BCS 2 Vessel No Sparge Garage Brewery Build

[poptarts]

I would totally take running water over ice buckets haha, so happy its almost season to where I can use a hose.

 

[bayoujeeper]

Sweet system pop! Do you boil with the lid on for the entire boil?

 

[poptarts]

Sweet system pop! Do you boil with the lid on for the entire boil?

yea, it is ducted out the wall.

 

[bayoujeeper]

yea, it is ducted out the wall.

That is what I figured, Do you have any pics of the ducting setup? I breezed back through the thread but I might have missed that.

 

[poptarts]

That is what I figured, Do you have any pics of the ducting setup? I breezed back through the thread but I might have missed that.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showpost.php?p=7344140&postcount=312 should give some better pics, its basically dryer duct and and a 4" inline fan.

 

[jcav]

Cool video and very slick automatic system!

John

 

[poptarts]

bottom fill worked good enough for baltic porter, hit my estimated 65% for the 1.085 beer. My element in my mlt burnt out as I was ramping up to mashout. Not sure what happened but pretty annoying. Ordered 2 new ones that are UL listed, hopefully its a one time deal.

 

[adhd-brouwerke]

No problems with dms in the beer? Or do you have strong enough hood?

 

[poptarts]

I get 1.5 gal / h boil off, no dms issues that I have noticed or any of the others that have tasted / scored my beer.

 

[poptarts]

new elements showed up, the quality is a decent bit better, they were way less of a PITA to install due to longer threads, so that was a nice touch. They seem to heat up good and what not. In other good news, solved the pump priming issue with a pump prime step XD

 

[dsniegocki]

I just can't understand why you haven't automated your hop additions.

Seriously, GREAT job not to mention thoroughly enjoyable write-up!

 

[poptarts]

I just can't understand why you haven't automated your hop additions.

Seriously, GREAT job not to mention thoroughly enjoyable write-up!

Still trying to figure out a good design for that honestly. Its definitely on the table as something I want to do with this thing once its nice and stable.

 

[dsniegocki]

Still trying to figure out a good design for that honestly. Its definitely on the table as something I want to do with this thing once its nice and stable.

If I was ever going to do one, I would start with the idea that the brew-boss uses:

http://www.brew-boss.com/product-p/hb-master.htm

I would think an electrically controlled servo could just rotate a plate x degrees, and the pellets drop right through a hole in the bottom.

 

[poptarts]

That could work easy, i dig that. I like that they want $200 for that. Pretty sure I can make it for like $25 with something like this. http://www.ebay.com/itm/231595874228?var=530832976161 Could plug in and work off the relay board just like the valves....

 

[TrickyDick]

Rip off.
Get a 1 rpm motor. Two cake pans, and some drain/gutter pipe and some PVC pipe. Done.

Probably need some threaded rod and some other odds and ends. I did one based on a zymurgy DIY article for a continuous hop addition. Worked like crap, but I still have the motor and the PVC. And the rod. Would probably be easy to implement an output control in BCS to run for 10 seconds, rotate the nested cake pan with PVC tubes mounted and drilled below to dump into a chute. Would need to carefully setup the timing of it all and have the holes all aligned and probably a non-friction washer or something like non stick cake pans so they slide easily. I might build one myself now that I think of it!

 

[poptarts]

I really dig the cake pan idea, that's cheap and clean.

 

[poptarts]

http://www.foodservicewarehouse.com/pinch/trypc-8/p1516137.aspx 66 cents, that should do the trick.

 

[dsniegocki]

Yeah that $200 is a joke. I like the cake pan idea @TrickyDick. Looking forward to seeing how it fits in to the system.

 

[TrickyDick]

$8 for S&H. LOL!!

Yeah but those would work. I'm gonna see if I have some scrap stuff lying around I can use. Might be easy to hang it from my ceiling rather than find a mount for it to clip on the side of the kettle. Plus can easier set the drop height so it doesn't interfere with putting lid on, or stirring, etc.

Like I need a new project....

 

[iijakii]

A rotating pan isn't cool enough. You need an elaborate system with marbles and scales.

 

[weawer]

awesome build you got going there. May i ask if you have any problems with scorching on the elements?

 

[poptarts]

not even the slightest hint at scorching

 

[dsniegocki]

A rotating pan isn't cool enough. You need an elaborate system with marbles and scales.

...

 

[poptarts]

...

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q[/ame]

 

[CU_tony]

Awesome build, very inspiring to a new brewer! I really like all the additions along the way, which seems to be the trend for home brewing. I keep finding new toys to buy between each batch!

 

[BrewingChemist]

stumbled upon this and wanted to say this was an awesome build. thanks for documenting it so well!

 

[poptarts]

Happy to share, she still is running awesome.

 

[poptarts]

I will be moving and have to sell this system due to new living space requirements. If you want it, come and get it.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?p=8102690#post8102690