I'm looking for reviews of the Spike Solo 240v system from those that have it.
Hey! I resemble that remark!
I'm looking to getting one and am curious of real-world reviews - not the ones you can find on Youtube where seemingly everything looks great or is only minor annoyances.
I did an unboxing video on mine... had some things not right fresh out of the box. Temp probe missing screws and not fitting the gaskets supplied. Grommet on cable ends not properly seated. I call them minor issues because I had the stuff to fix it really quick.
I've since put in 6 brews spread across the range the Solo can handle... 10 gallon 1.086 OG, 10 gallon 1.034 OG, 5 gallon 1.060 OG, etc...
For reference I brew outside on a grainfather right now - I still would brew outside with the Solo, I already have an Immersion Chiller and pump that I assume I could use.
You will need a nice long extension cord with L14-30 ends, as the L14-30 / 14-30P cord that comes with the Solo is only a few feet long. Your chiller and pump can still be used, just keep in mind that Spike uses the ball-lock style quick disconnects on all tubes. Up to you what fittings to use on your pump.
So yeah I'm looking for reviews from those that have one...How is it not having the bluetooth controller (I brew remotely - like I'm inside - frequently)
I like the industrial-style controls. Nothing like a nice solid "click" when you turn a switch. The PID is accurate, but different than the AuberIns PID I was using before, so I had a learning curve getting used to the button to navigate through settings.
Many Solo users (myself included) have had issues with overrunning the mash and scorching the element. I *think* I've gotten that sorted out now, but would need another couple brew days to be confident in leaving it alone for more than 10 minutes. I didn't like the floating-tube recirculation system, so I swapped that for a loc-line setup from my old rig. I had a couple issues with overrunning the mash, so I set up my blichmann autosparge to prevent that. Last batch I used mash enzymes (Ultraflow Max) to prevent the mash from getting stuck during recirc and had great results with that.
how's the no-sparge effeciency
I've seen as low as 68% and as high as 75%. I'm trying to break down the 75% wall. I have figured out a way to do a partigyle and get a much better overall efficiency. I've been running 90 minute boils with a condenser, so my boil off rate is lower than what you'd have brewing outside though.
Fairly heavy, but I can lift the entire kettle/basket assembly with one arm when dry. When pulling the basket, don't hurt yourself trying to do it manually alone. Either have someone to help you, or use a hoist. It takes a while for the wort on top of/in the mash to drain through the grain bed. You are talking the weight of the basket, the grain, the wort, and the absorbed wort. On the high end, even completely drained, you are talking 40lbs of grain and ~3 gallons (~25lbs) of liquid on top of ~15lbs of basket... that's ~80lbs of 168* equipment... when fully drained. Initial lift is easily 100lbs.
Then again, that's for a max-load of 40lbs of grain.
The Solo+ is all tri-clamp fittings on the kettle and basket. Super easy to tear down and clean. If brewing outside you should be able to knock cleaning out in 30 minutes or less with a hose and a brush.
One concern a lot of people have with the Solo system is grain matter in the boil. Unlike a bag system, the Solo has a regular false bottom on the basket, so you don't want to "double crush"... use a regular crush and you'll be fine. I don't seem to have much in the boil myself, and I take care to manage mash pH, so even if I did have husks in the boil, I'm not worried about tannins. I get brilliantly clear beer out of my taps with it too.