BLING BLING Electric HERMS Conversion

[The Pol]

So are you saying that you need to leave a probe plugged into the PID, even though it ignores the input?

YES, never unplug the sensor from the PID... you will get an error if you do. It needs that input, but it ignores temps. when you are in manual mode.

 

[slnies]

So are you saying that you need to leave a probe plugged into the PID, even though it ignores the input?

yup............

 

[LooyvilleLarry]

So are you saying that you need to leave a probe plugged into the PID, even though it ignores the input?

Yes. The PID requires the input to function. It doesn't matter what the temp is (during Manual), it just needs to complete the circuit.

 

[brrman]

POL - Seeing as how I am probably just up the street from you, I think I need to come to your house sometime when you brew so I can check out your rig!! (with some HB in tow of course) I am starting my electric build in a couple weeks.

 

[The Pol]

POL - Seeing as how I am probably just up the street from you, I think I need to come to your house sometime when you brew so I can check out your rig!! (with some HB in tow of course) I am starting my electric build in a couple weeks.

Oooh you are in luck. I will be brewing in the next couple weeks. (flight exams right now) Id be happy to have you over to sample some of my wares and brew with me. Let me know!

 

[planenut]

Testing my electric HLT as I type.

A little nervous about the seal on the heating element. It is a 1650W with the factroy seal on the outside. I have the bargainfittings SS nut and I can't even snug it finger tight or it squishes the seal out and leaks. I have to have it almost loose in order to keep it from leaking. Is this normal or is something wrong?

Also I can see I'm going to have to add some reflectix or some type of insulation as it is heating pretty slowly.

 

[The Pol]

May be better off getting some silicone o rings from bargain fittings.

 

[planenut]

I have one I ordered with the nut. Didn't think about trying it as it seemed everyone used the factory seal..
I got it to stop leaking, it just seems so loose..

Looking for reflectix too. Looks like a special order around here. I was hoping to pick some up tomorrow.

 

[conpewter]

I used it with the factory seal and was able to tighten it with a wrench without it squishing and leaking. Sorry I don't have a solution for you though.

 

[The Pol]

On my BK, I use the factory element seal, and yes, it seems loose, but if it is too tight it rolls. It seals perfectly though even "loose".

I use a PBW soak to clean the element and kettle, so I dont remove the element from the kettle, nor do I remove the kettle from the stand to clean it.

 

[planenut]

I'm going to keep the factory seal and leave it loose as it isn't leaking now. I'll know if it is leaking before mashing in so I can stop and reconfigure if it is leaking.

I think I can maintain temps w/out the reflectix for the first session if I can't find any locally. I got up to 154 ok. I learned some of my previously tested thermometers seem to be off so I need to recalibrate them. It looks like the one in the MT is reading 3-4 degrees high. The Ranco and the mercury thermometer seem right on.

I went with a second pump instead of the stirrer as it will have other uses. I may eventually mount the IC in the BK just like in the HLT and use it to whirlpool there as well.

The first batch will be a Kolsch.

Wish me luck.

 

[The Pol]

Good luck bro... hoping to convert another Indy brewer to electric HERMS brewing here in a couple weeks.

I think that I am FINISHED with my system now... ha ha... I say that ALL the time.

Doing a Sierra Nevada clone next, then a Heffe, then I hope the Imperial Honey Porter to keg and store til winter!

I will have my no chill CCB Haus Ale on tap shortly, the article will be up in a couple weeks I presume with all of the brew details. It is a VERY clean and refreshing tasting beer... great for my BMC neighbors while I suckle on the pale ales this summer.

 

[wisdom86]

Thanks for the answer(s), I appreciate all of the different approaches, realistically it is going to be about a year or so before i can start buying the components for my brewery, just trying to get as much research done as possible. So that when it is time I will have some idea what i am trying to accomplish

 

[The Pol]

Thanks for the answer(s), I appreciate all of the different approaches, realistically it is going to be about a year or so before i can start buying the components for my brewery, just trying to get as much research done as possible. So that when it is time I will have some idea what i am trying to accomplish

Good idea... plan early, that way when you drop the coin, you are building what you want, and you know what you are getting.

 

[planenut]

Well the maiden brew did not go quite as good as expected.. Looks like I would know not to change too many variables at one time..

First HERMS brew.
First brew with my new Barley Crusher.
First with this Kolsch recipe.
First time using a fridgerator with a temp controller for fermentation.
And I Had 4 thermometers out..

Worst part was 66% effeciency. I'll have to go back and check the crusher settings. Getting used to cleaning up with the HERMS. I added 3/4 lb of light dry extract to bring it up to 1.047.

for the positive.. No leaks anywhere unless you count switching a hose w/out closing a valve...

Tired now..

 

[The Pol]

Well the maiden brew did not go quite as good as expected.. Looks like I would know not to change too many variables at one time..

First HERMS brew.
First brew with my new Barley Crusher.
First with this Kolsch recipe.
First time using a fridgerator with a temp controller for fermentation.
And I Had 4 thermometers out..

Worst part was 66% effeciency. I'll have to go back and check the crusher settings. Getting used to cleaning up with the HERMS. I added 3/4 lb of light dry extract to bring it up to 1.047.

for the positive.. No leaks anywhere unless you count switching a hose w/out closing a valve...

Tired now..

Well, sounds like the rig ran pretty well... 66% is low. Even at the factory setting you should be getting about 80% eff. Do you have a false bottom? Braid? Odd.

 

[LooyvilleLarry]

for the positive.. No leaks anywhere unless you count switching a hose w/out closing a valve...

Yeah, I definitely get that. My brew rig also includes some heavy leather gloves.

 

[planenut]

I have used a false bottom for the last two sessions...

I used to use a braid but wanted to upgrade to 1/2" throughout because I was worried about flow when using the pump and fly sparging so I switched.

Maybe I sparged too fast?? I should have timed it... I used to drain from the valve into a gallon bucket w/in the BK and time it per Qt. This time I used the valve on the BK and just guesstimated w/out measuring. I'm thinking it was too fast. I still wouldn't have expected 66% even draining it.

I ended up with 8.5 gallons pre boil at 1.028 for a 90 minute boil. I was only supposed to get 8.04 gallons. I boiled off for 100 minutes and added the extract with 15 minutes remaining.. Oh and then I forgot to get a post boil OG so after about 90 minutes, I went back and gave it a couple shakes and took a sample for the OG of 1.047.

 

[The Pol]

My sparge takes about 30 minutes, it is faster than most, but still yields 82% eff.

What was your post boil volume?

I am perplexed...

 

[planenut]

It was 9 lbs of grain total. 1.028 pre boil 8.5 gallons

Post boil was 5.5 into the fermentor at 1.047 but I had already added .75 lb of dry extract with 15 minutes left in the boil.

I probably could have gotten another .25 gallon out of the BK but did not want more into the fermenter.

I probably sparged in about 20 minutes but did not count. At that point it was kind of like the bad golf shot that you turn your head because you can't watch... Then when you are searching for the ball, you wish you had watched where it went!

 

[The Pol]

Funny analogy!

I will get back to brewing when I get this group hop buy finished. Hopefully ONE week I will be back at it!

 

[illin8]

Pol, do you have a pic of the internals of the box all wired up???

 

[LooyvilleLarry]

Pol, do you have a pic of the internals of the box all wired up???

LOL, I just replaced an SSR in my box, which is a LOT bigger than Pol's. I had always wondered why he never showed the inside.

My guess is that if it looks anything like mine, you might not want to show it. That is a lot of wires going to different places and wouldn't provide a lot of value.

I've done a lot of professional electrical wiring ( the kind that gets inspected by 3 letter gov't agencies), and this was a PITA.

And no, I won't show you mine.

 

[The Pol]

Pol, do you have a pic of the internals of the box all wired up???

HA HA HA are you kidding me?

No, even if I did, it would only discourage you. Oh, dont get me wrong, it is laid out well! But there is so much wiring packed into that tiny control box that it looks like a plate of spaghetti.

As stated in this thread, I HIGHLY SUGGEST A MUCH LARGER BOX if you want to do this. I went small, because I wanted it tight and clean. That comes at a cost though, it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to wire it.

 

[illin8]

Thanks, I just wanted to get a feel for the schematics of it and connections.

 

[The Pol]

Thanks, I just wanted to get a feel for the schematics of it and connections.

Yah, I never had a schematic, and the inside would just baffle you, as it does me!

 

[conpewter]

Inspired by The Pol's rig and with help from several others I built my own electric brewstand. I finally got around to taking pictures so thought I'd provide a link to that thread for those intersted. Thanks again Pol for the help!

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cold-dead-hands-electric-brew-rig-action-118232/#post1311327

 

[The Pol]

Inspired by The Pol's rig and with help from several others I built my own electric brewstand. I finally got around to taking pictures so thought I'd provide a link to that thread for those intersted. Thanks again Pol for the help!

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cold-dead-hands-electric-brew-rig-action-118232/#post1311327

Hey, no problem. I never would have imagined that my rig build on here would have inspired so many to go electric.

 

[brrman]

Got my coolers today! Got them in Blue just to be different. LOL.
Ordering my PIDs (yes, I am using two) and SSRs tomorrow.

 

[thorongil]

Got my coolers today! Got them in Blue just to be different. LOL.

Not really so different...