Recent content by LavaAle

So, how is that TEC controller project going? I've been playing with TECs for a while for ferm temp control but they keep on freezing on me... Would love to try your controller. Do you have a page or thread for this?

My bad. AC evaporators get cold really fast. The beauty of using two controllers (or the coolbot) is that you don't have to worry about the fins freezing, which will happen eventually if you just let it cool beyond the factory minimum, especially the first time.

It will do, but you won't have control over the room temp, only over the fins/evaporator temp. Which may be enough though, definitely give it a try!

I don't think polarity matters much with this setup, I just wanted it to switch the circuit on and off. Hell, I'm not even sure if its the + or - the one running through the relay! It works though, and it's been running flawlessly for some time now. Feel free to modify it so it suits your needs...

I was also toying with the peltier idea once, I believe the diagram above is correct, the DPDT relay will allow for the peltier to heat or cool as needed. Don't forget to add a BIG heat sink!

I'm currently testing a makeshift coolbot I put together. It involves two STC-1000 units in series, as stated in a previous post, but instead of connecting the a/c unit, the STCs trigger a small 5v light bulb. I used two STC-1000 units, a 5v light bulb and a 5v power supply (old cell phone...

My BH eff ranges from 78 to 85%. I have a Corona mill and crush as fine as I can get it, then add the grains very slow and stirring all the time. If I don't stir a lot, I get big lumps, which I'm sure will mess up my eff.

If it's the efficiency field in the recipe editor, then it would be brewhouse eff. When you hit Brew it! after saving the recipe, you can input all your numbers (mash volume/gravity, boil v/g, etc) in the Log Entry tab. What I did in my first batches was use a default BH eff at 75% and then...

Hey fellow homebrewers, I'm on my first ever batches of American Pale Ale and Belgian Ale. Looking forward to taste it in about 3 more weeks! I'm in Ecuador , South America, and eager to know more and get a little wisdom from more experienced home brewers. Salud!