of the unit but I liked the double wall construction and it seems like a great starting platform to modify it to what I needed it to be.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492488815.352527.jpg
Shortly after my first brew, I knew instantly that I couldn't live with the 6 degree hysteresis programmed into the control unit. I liked the grainfather controller and the ability to enter the sub menu and adjust the hysteresis. The timing was also perfect as the new grainfather connect just launched and many members are upgrading so I was able to pick up an older controller for a reasonable price.
I ended up removing the factory controller and rewiring the power cord directly to the heating elements, routing the 600 watt element through the wattage selector switch so the 1000 watt element can be isolated for mashing only.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492489256.949840.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492489277.036967.jpg
One of the bigger issues I came across was with the temp sensor for the grainfather controller. It fits into a proprietary thermowell that the mash and boil doesn't have. The temp sensor in the mash and boil was measured and is a 100k ohm NTC sensor and the grainfather's sensor is a 10K ohm NTC sensor. I managed to order a 10K sensor probe that I used to replace the sensor in the mash and boil. I had to drill out the 6mm hole to 8mm and sealed it in place with silicone gaskets.
I also had to figure out how to mount the grainfather controller to the mash and boil and hanging it from the handle seemed like the easiest choice. I designed a plate that the grainfather controller could bolt to and 3D printed it.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492489702.976932.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492489717.660139.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492489736.644360.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492489746.694961.jpg
I also hated the 1/2 - 1 gallon kettle loss with this unit so I added a flush mount bulkhead fitting with a pickup tube. I had to cut the inside basket to help it fit. I'm also trying to directly mount my pump to the ball valve. Not sure how well that will work but I will see after the first brew day with the new setup.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492490203.810455.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492490217.659116.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492490230.878010.jpg
It's almost all done but I am still trying to decide how I want to recirculate the mash. I used a soft tube resting on the grain bed before but may build a hard tube that I can drop in through the lid but can be disconnected from the pump with quick disconnects and removed easily. Still debating that one. I may also buy a grainfather connect for this setup once money allows. I water tested the unit today and it does work as designed. Rises to set temp and holds it there with a 1 degree hysteresis.
Anyway I dragged on long enough. Here is what it looks like all assembled so far.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492490266.227654.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492490283.696376.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1492490292.897149.jpg
All criticisms and welcomed and any helpful ideas would be great! Hopefully this will help anyone wondering how to get around some of the limitations of the brewers edge mash and boil.