Critique my brewstand design please.

[brewman !]

I don't know why you would need a block and tackle to lift the keg, assuming you are filling from a pressurized water source like a tap. Just use the pressure to push the water up into the keg.

The thing I wonder about is having an elevated mash vessel. People are complaining about having to climb up to look, stir, etc. I don't think it would be that bad, provided it isn't really high. As far as adding the grains goes, I can live with that. And if its on a tippy, its an advantage to have it high, so you can get the garbage can under it to catch the grains.

I'm leaning towards an elevated mash vessel right now.

 

[brewman !]

A single sturdy step up is all even a short person would need to see and be able to stir the mash at the height of the one in your design. I wouldn't sweat it.

That is what I am thinking.

I didn't realize people were talking about an empty keg. I thought they were filling it and then hoisting it. I've got an engine hoist and I bench press about 180, so either way, thats not an issue for me. *grin

I think I am going to go with an elevated mash vessel, ala B3-1550. I need to test my steam system and a few other things before I start actually building.

 

[brewman !]

Thanks, b4b ! I'll keep you posted. If things go well, I'll be working on the steam setup tomorrow.

 

[tron]

What is the purpose of having the laptop? just saw it in the picture and became curious, is that for making "micro" brews?

 

[brewman !]

Having a laptop control everything means its easy to make various changes to the control algorithms and it provides a lot more versatility and functionality.

 

[tron]

Having a laptop control everything means its easy to make various changes to the control algorithms and it provides a lot more versatility and functionality.

Dang you must have a handle on home brewing, I just think fire,water,barley, hops, yeast, and ferment, so far that has made good beer for me. I hope to reach that level someday.

 

[brewman !]

I've got a background in controls and electronics and computers, so its pretty easy for me. PID controllers are OK, but they can have a hard time with non linear heating systems and such. I am going to try to automate the steam heating of my mash and I kind of doubt a PID controller would work well for that. With a microcontroller and a laptop, I can do some pretty funky control stuff.

Plus I can coordinate a bunch of things together during the brew all from one laptop. For instance, if I put an electric heating element in the HLT and I have one in the steam boiler and I can't have them both on at the same time, thats easy to do. It could also be do with 2 PID controllers but it takes more wiring and relays.

At some point with controls it gets easier to do things in software than hardware.

Another thing I want to do is log mash temperatures to a chart so that when I do step mashes, I can see what I am actually doing to the mash.

Brewing beer is all about temp control when mashing. You and I are both doing the same things. I am just trying to automate the process and have a little more consistency. Time will tell if its successful/worthwhile or not.

 

[kladue]

Have you worked with Opto 22 hardware before?. I am in the process of automating a single tier steam injection Rims system with flow, temperature, level, pump, fuel flow and ignition for the burners. All of the control equipment has been purchased on Ebay over the last year at fairly low cost, all that is left is the purchase of a couple of PT 100 rtds to complete the hardware.

 

[brewman !]

Have you worked with Opto 22 hardware before?."

No.

 

[kladue]

What are you planning to use as tempertaure sensors and interface to analog input points on interface board

 

[brewman !]

The microcontroller board doesn't need an interface board. Its interface is 0 to 5 volts directly into the ADC. My temp sensors will be thermistors powered by the board power supply, 5 volts and to the ADC will probably be 1 to 4 V.

 

[brewman !]

Update. The steam boiler is ready to boil.

The microcontroller board arrived today. I got it shipped USPS. Its just like the pictures except the terminal strips don't have screws like the picture shows They have a 0.100" header, so no big deal. But screws would have been nicer.

I am probably not going to have time to work with it for a while though. Just saying.

 

[Topanga]

Looks like a great stab at a functional design--I'm visiting all the local club members' set-ups with an eye to building my own some day--If it makes good beer, it was a success!

 

[wildbill]

Keep me posted the microcontroller board development and the front end GUI programming.

I've been wanting to automagic some functions for a long time.

I cant wait to check out your source code!

Keep'on Truck'n! oh yeah, and Linux Rocks!

 

[brewman !]

Keep me posted the microcontroller board development and the front end GUI programming.

Sure thing. I'll post here.

I've been wanting to automagic some functions for a long time.

ah... the power of Open Source code !

I cant wait to check out your source code!

Now I'm nervous... *chuckle Get Eclipse, get an Ardruino board and help me ! http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=666

Keep'on Truck'n! oh yeah, and Linux Rocks!

You got that right !

Just in case you missed it, I've built the Corny steam boiler for this project and I've tested steam mashing. I'll be too busy to work on the stand for a while, but I'm slowly piecing things together.