Brew Magic to electric

[jtkratzer]

Ordered o-rings to replace them all on the 14 kegs I picked up over the last few days.

Starting to shop for the fittings, couplings, etc for the planned holes to be drilled.

 

[P-J]

Ok: Bases on a really nice phone conversation, I've revamped the brewery plan.
(Hey, It's a work in progress with a great system as the planned outcome.)

The plan now is to eliminate the RIMS setup and then utilize a HERMS setup.

As always - click on the image for a full scale diagram that is printable on Tabloid paper (11" x 17").

 

[P-J]

Ordered o-rings to replace them all on the 14 kegs I picked up over the last few days.

Starting to shop for the fittings, couplings, etc for the planned holes to be drilled.

Justin,

Lets talk out the fittings, couplings & holes to be drilled before you run down that path.

Edit: A parts list will follow as soon as we settle on the overall plan. No?

Paul
P-J

 

[jtkratzer]

Ok: Bases on a really nice phone conversation, I've revamped the brewery plan.
(Hey, It's a work in progress with a great system as the planned outcome.)

The plan now is to eliminate the RIMS setup and then utilize a HERMS setup.

As always - click on the image for a full scale diagram that is printable on Tabloid paper (11" x 17").

http://www.pjmuth.org/beerstuff/images/Auberin-wiring1-a11a-RM-SYL-2352-5500w.jpg

P-J, Both designs have not had an element in the MLT. Is the HERMS coil sufficient for increasing the mash temp in a reasonable amount of time for step mashing or any other "large" jump in temps?

 

[jtkratzer]

Picked up 9 ball locks tonight...the 5 kegs I got over the weekend that were nasty are cleaning up nicely with an OxyClean soak.

The three oddball pin locks are going to my future brother in law, they're the only thing that fits in his not-quite-mini-college-fridge. Needless to say, he's pumped.

Side note - my wife was in Dubai recently for work and rode a camel on a touristy trip. First thing I thought of was this:

Don't hate, my daughter (18 months), likes the Black Eyed Peas beats.

P-J has been awesome helping me avoid some pitfalls and figure out the entire process.

 

[jtkratzer]

Justin,

Lets talk out the fittings, couplings & holes to be drilled before you run down that path.

Edit: A parts list will follow as soon as we settle on the overall plan. No?

Paul
P-J

Sounds good. What time is good to talk tomorrow? During the day is fine or I should be home from work between 5-6 and can get a tape measure on the kegs with get some marks on them.



Is this the infamous Greenlee step bit I need to go out to 1" holes for the heating elements?
http://www.lowes.com/pd_158038-7206...&currentURL=/pl__0__s?Ntt=step+bit&facetInfo=

 

[jtkratzer]

Talked to P-J on Thursday and got some things figured out. Copper for the HERMS coil, stir motor, QDs, and heat elements ordered.

Anyone have contact info for Brewer's Hardware or are they a member here?

 

[pickles]

Derrin (owner of Brewers Hardware) is a member here.

 

[jtkratzer]

Derrin (owner of Brewers Hardware) is a member here.

Thanks. I sent him a PM. the website just has a contact form, not an email address or phone number.

P-J, how's the parts list coming for the electric side of the house?

 

[jtkratzer]

Derrin (owner of Brewers Hardware) is a member here.

Sent a PM and contact on his website and nothing...

Anyone else carry a tri-clover heater element housing like this product from Brewer's Hardware:
http://www.brewershardware.com/TC15F10NPSCOV.html

Copper coil, SSRs, heatsinks, QDs, o-rings, and one of my PIDs are here. Ordering more stuff tonight.

 

[pickles]

Why are you contacting him? You could just buy the item, its in stock according to the website.

 

[jtkratzer]

Why are you contacting him? You could just buy the item, its in stock according to the website.

Seems obvious I have some questions about things I'd like to purchase...why else would I need to contact him?

 

[pickles]

Oh, no need to get snappy. I thought maybe we could help with your questions. He's the only one I know of selling that item or anything like it. I searched a bunch before I made mine, he wasn't selling them then and neither was any other source I looked at.

 

[jtkratzer]

Oh, no need to get snappy. I thought maybe we could help with your questions. He's the only one I know of selling that item or anything like it. I searched a bunch before I made mine, he wasn't selling them then and neither was any other source I looked at.

Sorry, didn't meant to come across that way...it's just a bit frustrating when you're trying to give someone a decent chunk of change and you don't hear from them.

 

[pickles]

No problem. I've bought plenty from him and he's been really helpful. I know others have had custom stuff made and they've said he was awesome to work with. He might have something personal tying him up. It'll be worth it for you to give him a chance to respond. Plus you'll be really hard pressed to find some thing comparable. Another option would be to contact a old HBT member named Swagman. I dont believe he posts here anymore due vendor issues. He does custom stainless work and i know hes made one of those before. I think you can find him on the the Green Board or the Brewing Network forum.

 

[jtkratzer]

I'm not upset, just wanted to get the welding and fittings done and it's not going to make my timeline now. My welder is going to be gone for a month starting next week. I was hoping to order last week and have everything by now. Oh well.

Swagman doesn't accept PMs on HBT and I'm not in those other forums.

 

[jtkratzer]

Swapped some emails today with Derrin and got my order placed. I'm picking up the last few items tonight at Home Depot.

I need to find an enclosure for the controller build.

 

[jtkratzer]

Went through all the order confirmation emails and receipts and I believe I have everything other than the enclosure case/box and the extra wiring to connect all the components in the box. This added up in a hurry.

I'm hoping everything is delivered by the middle of next week and I can get stuff dropped off for the welder whenever he's available and I can work on the control panel.

Any suggestions on where to buy an enclosure/panel?

 

[pickles]

PM a member here named CodeRage, he had recently posted on the BrewTroller forum quite a few enclosures, mostly ss, that his company was getting rid of for pennies on the dollar compared to their retail price. They may have some left.

 

[jtkratzer]

I sent him a PM and P-J sent me a link to the ad on another forum for the same enclosures. Thank you both.

I looked over my parts list and the control box at theelectricbrewery.com and came up with this for what I currently have in parts and I am thinking about adding a third PID to monitor the mash temp and wire it to an alarm if the temp gets out of control for some reason. I was thinking I could set the alarm function on the BK PID as well to let me know when I've reach my strike temperature.

If I add another PID and alarm, I could do something like this with the control box.

The red, three-position switch in the middle is going to be cannibalized from the existing control box to give power to the PIDs and the far right position will also power the stir motor.

Or I could do without the PID for the mash since I have a thermometer in the cross fitting where the wort is pulled from the MLT on its way to the HERMS coil. I like the alarm idea if it's loud enough for mr to hear it in the house for bring water up to strike temp.

Any issues trying cram everything into an enclosure this way?

 

[jtkratzer]

Got home from my eye exam, went from 20/400 to 20/10-20/15 in three months after PRK surgery, and picking up broadheads for archery, and it was like Christmas at my house. I think six packages were at the front door from Automation Direct, Bargain Fittings, Auber Instruments, etc.

Waiting on Brewer's Hardware and Grainger packages to arrive and I need to decide on a control box and it will be go time.

 

[jtkratzer]

Grainger was delivered at work on Friday and my heating elements are here from Bob's Home and Hardware. Just need my stuff from Brewer's Hardware and I need to get a step bit and drilling done so I can drop stuff off at the welder.

 

[jtkratzer]

Still waiting on some things from Brewer's Hardware and an enclosure, so no progress at this point.

What's the best/most effective way to drill/cut a 1.5" hole in a stainless steel keg to then weld a triclamp ferrule into?

 

[DamageCT]

What's the best/most effective way to drill/cut a 1.5" hole in a stainless steel keg to then weld a triclamp ferrule into?

I'd have to guess a stepbit drillbit would do it.

 

[jtkratzer]

I'd have to guess a stepbit drillbit would do it.

I haven't looked online, but the hardware store only went up to 7/8".

 

[pickles]

I tried step bits but ultimately used hole saws. Whatever method you use, be sure to go very slow, use lots of pressure, and use plenty of oil. If you go to fast, even for a short period of time, you WILL work harden the area to be drilled and you're f***ed!

 

[jtkratzer]

Finally got all my parts in. Just need to get the right wire to do the enclosure, which I'm waiting on an inventory update to purchase.

Hopefully over the next few weeks I can get my holes cut/drilled and drop everything off with the welder.

 

[jtkratzer]

The element adapters from Brewer's Hardware don't work with the Cameco 2963 Ripple elements. They don't fit through due to the curves. So, those are going up in the classifieds and I'm searching for ultra low watt density straight elements.

 

[jtkratzer]

Would a knockout punch set work since I need to do 1/4", 1/2", and 1 1/2" holes rather than buying hole saws for all those sizes?

 

[jtkratzer]

Which one? If the first one is no good for the BK, how about the HLT where it will only be exposed to water and the other for use in the BK with wort?

Low watt density:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WYZSQU/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Ultra low watt density:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001RD7MK0/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20