Brew Boss Systems

[Mike Howard]

That's what Darin told me last year:

View attachment 752919

I don't think emails are getting through to that domain since they suspended operations...hopefully only temporarily. Are the DS18B20 serials married to the controller? How would you replace them when they fail?? I think the serials are mainly for multiple sensor systems, right?

In all of my work with DS18 sensors, they are individually serialized and using the "one wire" library you need to specify what the id is in order to read them. Now it could be that every time the system fires up, it reads the temp port, determines the id and then uses that to read the sensor.

I'm usually using multiple temp probes, so I never gave any thought to dynamically reading the probe and using that. Would probably work great in a single temp probe system. I actually do that in one of my systems, but only in the config section so that I can select which probe is at what location.

Now that I think about it, my Blichmann uses a single DS18B20, which I recently replaced and the system picked it up and works no problem. Might be something I'll look into.

I did see that their site is "temporarily suspended" and that's a bummer. I hope if they can't get back to operational that Darin will release the code to open source so we can keep it going. At our brewery we rely heavily on the Brew Boss 20 gallon system to do our R&D.

 

[kc.rkitek]

Well ,I guess I'll find out the hard way. When I receive the controller, I'll take the cover off and try to sort out the wiring from the board traces.

 

[kc.rkitek]

To follow up on this, Darin replied to my email and besides this probe thing answered a few unrelated questions. He sold me a replacement probe, so it stands to reason that the serial of the ds18b20 doesn't matter..must be read dynamically since he made no mention of program changes, right?

 

[day_trippr]

Knowing nothing about the specific product involved here, it is possible to construct a one-wire host supporting multiple ds18b20 devices as discrete "one per channel" elements presuming sufficient IO ports. Host drivers would be hard-coded to take one device per pre-defined IO pin and rely on labeling to steer the user...

Cheers!

 

[Mike Howard]

Yea, it would have to be by IO port/pin because from what I can tell you can't count on the order of received serial Ids when reading sensors on one pin. Either way, Darin seems to be doing something like this, since he provided a new sensor with no concern about serialization. Good to know.

@kc.rkitek don't suppose Darin gave you the wiring sset up for that 3.5 mm plug did he?

 

[kc.rkitek]

Yea, it would have to be by IO port/pin because from what I can tell you can't count on the order of received serial Ids when reading sensors on one pin. Either way, Darin seems to be doing something like this, since he provided a new sensor with no concern about serialization. Good to know.

@kc.rkitek don't suppose Darin gave you the wiring sset up for that 3.5 mm plug did he?

No, sir.

 

[BrunDog]

It can be figured out with a meter and a resistor. First check for ground pin. The other two will (should assuming not wired in parasitic mode) read Vcc (5 or 3.3V). Then put the resistor from ground to those pins. The data pin will now read a much lower voltage. The Vcc pin will read about the same. 2.2k resistor should do the trick.

 

[ehall]

so i just tried to hit up the brew boss site, says operations have been suspended?! wtf? is he going out of business?

 

[Mike Howard]

He suspended operations during COVID shutdown.

 

[kc.rkitek]

I had a conversation with Darin just over a year ago when I was trying to order and he was out of stock. He's had major difficulties with his supply chain. Particularly, the parts for building controllers. All his vendors were backed up so he couldn't get what he needed for a production run. Not sure when/if he'll get things going again, but I sure hope he does!

 

[ehall]

I sent an email, still waiting to get a response... I hope he doesn't close down...

 

[rfinley]

To follow up on this, Darin replied to my email and besides this probe thing answered a few unrelated questions. He sold me a replacement probe, so it stands to reason that the serial of the ds18b20 doesn't matter..must be read dynamically since he made no mention of program changes, right?

Do you have an email for Darin ?? I'd like to see if he has any of the grain baskets that were offered last September.
Brew-Boss Electric Home Brewing

 

[kc.rkitek]

support, info, and Darin... Each of those @brew-boss.com.

 

[mdime]

Here's what Darin told me when I asked about it way back in 2016:

Our probe may not work with other devices designed for a DS18B20 probe. Ours is custom made for us with a unique address range. Others have tried it unsuccessfully and have burned out our probe. So be careful.

The tip is Positive, the middle is data and the base is ground.

Darin

That said, I have a brewpiless fermentation temp control system I built that works with the BrewBoss probe. I designed my system to use the same pinout so when I'm done brewing I can pull the probe from one system and plug it into the next and it's never been a problem. I've also used a probe I've built with the BrewBoss without any issues.

 

[kc.rkitek]

Here's what Darin told me when I asked about it way back in 2016:



That said, I have a brewpiless fermentation temp control system I built that works with the BrewBoss probe. I designed my system to use the same pinout so when I'm done brewing I can pull the probe from one system and plug it into the next and it's never been a problem. I've also used a probe I've built with the BrewBoss without any issues.

Thanks for that info. If the one I just bought from Darin fails, I may try to build the next. I'm also in the process of building a couple of Thorrak's brewpi-esp8266 controllers for my ferm chamber and keezer (just starting this). Ideally, every probe I have on hand would work on any of the devices...you know, in case of emergency.

 

[leo_n_davies]

The Brewboss website is still down and I believe Darin has gone out of business. I hope it is temporary and that he is OK and not ill. I have a 20 gallon brewboss system and belong to the "Brew-Boss Electric Brewing Brewing Group" Facebook Group. No one in that group has received a response from Darin and fear Brewboss is going to be permanently out of business. Is he OK? There are just over 100 members in the group. There are some knowledgeable users in this group (not me), including some that know what probes work, how to order replacement parts in the controlller and may even now have the source code. The administrator of the site has gathered up manuals and other info that may be of use. We may be on our own from here on out if Darin closes up permanently.

 

[leo_n_davies]

I love my Jaded Hydra. It does currently sit on the element without issue, but I am planning on fabricating something to support it so it doesn't potentially damage the element in the long run.



I'm not too worried about it, I'm renting.
Sometimes I move it under the garage door, but most of the time I just leave it where it is. When I buy a home I'm going to be building this system inside the house so I will have an exhaust fan at that point.

I put my 20 gallon brewboss in the basement right next to my ferment chamber and kegerator. I got the condenser attachment and do not have an exhaust hood. The condenser works fine and I don't need a fan. Brewboss is out of business as of Jan 2022.....but it may just be a temporary closure due to lack of supply on parts for Darin. There are other condensors in addition to the one he sells that also should work as long as you can add a camlock fitting to attach it to the kettle. If Darin is out of business permanently you may want to join the Brew-Boss Electric Brewing Users Group Facebook page.....for self service customer support.

 

[Mike Howard]

I'll look up the Facebook group in case we have to pick up where Darin left off.

 

[ehall]

so my biggest issue I've run into is the little silicon feet on the bottom of the COFI basket... any idea where to get those if Darin is gone? those little f'n things break all the time.

 

[kc.rkitek]

so my biggest issue I've run into is the little silicon feet on the bottom of the COFI basket... any idea where to get those if Darin is gone? those little f'n things break all the time.

I used these in the 7/8" diameter: Food Safe Silicone Cutting Board Rubber Bumper Feet - All Sizes and Colors | eBay

 

[kc.rkitek]

Cross posting this in the Facebook group too...hoping for expedited help! Tomorrow will be my first brew day with the Brew-Boss and I am second guessing my calcs for a 5 gallon batch of doppelbock.

My system is comprised of a 15 gallon kettle with COFI tube/basket and a steam condenser. My eqpt & boil-off volumes are calc'ed and in my Brewer's Friend profile. The malt bill is just a fuzz over 18# and I plan to mill at between .040-.045" gap to maximize recirc flow. The post boil gravity/volume should be 1.086/5.5g at 70% efficiency. Since I have a steam condenser, I'm only expecting around 0.9 gallons of boil off over 90 minutes (0.6 gal/hr).

Problem is, even if I mash with the full water volume with no pour-over sparge before squeezing, that would only be about 8.4 gallons. According a chart I found, that's not even going to cover the grains. Am I in for a bad time? Do I need more water and a longer boil? I'd really like to avoid adding DME/LME. How do you guys do big(ish) beers in this thing? Do we just ignore that the grist will not be completely submerged and trust the COFI tube to recirc and convert correctly?

 

[ehall]

I used these in the 7/8" diameter: Food Safe Silicone Cutting Board Rubber Bumper Feet - All Sizes and Colors | eBay

I actually have some of those. what did you do? find some sheet metal screws and nuts to attach?

 

[kc.rkitek]

I actually have some of those. what did you do? find some sheet metal screws and nuts to attach?

Yes, all stainless machine screws, washers, and nuts. My calipers say .185 across the threads, looks like that's #10, right?

 

[ehall]

hard to tell from the pick but that my friend, is a fantastic idea! I'm rolling with that after these all fail. thank you sir!

 

[Jtvann]

Cross posting this in the Facebook group too...hoping for expedited help! Tomorrow will be my first brew day with the Brew-Boss and I am second guessing my calcs for a 5 gallon batch of doppelbock.

My system is comprised of a 15 gallon kettle with COFI tube/basket and a steam condenser. My eqpt & boil-off volumes are calc'ed and in my Brewer's Friend profile. The malt bill is just a fuzz over 18# and I plan to mill at between .040-.045" gap to maximize recirc flow. The post boil gravity/volume should be 1.086/5.5g at 70% efficiency. Since I have a steam condenser, I'm only expecting around 0.9 gallons of boil off over 90 minutes (0.6 gal/hr).

Problem is, even if I mash with the full water volume with no pour-over sparge before squeezing, that would only be about 8.4 gallons. According a chart I found, that's not even going to cover the grains. Am I in for a bad time? Do I need more water and a longer boil? I'd really like to avoid adding DME/LME. How do you guys do big(ish) beers in this thing? Do we just ignore that the grist will not be completely submerged and trust the COFI tube to recirc and convert correctly?

Your efficiency is going to suck. This was the biggest weakness of the brew boss system. You can add LME/DME, make a smaller batch, or boil longer.

you can ditch the cofi basket and go with a bag. You can get a false bottom to hold the bag off the element if you’re worried about scorching the bag. I ran it both ways with a wilser bag and didn’t scorch it.

The cofi basket gives up too much volume, leading to grain that isn’t submerged.

 

[kc.rkitek]

Your efficiency is going to suck. This was the biggest weakness of the brew boss system. You can add LME/DME, make a smaller batch, or boil longer.

you can ditch the cofi basket and go with a bag. You can get a false bottom to hold the bag off the element if you’re worried about scorching the bag. I ran it both ways with a wilser bag and didn’t scorch it.

The cofi basket gives up too much volume, leading to grain that isn’t submerged.
. I mashed with full volume. Squeezed the cofi (maybe to much since i wasn't sparging) and ended up with a little more pre-boil volume than expected. So, I boiled an extra hour with the power up a little higher (31%) in an effort to increase boil off. When i got it down to my target post boil volume and got it chilled, gravity was 1.075. Not great, but not disastrous either. I'll just do my calcs next time with the lower efficiency for the bigger beers, do longer boils, and/or supplement with extract. I've got some dialing in to do. All in all, if say it was a pretty good brew day!

Yup, efficiency wasn't great... Maybe around 60% brewhouse. I mashed with the full volume so grains would be as covered as possible. They were, but the mash was very thick. I squeezed the cofi since i wasn't sparging (maybe too much) and ended up with a little more pre-boil volume than expected. So, I boiled an extra hour with the power up a little higher (31%) in an effort to increase boil off, almost 3 hrs. When i got it down to my target post boil volume and got it chilled, gravity was 1.075. Not great, but not disastrous either. I'll just do my calcs next time with the lower efficiency for the bigger beers, do longer boils, and/or supplement with extract. I've got some dialing in to do. All in all, if say it was a pretty good brew day!

 

[Mike Howard]

From Darin as of 1/15;

" We are hoping to reopen but the timing is uncertain. If you need parts, I can still provide most replacement parts, but it became impossible to sustain operations with lack of labor availability for assembly and shipping as well as difficulties sourcing materials."

 

[Mike Howard]

I typically get 75% - 80% efficiency with my 20 gallon Brew-Boss at an OG of <1.060 and doing complete 15 gallon batches. As the OG goes up (due to grain amount), the efficiency drops. I did an Imperial Stout with 1.085 OG and my efficiency was 60% using ~40lbs of grain, the COFI was full to the top. Belgian beers always give me >80% efficiency due to the candy sugar content and decrease in grain volume. Now I try to keep my COFI no more than 3/4 full of grain and using about 15 gallons of Mash water, topping up after the mash to hit OG. YMMV.

 

[ehall]

so I was brewing yesterday, one of those stupid little feet broke... again! and another just popped off. I still have a few extra so put them back on but the bumper feet are en route... can't wait to get past this annoying little feature of the brew boss.

 

[Mike Howard]

Same thing happened to me on Tuesday. I ordered a dozen feet awhile back, but need to switch to a more permanent option.

Hoping these will work:

https://www.amazon.com/Medium-Tall-...prefix=food+safe+rubber+bumper,aps,132&sr=8-2