ryanryates
Well-Known Member
OK, so I've been in the process of upgrading my system for the last two years - thanks to the HBT community for all of the ideas along the way.
Before I get to the new panel build, some background: After 16 years of brewing on my converted keggles I got the thumbs up from the bank (wife) to purchase some new stainless. I went with 20 gallon vessels from Stout Tanks for a full half barrel HERMS system.
The stand is a BRUTUS type clone with integrated LP gas plumbing firing three BG-14 burners through automated honeywell gas valves. The panel shown in the picture is my previous control system. It has since been parted out and sold.
OK, onto the panel build. The initial idea behind the design was to develop a high tech control panel with an integrated LCD touch screen. The panel would be able to control my current gas fired brewery with the ability to easily convert to all electric at some future point in time (the Stout Tanks are fully ready for electric elements).
Thanks to Ryan at ebrewsupply and Curtis (et al) at Brewers Hardware for their help and for taking my money and giving me advice along the way.
In addition to the basic parts and electrical components used in Kal-based or BCS control panels, I decided to include a 10.2" touch screen on the panel. I have a Raspberry Pi box that will run either Raspbian or an Ubuntu Mate OS. The BCS-462 will be the brains of the brewery. The RPi is really just a means of providing an internet browser on the touchscreen to access the BCS front end.
All parts are in except for the touch screen panel. The first panel (from China) was damaged during shipping. I am eagerly awaiting the replacement.
This weekend I began measuring, re-measuring, and then cutting holes in the new control panel box. The box is a 400x400x200mm NEMA box. Pictures will be in the next post.
Before I get to the new panel build, some background: After 16 years of brewing on my converted keggles I got the thumbs up from the bank (wife) to purchase some new stainless. I went with 20 gallon vessels from Stout Tanks for a full half barrel HERMS system.
The stand is a BRUTUS type clone with integrated LP gas plumbing firing three BG-14 burners through automated honeywell gas valves. The panel shown in the picture is my previous control system. It has since been parted out and sold.
OK, onto the panel build. The initial idea behind the design was to develop a high tech control panel with an integrated LCD touch screen. The panel would be able to control my current gas fired brewery with the ability to easily convert to all electric at some future point in time (the Stout Tanks are fully ready for electric elements).
Thanks to Ryan at ebrewsupply and Curtis (et al) at Brewers Hardware for their help and for taking my money and giving me advice along the way.
In addition to the basic parts and electrical components used in Kal-based or BCS control panels, I decided to include a 10.2" touch screen on the panel. I have a Raspberry Pi box that will run either Raspbian or an Ubuntu Mate OS. The BCS-462 will be the brains of the brewery. The RPi is really just a means of providing an internet browser on the touchscreen to access the BCS front end.
All parts are in except for the touch screen panel. The first panel (from China) was damaged during shipping. I am eagerly awaiting the replacement.
This weekend I began measuring, re-measuring, and then cutting holes in the new control panel box. The box is a 400x400x200mm NEMA box. Pictures will be in the next post.