Breweries and Introduction

[Jonathon]

Hey guys,
I have been visiting HBT for a while now and thought I would introduce myself. Im an electrician from Australia and have been all grain brewing for the last 2 years. I must admit i have done alot more building than brewing.

These are my two Rigs, The first is a 50L all electric, RIMS, fully automated brewery.

3 * 3.6kw elements
8 * actuated valves
4 * temp probes
USB io card
custom interface written in VB.

The new system has a 180L capacity all stainless with triclover fittings and electric HERMS system controlled by an SLC500 PLC with scada interface. It has a tipping mash tun for easy spent grain removal. Around %80 finished another month and it should be a goer....

Cheers..

 

[ajwillys]

Awesome Setup! Welcome to the forum. This is the best first post I've ever seen!

 

[Aleforge]

AWESOME! Another forum user to be completely jealous of!

J/k - Welcome to the forums, well welcome to actually "talking" on the forums. You seem to be a very good person to become great friends with.

 

[FSR402]

damn it, now I have to upgrade yet again.

 

[de_ronde]

Good Lord, Man. You could open a brewpub! Welcome to HBT!

 

[bull8042]

REAL FREAKIN' NICE..... already on the verge of getting my new system in operation, then some jerk comes in and sucks the damn wind right out of my sails.
Bloody awesome and impressive system, but I still hate you!

 

[ClaudiusB]

Great system!

How much automation did you put into your computer stand?

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

 

[bull8042]

Oh yeah, and welcome to HBT. Now, please excuse me while I try to beat myself to death with my mash paddle.....

 

[Jonathon]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys, opening a brewpub or similar is definitely a long term goal..
few more pics

mash tun tipping:

New control cabinet

 

[Jonathon]

Great system!

How much automation did you put into your computer stand?

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

haha , just tipped out the apples and bobs your uncle...

 

[llazy_llama]

After looking at that setup, I can't decide whether to cry or **** my pants. Maybe both.

Amazing setup, man. You just made 99% of this forum insanely jealous. Welcome aboard!

 

[atl_sud]

It is hard to determine the scale of your vessels on first pic of your second setup. Do you have a pic with your new setup next to a standard keg?

180 liters is just under 50 gallons. Damn, you Aussies drink a lot of beer!:cross:

My 10 gallon batches (~1.054) takes about 23 lbs of grain. So 180 liters would take a little more than 2 x 55# sacks of grain.

Now show us your grain silo(s), fermentation setup and your serving setup!

 

[Jonathon]

Here are a few more the only pic i have that may show scale is one with my ugly mug in it...

 

[ClaudiusB]

Get rid of the mill designer


Cheers,
ClaudiusB

 

[Jonathon]

Get rid of the mill designer


Cheers,
ClaudiusB

That was an afternoon project after i realized I needed one that day. Soon to be upgraded!

 

[bernerbrau]

Man, and all this time I've just been jealous of the people who have their simple three-tier setups.

Then YOU come along and post these pictures... I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you have to die now.

 

[ClutchDude]

That is freakin' awesome. I gotta know what valves you are in the using in the first picture of the 50L.

 

[Jonathon]

That is freakin' awesome. I gotta know what valves you are in the using in the first picture of the 50L.

They are Honeywell VC6012 240v valve actuators. Used for HVAC normally i think.

bernerbits: Id rather not die, its not finished yet...

 

[bernerbrau]

bernerbits: Id rather not die, its not finished yet...

Then I suppose you'll have to hope my attention span is - hey, is that a ladybug??

 

[UnaBonger]

Allow me to be the first to say "I HATE YOU!!!"...




(j/k, jealousy rears its ugly head...)

 

[John Beere]

I so wish I could weld...

 

[Jonathon]

I so wish I could weld...

you can! I bought a TIG and started practicing, once you realize how expensive it is ti stuff up you get good real quick...

 

[Aleforge]

I wish I could also, so to make brewstands and the like the TIG type is what is needed?

 

[kladue]

WOW, finally someone has built a professional looking plc control system for a homebrewing system in a Stainless steel console cabinet. Looks like you are going to be using pneumatic actuators for the valving, pneumatics going to mount in console or in external enclosure.

 

[Jonathon]

I wish I could also, so to make brewstands and the like the TIG type is what is needed?

yeah a dc TIG is the go..

 

[Jonathon]

WOW, finally someone has built a professional looking plc control system for a homebrewing system in a Stainless steel console cabinet. Looks like you are going to be using pneumatic actuators for the valving, pneumatics going to mount in console or in external enclosure.

Yes the actuators are pneumatic, the valve block for these is mounted just not plumbed up yet. If you look at the control cabinet picture the valve block has 8 modules and is in the middle right of the board.

 

[Domminigan]

That is one clean build. The wires look spectacular too!

 

[Jaybird]

Damn nice build bro! I built PLC's for a living for about 4-5 years, you did a great job. Where are you getting the AB SLC500 cards and chassis? How many thermocouple cards are you using, and if you don’t mind me asking and how much did they cost you. I can’t seem to find a cheep place to buy them. I was thinking of going w/ GE but I really like the AB programming software. Are you going to be using any touch screens? Would you be willing to shoot me an I/O list so I can see what you are doing?
Again GREAT build.
Cheers
JJ

 

[Jonathon]

Damn nice build bro! I built PLC's for a living for about 4-5 years, you did a great job. Where are you getting the AB SLC500 cards and chassis? How many thermocouple cards are you using, and if you don’t mind me asking and how much did they cost you. I can’t seem to find a cheep place to buy them. I was thinking of going w/ GE but I really like the AB programming software. Are you going to be using any touch screens? Would you be willing to shoot me an I/O list so I can see what you are doing?
Again GREAT build.
Cheers
JJ

Thanks mate..
I got the SLC rack and processor locally on ebay abot $350 aussie. Im using a 4 channel ptd100 card that was purchased from an American seller on eBay also for around USD$100, ill try and find details but eBay especially in the US has a lot of gear. I would stick with AB for sure. If you PM me your email i can send you the io list when I dig it up. I have written a HMI interface in Visual Studio that talks to the SLC and I'm yet to purchase a touch screen to run it on.

 

[Marquez]

Boy you have some great looking rigs!

What kind of beers have you done with it? Have you found it lacking in ability or difficult in getting it dialed in?

If you have some time, can you take some close up pix of both rigs and details, and describe their operation? Some of the other members of HBT have done the same, and it has been very educational.

Thanks!