Brewie

[sharpbeer]

@sharpbeer sounds like the heating element wires are no good. If you are a little handy you CAN fix this yourself! Scroll up the last few pages- i just did it on my B20. There is a parts list, guides, etc.
Take you 3 hours at most and maybe $25.

Thank you for the quick response. I will look at it when I get back from work!
One quick question, is there a way to know/test for sure if it is the heating element wires before I start purchasing parts and opening up the Brewie?

 

[Ajes]

Can you tell us whether it is a B+, or B20?
Also, what version of the software do you have on the machine (3.0.16? 3.1.1? 3.1.2?)
Hang in there - there's lots of help to get here

 

[Nate R]

I don't agree at all. Your analogy only changes heat source.

I agree with you- heat source. Imagine cooking a spagetti dinner outside over a campfire. Limited heat control. Manual movement of pans etc.
Now imagine using a cook-top with technology to keep the temp exact. And it turns off the heat when the sauce is done.
And moves the hot water off of the noodles when they are cooked. And has a built in dishwasher. Etc. Etc.
Technology to help move the process and keep the important aspects (time and temp) dialed in.

To each his or her own. But this is not the Hungryman tv dinner.
I would argue that extract is the microwave of beer making.
But that is also not fair.

I wish i had time, space, and money for a huge 3 vessel system. But i just don't.

 

[Nate R]

Thank you for the quick response. I will look at it when I get back from work!
One quick question, is there a way to know/test for sure if it is the heating element wires before I start purchasing parts and opening up the Brewie?

Probablu, but based on what you have said i would bet craft beers to seltzer water it is what we have all experienced.
You can do what i did- open it up first then order parts. But i had an open brewie on the kitchen counter for 2 weeks. I have an amazing wife tho!

 

[sharpbeer]

Can you tell us whether it is a B+, or B20?
Also, what version of the software do you have on the machine (3.0.16? 3.1.1? 3.1.2?)
Hang in there - there's lots of help to get here

It is a B20+, 3.1.1

 

[sharpbeer]

Probablu, but based on what you have said i would bet craft beers to seltzer water it is what we have all experienced.
You can do what i did- open it up first then order parts. But i had an open brewie on the kitchen counter for 2 weeks. I have an amazing wife tho!

I will open it this Wednesday/Thursday when I get time. Thank you!

 

[Ajes]

The analogy is as close as I could come. Taking all the ingredients and sticking them into the micro and just waiting as opposed to cooking something like where you would boil pasta, saute onions etc, add those two together with more ingredients and bake. The results are about the same, but the more involved cooking to me is more fun.

I don't really think this analogy is close. In my experience there will be a big difference in taste between these two - that same doesn't apply for the brewie vs grainfather type system I mentioned.
Also, there is a lot more differences in the processes you are describing.
I mentioned the 4 biggest differences I have experienced between the two brewing processes. For me the automization of those 4 doesn't take anything away from the brewing experience. I can choose to do them if I whish - I have that option - but doing those four things wouldn't change anything about how much or how little I enjoy brewing. (My wife still doesn't quite understand why I don't look as goofy-happy when doing the tasks she thinks I should enjoy......)

 

[Ajes]

It is a B20+, 3.1.1

Try to go to developer mode (go to recipes and type "morecontrol" in the search field.
Put some water in the boil tank, and push the boil tank button - check to see whether this starts heating up.
REMEMBER to put in water first

 

[Blazinlow86]

I agree with you- heat source. Imagine cooking a spagetti dinner outside over a campfire. Limited heat control. Manual movement of pans etc.
Now imagine using a cook-top with technology to keep the temp exact. And it turns off the heat when the sauce is done.
And moves the hot water off of the noodles when they are cooked. And has a built in dishwasher. Etc. Etc.
Technology to help move the process and keep the important aspects (time and temp) dialed in.

To each his or her own. But this is not the Hungryman tv dinner.
I would argue that extract is the microwave of beer making.
But that is also not fair.

I wish i had time, space, and money for a huge 3 vessel system. But i just don't.

You fell for the brewie marketing and actually believe that brewing on anything but the brewie has to be a all day affair on a huge outdoor propane 3 vessel system. People have been brewing indoors with heating control for long time before the brewie came along. The reality is the brewie doesn't save much actual hand on time at all. If you literally cannot be near your brew system for a few minutes a few times throughout your brewday and it hadnt failed spectacularly the brewie would have been a great choice. No chance I would trust the fire hazard to run unattended in my house. Cheers

 

[kh54s10]

I agree with you- heat source. Imagine cooking a spagetti dinner outside over a campfire. Limited heat control. Manual movement of pans etc.
Now imagine using a cook-top with technology to keep the temp exact. And it turns off the heat when the sauce is done.
And moves the hot water off of the noodles when they are cooked. And has a built in dishwasher. Etc. Etc.
Technology to help move the process and keep the important aspects (time and temp) dialed in.

To each his or her own. But this is not the Hungryman tv dinner.
I would argue that extract is the microwave of beer making.
But that is also not fair.

I wish i had time, space, and money for a huge 3 vessel system. But i just don't.

You guys are going to extremes to defend a seriously inferior product. I was just saying I enjoy brewing INCLUDING hands on....

 

[Ajes]

Hmm...
I fail to see how we are going to extremes.
Wouldn't that make it equally extreme to keep making negative comments, when most posts in this thread (at least for the last many pages) are about people trying to help out those who actually do enjoy using the machine?

 

[Nate R]

Ok all.. some great points on both sides above. But, let's get back on-track to what is really important right now...
My current issues with the water valve (lol, sorry- but need some help here!)

~~~~~
Ok all supportive Brewie repair friends.... so I got my machine up and running. Boiled at over 213 degrees for a full size batch! Yes!

BUT- when cooling came, the water supply to the heat exchange did not go. (I do get water in to the machine for cleaning, etc.) I assume the valve is not correct, but I just opened it up and cannot find any visible issues,

Thoughts anyone? I am going to scour the repair guides now, see if there is anything there.

So, any pointers on the water valve issue are much appreciated! Thanks all!

 

[Ajes]

You're right - back on track
Did you try opening the valve through dev-mode? Might help figuring out whether we are looking at hardware or software issues.

 

[Nate R]

You're right - back on track
Did you try opening the valve through dev-mode? Might help figuring out whether we are looking at hardware or software issues.

Yeah good idea. I forgot to do that before i flipped it over and took off the cover.
I think i will trace the wires- maybe i cut it somehow? Unplugged it somehow?

 

[Still Brewn]

I will open it this Wednesday/Thursday when I get time. Thank you!

There is a fuse but I think it no longer boots if blown. What you are looking for is discoloration of the yellow shown ..... may be black or brown now. If it is white you have a machine with the upgraded wires but it should (in my opinion) have the fan mod done to it.

You're right - back on track
Did you try opening the valve through dev-mode? Might help figuring out whether we are looking at hardware or software issues.

Plus 1 on this. Double check that you had the water on and that you had the recipe configured to cool the wort. While you have it apart check that all plugs are plugged in tightly.
I cant remember if the water valve was a 2 outlet or a single outlet either way double check the plug on it.

 

[Ajes]

Yeah good idea. I forgot to do that before i flipped it over and took off the cover.
I think i will trace the wires- maybe i cut it somehow? Unplugged it somehow?

Yeah check that. The inlet is a dual valve, so you should have 4 wires going to it. It can be difficult to hear whether the valve opens, so you might want to connect water for this test.

 

[HarkinBanks]

Yeah check that. The inlet is a dual valve, so you should have 4 wires going to it. It can be difficult to hear whether the valve opens, so you might want to connect water for this test.

Nate, I'm going to guess one of the wires got unplugged while you were rooting around fixing things. This has happened to me a few times. The pump wires have simple connectors that can easily unplug, and there are several connections over near the water inlets that can get pulled out when you pull up the base plate. Trace all of the wires that you can and then put the machine in developer/test mode to test all of the valves individually.

 

[Nate R]

Thanks @HarkinBanks and @Ajes for the tips.
You know what i realized (embarassingly that i missed this!).

The water auto-filled for a cleaning cycle before the brew.
When the cooling cycle started, i got a pop-up stating there was no water. When i hit "ok" then water DID come out of the chiller outlet hose.
So the water valve IS working... but now i wonder if maybe a "pincher" valve (one of the switchig valves? What are thoose, anyways?) Is unplugged. So i will check thoose wires next.
I will update results here later.
Thanks all!!

 

[kh54s10]

Adventures in Homebrewing still has these on their website. $2428.99. It says ships from vendor and the site did allow me to put it in my cart. That is far as I went.

Resurrected company or just slow website management by AIH? Can't imagine anyone buying one at full price after reading all the 62 pages here.

 

[Nate R]

Adventures in Homebrewing still has these on their website. $2428.99. It says ships from vendor and the site did allow me to put it in my cart. That is far as I went.

Resurrected company or just slow website management by AIH? Can't imagine anyone buying one at full price after reading all the 62 pages here.

Who reads anymore?? Lol. Heck i havent even read all 62 pages here... i just skim when needed.

Looks like maybe a drop-ship deal? I would bet it does not go through.

Amazon has them $999 prime.

 

[applescrap]

If a couple of mods and hit a button and it works, I remain interested at 250. I just have such a powerful simple system I just cant afford it right now. But I love the idea of it.

 

[Nate R]

If a couple of mods and hit a button and it works, I remain interested at 250. I just have such a powerful simple system I just cant afford it right now. But I love the idea of it.

Yeah... be careful on the ebay $250 units... thoose are a little more hit & miss lol.

 

[Nate R]

Thanks @HarkinBanks and @Ajes for the tips.
You know what i realized (embarassingly that i missed this!).

The water auto-filled for a cleaning cycle before the brew.
When the cooling cycle started, i got a pop-up stating there was no water. When i hit "ok" then water DID come out of the chiller outlet hose.
So the water valve IS working... but now i wonder if maybe a "pincher" valve (one of the switchig valves? What are thoose, anyways?) Is unplugged. So i will check thoose wires next.
I will update results here later.
Thanks all!!

Well, although I looked about a dozen times, on the next look I found a small plastic cable connector that was not re-plugged in (or had come un-plugged during the fix).
Just ran a manual test and we had circulation! So I can assume my chiller will now work.
Going to do a real brew now.
Again, thanks all for the help here!

 

[Ajes]

It's aliiiive

 

[sharpbeer]

Alright,
I have a day off work so I can mess around with the Brewie+, v 3.1.1. Set it to developer mode, placed 1 gallon in each mash and boil sides, and set the heaters to 50C. The mash (right) side, went from 30C to 50C in just a few min, turned it off and tried the boil (left) side. It does not heat, stuck at 30C and falling after 10 min, so I can safely assume it is the heating element/wires, thanks @Nate R !

Now, I opened the Brewie up from the bottom but I'm not exactly sure how to get to the heating element and its wiring... do I have to remove all of these pumps and tubing? I did find the repair PDF back a few pages but that is for the B20 and my unit is the Brewie + so it's internals are arranged a bit differently.

 

[Ajes]

If you go to brewieforum.net, you can find the repair guides for both B20 and B20+.

 

[Nate R]

@sharpbeer you can go here:
http://www.brewieforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7

Also, look at page 59 of this thread. Lots o good info there, too!
Hit up the Google Drive (Pg 57 or 58?) as well- grab the files.

 

[sharpbeer]

So, I'm going to assume these wires all need to be replaced...?

 

[Nate R]

So, I'm going to assume these wires all need to be replaced...?

Looks like it, yes.
I used some super fine sandpaper to clean up the terminal ends.

Note- you may not have to replace the wires, perhaps just the end connectors (and then use the flex grip tape above to wrap several times.)

Others here may disagree and suggest you replace the wires. Might be worth it since you already have it open.

 

[shadow160]

I would replace them. They are damaged from over heating and you already have it open. Do it once and be done