How automated you want to get is the real question. I have a two burner herms setup, semi automated. There are way to many things that can go wrong in a fully automated system, in my opinion. I like to have some hands on. I control a mash tun pump with a PID. and a burner on the HWT with a pid. Those can also be manually controlled. All change over valves are manual, pumps on hwt and boiler are manual. All is hard piped. As far as wiring a system , it depends on the components you choose. My panel consist of 3 PID's/ssr's and sensors, 3 double pole double throw switches, 2 single throw switches, a few indicator lights, 24vac supply and bus bar, 12vdc supply and bus bar, 110vac bus bar. Maintaining mash temp is automated, boiler burner is manual, once boiling, I lower the flame as low as possible to maintain the boil. All 3 tanks are being recirculated by 12vdc pumps, and change over valves allow me to move the products and sparge etc.
