Hunter's Basement E-Brewery Build

hio3791 · Feb 13, 2014

hunter306 said:
The 1.1/4in Qmax punch worked awesome, I had no problems doing my two element cut outs with it. I oiled it up liberally before running it through the kettle wall, but I had no trouble otherwise. I'd highly recommend it.

Thank you Hunter. I am glad I came across your build. I nearly bought the Greenlee at a much higher price tag for just 1 hole. I would have listed it on eBay once done but this tool is cheaper than what I would lose in the resale.

Order placed. It's coming from across the pond so it'll take a while but that's ok. I am still gathering parts for my electric build.

Docbruw · Feb 13, 2014

hio3791 said:
Thank you Hunter. I am glad I came across your build. I nearly bought the Greenlee at a much higher price tag for just 1 hole. I would have listed it on eBay once done but this tool is cheaper than what I would lose in the resale.

Order placed. It's coming from across the pond so it'll take a while but that's ok. I am still gathering parts for my electric build.

I bought the QMax 7/8" punch and it worked great. I did take about 2-3 weeks to get here but as mentioned it's a lot less expensive.

IndyMcLovin · Feb 13, 2014

Subscribed. Great looking build!

sablesurfer · Feb 13, 2014

Wondering if somewhere around here ( https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/hunters-basement-e-brewery-build-447201/index13.html#post5830915) should be added to OP for the vent hood?

hunter306 · Feb 13, 2014

sablesurfer said:
Wondering if somewhere around here ( https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/hunters-basement-e-brewery-build-447201/index13.html#post5830915) should be added to OP for the vent hood?

Thanks for the link, I actually was trying to edit the original post, but it appears that it's been too long since I started the thread!

Not sure if someone can 'unlock' that or not, but I'd love to add indexes for all the major parts.

kona_dude · Feb 14, 2014

hio3791 said:
Thank you Hunter. I am glad I came across your build. I nearly bought the Greenlee at a much higher price tag for just 1 hole. I would have listed it on eBay once done but this tool is cheaper than what I would lose in the resale.

Order placed. It's coming from across the pond so it'll take a while but that's ok. I am still gathering parts for my electric build.

I also got one (1-1/4) and it took 2 wks and that was with a stop in WA since they wouldn't ship it to Hawaii. I had a relative forward it on to me. Even with the extra $5 for shipping way cheaper than a Greenlee.

Itsott · Feb 14, 2014

What size hole did you use for your power cord to go in?

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hunter306 · Feb 14, 2014

@Isott

I actually used the step bit for the hole that I drilled for the power cord. I can't recall the step size I took it down too off the top of my head, but I can try and get a measurement for you.

The Petra dryer cord came with a cable clamp and the proper mounting hole specifications in the instructions, so I followed those.

Itsott · Feb 14, 2014

Awesome. Appreciate the help. I gave you some praise in my build thread.

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hunter306 · Feb 16, 2014

Spent the afternoon finishing up the brewery! I'm at 99% complete, with the exception of the worth chiller hoses (which I'll be picking up this week). Finished building the MLT, closed up the element junction box on the HLT, and wired up the 120v for the fan and outlets on the brewery wall. Here are the latest glamor shots, ready for the pilot batch next Saturday!

Ttownbrewer · Feb 16, 2014

Bravo! Looking sharp! Congrats!

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Roadie · Feb 16, 2014

Congrats! Looks great.

Now that it's wired up does your vent fan dimmer work?

hunter306 · Feb 16, 2014

Roadie said:
Congrats! Looks great.

Now that it's wired up does your vent fan dimmer work?

Was about to send you a message. It absolutely DOES NOT work. If I turn it to high, it runs, 66% and 33% settings do not spin at all.

I'm switching it to a basic on-off switch, as even at maximum speed, the fan is barely audible in the kitchen above (which was my only immediate concern). I suspect something with the soft-start capacitor keeps the fan from running with a simple dimmer...

Roadie · Feb 17, 2014

hunter306 said:
Was about to send you a message. It absolutely DOES NOT work. If I turn it to high, it runs, 66% and 33% settings do not spin at all.

I'm switching it to a basic on-off switch, as even at maximum speed, the fan is barely audible in the kitchen above (which was my only immediate concern). I suspect something with the soft-start capacitor keeps the fan from running with a simple dimmer...

Unfortunately, I've come to the same conclusion. Not sure why they worked when Kal did his and now they do not and was hoping to be able to slow it down instead of just on/off but it is what it is I guess.

Do you have a brew schedule? Hoping to be at your point in about 2 weeks.

hunter306 · Feb 17, 2014

Planning a Saturday test batch. Still drawing up the grain bill, but likely a session ipa based loosely on the All-Day clone receipe on here.

Hoppopotomus · Feb 17, 2014

My god Hunter, that turned out great! Good luck on the first batch and very nice job! :mug:

Tritonal · Feb 17, 2014

Amazing build! Do you have any plans on doing a video of brewing with it?

TripleHopped · Feb 17, 2014

Hunter306

Nice build thread you have here.

Where did you end up sourcing the PID's and Temp probes?

You know with the skills you used on building the brew kettles and stuff you're going to have to retire the hand crank on the grain mill in post 220 and motorize it.

hunter306 · Feb 18, 2014

TripleHopped said:
Hunter306

Nice build thread you have here.

Where did you end up sourcing the PID's and Temp probes?

You know with the skills you used on building the brew kettles and stuff you're going to have to retire the hand crank on the grain mill in post 220 and motorize it.

Pids were ordered directly from Auberins.com (I paid a little extra for the auber name, for sure).

Temperature probes are the Auber ones as well, but I ordered them from Kal's shop which included the necessary components to build the sheathed cable that plugs into the panel. Paid the upgrade to extend all the cables by 2ft just in case my mounting situation got weird later on.

On the Grain Mill, I was ready to pull the trigger on that Garage-Door Motor from the thread in DIY, but it went out of stock. I'm still stalking that thread to watch for new stock, I'd love to get it motorized.

hunter306 · Feb 18, 2014

Tritonal said:
Amazing build! Do you have any plans on doing a video of brewing with it?

I am planning on posting a video, but not immediately. I want to get the first brew day under my belt so I am more familiar with the system before I talk about it live action!

TripleHopped · Feb 18, 2014

hunter306 said:
Pids were ordered directly from Auberins.com (I paid a little extra for the auber name, for sure).

Temperature probes are the Auber ones as well, but I ordered them from Kal's shop which included the necessary components to build the sheathed cable that plugs into the panel. Paid the upgrade to extend all the cables by 2ft just in case my mounting situation got weird later on.

On the Grain Mill, I was ready to pull the trigger on that Garage-Door Motor from the thread in DIY, but it went out of stock. I'm still stalking that thread to watch for new stock, I'd love to get it motorized.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I was able to get one of those motors.

hunter306 · Feb 19, 2014

Putting together the Grain Bill for this evening's trip to Adventures in Homebrewing. The plan is a Session IPA as I mentioned before, in the vein of Founder's All Day.

Roughly Planning on WLP862 for the yeast with a starter. Wouldn't mind getting it up around 4.8-5% if possible, so I may still tweak the grains a bit. But any thoughts from you guys that have made this would be appreciated.

Grains:
13lb 8oz Briess 2-row
2lb 12oz Briess Caramel 20L
1lb 8oz flaked oats

Hop Schedule (boil):
.6 oz Crystal 3.4AA leaf 60 min
.42 oz Simcoe 14.1AA leaf 60 min

1 oz Amarillo 8.6AA pellet 20 min
1 oz Simcoe 14.1AA leaf 20 min
.5 oz Citra 20 min

1 oz Amarillo 8.6AA pellet 5 min
1 oz Simcoe 14.1AA leaf 5 min
.5 oz Citra pellet 5 min

Hop Schedule (Ferment) 7day:
1 oz Simcoe 14.1AA
1 oz Amarillo 8.6AA
.5 oz Citra pellet

Have to pick up a thermometer for the Wort Chiller and a few last fittings for the hose to run cold water to and from the chiller as well.

Huaco · Feb 19, 2014

As one who has built an electric brewery following Kals plans, I say Cheers! Good work and happy brewing!
It sure is gratifying when you have wort in the fermenter on that first batch!

ChocolateMaltyBalls · Feb 19, 2014

What are you guessing for efficiency? On my first brew on my eHERMS I underestimated the bump (from ~70 to ~85) in efficiency, made my porter imperial on accident.

Awesome build, good luck on brew day!

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Heffe53 · Feb 19, 2014

Hunter, just wanted to say thanks again for helping with that wiring. I finished my build and turned everything on. Aside from a backwards element light wire it worked perfectly and I plan on brewing this weekend. Thanks again and good luck with the brew!

P.S. Did you already program your PIDs and auto tune your HLT?

hunter306 · Feb 19, 2014

Heffe53 said:
Hunter, just wanted to say thanks again for helping with that wiring. I finished my build and turned everything on. Aside from a backwards element light wire it worked perfectly and I plan on brewing this weekend. Thanks again and good luck with the brew!

P.S. Did you already program your PIDs and auto tune your HLT?

Good question. I'm going to do one more water-only run before the weekend to check for any last hiccups (leaks). I'm planning on Auto-tuning then, but the PIDS are indeed programmed. There are really only a couple of settings that need to be configured before they are ready to go, so that didn't take too long.

Glad to hear yours came together successfully!

hunter306 · Feb 19, 2014

ChocolateMaltyBalls said:
What are you guessing for efficiency? On my first brew on my eHERMS I underestimated the bump (from ~70 to ~85) in efficiency, made my porter imperial on accident.

Awesome build, good luck on brew day!

Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

In beersmith 2, I was estimating efficiency at ~80% based on all the threads and feedback I've read on similar systems. I suspect that since this is my first go, it could come out a little lower, but who knows until I actually fire it up!

Roadie · Feb 19, 2014

Let us know how efficiency ends up; guessing 85% or so on mine.

opticflashback · Feb 19, 2014

Subscribing. Cant wait to hear how the first run goes.

hunter306 · Feb 20, 2014

Thanks guys, will update with the efficiency numbers as soon as I run the first batch.

I made a few changes and decided to go with a more ale-oriented yeast (WYEAST 1056) for the first run. Brewed up a 1lt starter to give it a jump start and give me a few more cells to spread across the 2x 5 gal fermenters I'm using.

Pretty sure I'm going to order a 12.5gal Conical or Two here for the brewery from Stout shortly.

Look like this is the final recipe:

Grains:
14lb Briess 2-row
3lb Briess Caramel 20L
1lb Flaked oats
1lb Flaked corn/maize

Hop Schedule (boil):
.25 oz Amarillo 8.7AA 60 min
.5 oz Simcoe 13.9AA 60 min

1 oz Amarillo 8.6AA 20 min
1 oz Simcoe 13.9AA 20 min
.5 oz Citra 20 min 13.7AA 20 min

1 oz Amarillo 8.7AA 5 min
1 oz Citra pellet 13.7AA 5 min

Hop Schedule (Ferment) 7day:
1 oz Simcoe 14.1AA
1 oz Amarillo 8.6AA
1 oz Citra pellet 13.7AA

Hunter's Basement E-Brewery Build

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