Recent content by ZymurGuy

+1 on that. Not sure if that is the case for Oakbarn, but I meant to put that comment down as well.

I'm not sure I really see the need. Seems to me for repeatability and consistency you would want to take the temp reading at a consistent spot each time and work back from there. With averaging, you could be introducing some variability between batches. Your average temp could be the same...

Correct - You have a couple options for controlling an outlet. PWM would control the duty cycle of the element, effectively controlling the power level of the element. Hysteresis control is on/off.

That pic is what I posted to the forum for my homebrew club, but at the time I wired it up I also did a little write-up and posted it at http://cockalebrewery.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-alive.html. It's changed a little bit since I did it (I now have a 462 instead of the 460) and added some...

Funny. That pic is my panel. I like the notations you did! I should update my image to that one!

You would want to use hysteresis for both. I use 1 degree. PID would not work well in either instance because the rapid on/off cycle of the SSR to effectively control the level of power output wouldn't work well with solenoids or compressors.

Yes, you will still need SSR's. The outputs on the BCS simply control the on/off of the SSR. The BCS itself doesn't put out enough power to drive the devices. When I wired mine up, I did a little write up and posted it at http://cockalebrewery.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-alive.html. Some of it...

I have the Blichmann 55 gal with false bottom for my mash tun and love it. I direct fire with a 23-tip natural gas burner and manage it with a BCS-460. I've done very light pale colored beers in it and have never had a scorching issue. I recirculate the entire time of the mash and the burner...

Yes, it was a club brew we did. 1.090 beer. Just way too big for the mash tun. Normally I am much higher, but big beers do take a hit. It was actually one of the earlier beers I did on the system though, so maybe if I did it now it wouldn't be so low. I've done a lot to the system since...

Just went back and looked and I hit 72% on that one. I'm usually at 80%. I fly sparge, and I do remember it being a very slow runoff that day.

I've had 150 lbs in mine, but I swore I would never do it again. Most of my grain bills are between 95 - 120 lbs. I personally try to keep 130 lbs as the upper limit, and I have a couple recipes in this area. For me it gets to be pretty thick and right near the top of the kettle if you go...

I would think the UBC-25-1vp-lp would work, but if it is just for home and prototyping (sounds like we have the same plan), add a few more gallons of glycol (maybe five gallons glycol and five gallons distilled water) in the freezer and you will likely have something that will get you started...

LettersNumbersAndSymbols - for the length, yes to both of your questions. For the transition pieces, here is a picture of the top of the lid: underneath the lid: and what the coil looks like inside the fermenter: I had the same coil inside my old plastic conical. I just moved...

I have a similar setup for my 1.5 BBL batches. In my experience, you won't need that long of a coil, but you will need a larger glycol batch if you are using a chest freezer to chill the glycol. I have about a 25' length of 3/8" SS coil mounted through the lid and 15 gallons of glycol in a tub...

I have a BCS460 and the only manual switch I have is to cut power to the panel itself. I've had my BCS for quite a while and can't think of a time yet where I wish I had installed an override switch.