Recent content by hfk2

Just a note: On the female end of the Braumeister cord the openings are vertical not horizontal like shown on that web page. Also the male end is circular similar to a RV/marine application or one that would be used to connect a generator. U.S. dryer/oven plugs have 3 or 4 large flat lugs...

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My heat stick is similar to the ones above. I used 1 1/4" tubing instead of the 1 1/2". With a little grinding the heating element fits much tigher in the 1 1/4" nut. Wyzazz link above with show you the basic construction. The only differences I made were: I drilled and tapped a hole...

I'm experimenting with the pipe to create a whirlpool with my March pump. The end with the elbow (top of photo) goes into the kettle, the other end hangs over the top of the pot and is connected to a piece of high temp tubing that connects to the pump. I use it to create a whirlpool effect...

Mako, I've been using a piece of cheesecloth wrapping it around the edge of the sieve and SS mesh. Since I've done this I haven't had a single pump failure, whereas before I had them every brew session. The cloth prevents the grain from coming out the top but doesn't restrict the flow. I don't...

Sorry about that. I go to 50F to help clear it out when I'm bottling to a party pig which needs to be naturally carbonated. Otherwise I start there and slowly lower the temp till it shows good clearing and then into the keg. My work schedule dictates when I do what more than the best laid out...

rlhvegas, I've used both White Labs and Wyeast Kolsch strains and you can use it at 60F, but your ferment will take a little longer and you will have higher diacetyl levels. I tend to go 65F for 10 days, rack to 2ndy hold at 65F for 14 days, then drop temp to 50F and hold for 14 days. With the...

Hello Bach, I'll give a shot at some of your questions. I have the 20L and purchased it because even with my 15 gal system I'll almost always did 5 gal batches. I like variety in my refer kegerator. I almost always brew German lagers/Czech Pils so I'm a little picky about clarity and color...

Lauter tun deadspace: .33 gals (I started at .25 gals and also used .5 gals., this will directly affect what the program says how much fly sparge liquid to use.

This my preliminary for BeerSmith2: BM 20L Brewhouse Efficiency: 83% Hop Utilization: 100% Mash tun volume: 4.68 gals (this was calculated from the malt tube dimension) Mash tun weight: 4lbs.(estimated just the actual pots weight not total machine) Mash tun specific heat: .12 Top off water: 0...

I used to always try to build it myself until I started adding up the REAL costs and the amount of man hours involved. It always cost more than you think. Those that say they can build this unit for $500 have definitely been into the suds too deep.

I agree. They need to do something about their packaging or Fedex's handling. Seems more units are coming through with some damage

Don't accept it. That's significant damage. Here's a guy building a pretty good facsimile...

As Rob said, read the manual, especially the beginning to understand the controls. I made a copy of the first couple of pages and keep them at the BM. Either make a dip tube or as said previously move the unit to the edge of the table. Place the malt tube in so it seat firmly on the bottom...

I use the auto mode throughout. I set the boil phase to 102C and the temp will rise to 100C, the timer starts and I get a mild rolling boil. In my first brews I would partially cover the pot with foil and this helped. I've always done a very vigorous rolling boil when using propane, so I...