ingchr1
Well-Known Member
I have one of the original Brew-Boss controllers and use it in a two vessel system (Brew Boss thread I started). My MLT had a normal thermometer and I wanted to change it over to a digital readout. At first I was just going to get a controller and install it in a small box on its own, but then I would have had two boxes sitting on my brew cart. So I thought why not just put it all in a single control panel. Maybe this post will help someone who wants to change theirs up or is thinking about getting the Brew-Boss DIY kit.
Here's the original Brew-Boss controller:
Here's the control panel I built:
The tablet I use:
I was able to reuse the parts from the original as follows:
I added the following items:
Here's the original Brew-Boss controller:
Here's the control panel I built:
The tablet I use:
I was able to reuse the parts from the original as follows:
- Extended the temperature probe wires
- Extended the 9VDC input power wires to the controller
- To use the original mounting holes on the heat sink I had to drill and tap new holes to move the SSRs (they were covering the holes)
- The cable gland for the 120V cables were threaded into the original box, no nut on the other side. Since I only needed one 120V cable I used the gland nut from the other 120V to secure it in place.
- I was able to use the original mounting for the controller and LCD by attaching studs to the enclosure using JB Weld
I added the following items:
- Input Power Breaker
- 5A Fuse for the 120V circuit
- Lights for Power, Heater and Pump
- Switches for Pump and Heater
- Mash Temperature Indication
- Contactor for Heater
- New Panel Overlay
- New Power Supply (the original was an open board, through my own fault it got damaged and let its magic blue smoke out)
- New control wires to the SSRs. I used pre-made breadboard wires. You could reuse the original connectors with longer wires if needed.