nick sekerak
Well-Known Member
Just did my first brew with my new Inkbird Pb16 controller and need some guidance to troubleshoot my temp control setup.
My setup is:
-20 gal kettle with 2- 1650w elements, pump with loc-line sparge arm
-False bottom at the 3.5 gal level w/ probe for the inkbird zip tied above my two elements in the middle if the kettle
-Kettle temp probe at 7 gal level
Since my kettle probe and inkbird controller probe are in two different spots i was getting two different temp readings and I am unsure which temp to go off during mash or which one is correct. During mash my controller was holding perfectly at 153*(wort temp under the falsebottom) and i had it re-circulating the water on top of my grains. So the 153* wort was pumping into my grain bag at my target temp was my thinking. Sounds good on paper right?
My kettle probe was reading in the 140's during the mash. I was re-circulating the entire mash. But it makes me wounder what my actual mash temp was or should be considered; is it 140 or 153 degrees??. I am guessing i mashed in too low from my 153* target temp, since the temp of my grains in water of my brew bag was lower(140 deg measured by kettle probe). I achieved 70% BHE for this batch which was in line with my other batches for my system.
But i am not sure what to do for the next batch.
Option 1:
Should i move the controller probe to be more centered in the middle of the grains both vertically and horizontally?
Option 2: Raise the temp controller settings up until my kettle probe reading reaches my target mash temp. I am estimating the wort in the falsebottom cavity would be about 10-12 degrees higher than my mash target temp. Is there any downs side to doing this, espically if i am recirculating?
I am not sure what is best, but i do want to be able to play with mash temps to see how they impact my recipes for good/bad. I just need help on dialing in my system!!!
My setup is:
-20 gal kettle with 2- 1650w elements, pump with loc-line sparge arm
-False bottom at the 3.5 gal level w/ probe for the inkbird zip tied above my two elements in the middle if the kettle
-Kettle temp probe at 7 gal level
Since my kettle probe and inkbird controller probe are in two different spots i was getting two different temp readings and I am unsure which temp to go off during mash or which one is correct. During mash my controller was holding perfectly at 153*(wort temp under the falsebottom) and i had it re-circulating the water on top of my grains. So the 153* wort was pumping into my grain bag at my target temp was my thinking. Sounds good on paper right?
My kettle probe was reading in the 140's during the mash. I was re-circulating the entire mash. But it makes me wounder what my actual mash temp was or should be considered; is it 140 or 153 degrees??. I am guessing i mashed in too low from my 153* target temp, since the temp of my grains in water of my brew bag was lower(140 deg measured by kettle probe). I achieved 70% BHE for this batch which was in line with my other batches for my system.
But i am not sure what to do for the next batch.
Option 1:
Should i move the controller probe to be more centered in the middle of the grains both vertically and horizontally?
Option 2: Raise the temp controller settings up until my kettle probe reading reaches my target mash temp. I am estimating the wort in the falsebottom cavity would be about 10-12 degrees higher than my mash target temp. Is there any downs side to doing this, espically if i am recirculating?
I am not sure what is best, but i do want to be able to play with mash temps to see how they impact my recipes for good/bad. I just need help on dialing in my system!!!