Another HERMS rig...

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

My old setup was a little outdated, so I've spent the last year piecing this pile of garbage together. It's not fully operational yet (still need a few parts) but it's very close. Hopefully within the next few weeks I'll have all of the kinks worked out and be cranking out that sweet sweet beer.

Here's the porn you're all probably interested in... Thanks for everyone on HBT for the tons of info! I couldn't have done it without any of you. I even borrowed a lot of great ideas from some of you.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

and a few more...

 

[mountainman13]

Nice. Pretty much exactly what I want to end up with.

 

[OneHoppyGuy]

What's the aluminum bracket next to the pump for?

 

[Bezel]

Looks like the bracket for the second pump

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

What's the aluminum bracket next to the pump for?

That's a pump mount I fabricated. Right now I'm running one pump until chugger gets another shipment. I built it so I would have another spot to mount the next one. It's also got a top for it, but it's not installed yet.

 

[OneHoppyGuy]

Geez! It looks more sturdy than a 'wallace' weldless stand! :rockin:

 

[thelorax121]

Can we get a close up of how the control panel is mounted?

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

Can we get a close up of how the control panel is mounted?

Sure. It's not very elegant, but it works for now...

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

I'm not really a fan of this control box. I'll be painting it black when I get the time...but for now it works. Plus, it was $10. I'd like something that's dust/waterproof though.

 

[enricocoron]

Is there no danger in that the wood is close to the burners?

 

[biggc1]

Is there no danger in that the wood is close to the burners?

I don't see any wood.. ???

 

[Tex]

Is there no danger in that the wood is close to the burners?

Druck...

 

[Demon]

Is there no danger in that the wood is close to the burners?

If by "wood" you mean "steel", there is no danger. My rig is made of paper mâché and it's still holding strong.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

If by "wood" you mean "steel", there is no danger. My rig is made of paper mâché and it's still holding strong.

That must have taken some serious skill!

There is no wood on this rig. Although, I've seen others on here with wooden rigs that are absolutely amazing. I've actually updated this rig already, so I'll be adding more pictures soon. Another pump was added since chugger finally has stock again. A new sparge assembly. I'm hitting about 85-90% efficiency consistantly now and cannot believe how accurate the Auber PIDs are once they are dialed in. My temps don't flucuate by more than 3/10 of a degree for the entire mash.

 

[enricocoron]

Sorry, I was not looking closely, the stands color made me think it was some kind of ultra sturdy fish tank type stand. Where did you get the stand? Did you make it yourself? Right now I gravity feed my HLT to my MT, then pump from the MT to the BK. I'd like to get them all on a stand that rolls like that and just pump it all the way around. I don't have a burner under my MT, which is a converted keg, and my temp drops probably 2-3 degrees over an hour or so. Do you think this is a problem?

Is 'PID' proportional integral derivative? That's a pretty advanced system for the home, strong work.

 

[Brewskii]

I got wood jus' lookin' at this thing... Nice job!

 

[holy]

Do you have anything written up on the build-out? I'd like to go gas with PID but would like to know what the parts list of that element of the build would look like.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

Sorry for the late reply. I'm not on the boards much anymore. I do have a parts list, but no writeup on how to put it together. The stand was welded by a friend of mine. If anyone is interested in the parts list, please PM me. I will get email notifications of that. It's not a complete list of every nut and bolt, but it has all of the main components.

I have changed things since building.
- went with wider bored cam locks on the input side of the pump. Helped with flow problems.
- pump was rotated 90 degrees for better flow
- added a plate chiller and inline oxygenation setup

 

[ShinyBuddha]

Did you bore out the cams yourself or...?

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

No, I ended up buying another type of cam and added my own hose barb. I'll have to look at my parts list for the exact parts.