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OP - More Beer's deal of the day has a domed false bottom for under $30. http://morebeer.com/

11,771.5 + 5 gal Blueberry Hefe+ 5 gal Oatmeal Stout= 11,781.5

So I was reading the 5th annual "Gadget Issue" of Zymurgy online (Vol 34, No 1, Jan/Feb 2011 issue) and the third home brewer DIY gadget was a false bottom. The brewer fashioned it from a standard "blossoming" SS vegetable strainer and some CPVC fittings to create a cheap domed false bottom...

you could also build a manifold that threads to your dip tube...copper if direct fired and CPVC if you are using recirculating indirect heat. No need to solder/glue as you want to take it apart for cleaning.

survey monkeyed.

No, but they do have the $60 crimping tool and at least some previous experience building them. Wiring electricity can scare a lot of people off and I found this to be a great solution.

I just ordered three heat tape units (4' each) from Reptile Basics for about $60 delivered. They will assemble them for you with a standard 120v plug for $3 a liner foot and $4 for the plug. Shipping is a pain but since it is also in lieu of sales tax so it helps a little. I know DIY is...

:confused: I tested two of the relays on my mini-fridge and after it didn’t work (LED illuminated but no response from the fridge) I finally found the electrical rating information...1.4 amps running and a max draw of over 5! These SSRs are rated for 2 amps only, up to 240V. So did I cook...

Mpez, great insight on the two systems on your blog. I was debating for some time and was searching for this kind of real-world review. I finally settled on the BCS 462 since it could do ferm AND brew duty on one machine AND had remote access, not just monitoring. Those features seemed much...

I also started with Mr. Beer and brewed every kit I could think of with them in my first year. Last year I went all grain and I am now building a two tier electric RIMS system (yes, the hobby is that addictive). I agree that Mr. Beer is a great way to learn the ropes and see if you want to...

ChuckO, do you have a wiring schematic you could share? I have almost all of the supplies for my system (BCS controlled Ferm 24/7 and brewery control on demand) and I want to start planning my control panel. Also, any pics of our set up would be really helpful.

+5 gal of Irish Red and +5 Gal of Milk Stout = 6441.5

The ON/OFF/AUTO is the path I have seen a lot of BCS users take on this forum (I think it is more relevent for the boil kettle and pumps than RIMS) in case the BCS or network crashes. It also helps with cleaning and tests. I was actually thinking of making the RIMS element an AUTO/OFF/ON...

As a boiler plate statement...I am not married to my design and certainly don't mind the nominal investment of two contactors. I am just trying to understand this and get all perspectives since I am getting conflicting advice. Please don't mistake my curiosity with a need to defend my point of...

Sorry to dig up an old thread but I'm trying to get some clarity on something...what is the benefit of having a contactor/coil and SSR tandem for a 240v connection vs. two SSRs? Is it merely cost or is there something else at play, like a 110v coil for lighting or other??? It seems to me two...

it came from an electronics store in Orlando: Skycraft Parts & Surplus, Inc. www.skycraftsurplus.com/ 2245 W Fairbanks Ave Winter Park, FL 32789 (407) 628-5634 That was the only unstripped box I saw but the place is like an episode of hoarders so you never know (and it did have some...

I bought a control box from a local electronics supply store (14X16X6 Nema 4 enclosure for $8.95! Plus it had tons of DIN rails, cable dividers, terminal strips, and 16 ga - 22 ga wires I could re-use). It also had these compnents in it and I didn’t know if they had any use in my control box...

Thanks for the input everyone. I just couldn't decide so I ended up getting the 8 SSR board AND the 4 10Amp mechanical relay board along with a few 40Amp SSRs. The BCS 462 can control up to 6 PWM and 12 on/off so I figured what do I have to lose (other than money which is nothing new in this...

Pickles, I checked out your rig and you can "meddle" all you want. That thing is sweet and really similar to what I am trying to set-up...two tier, three vessel, tube RIMS with bottom drained HLT and MLT. Any sage advice, things you have learned along the way?

I just ordered my BCS 462 yesterday so I am starting to source the various components. I was looking at those 10A relays and stumbled upon the 4 and 8 channel SSRs but I hadn't read anything on the forum about them. Do SSRs HAVE to switch on and off at a high frequency? I thought they...