electric brewing without herms coil using rectangle cooler

[schach23]

Guys,

I simply want to move in doors. Just finished my basement. Have a dedicated man cave/brew room now. Installing a 220 line. I do all grain with a rectangle cooler for my mash tun (batch sparge with a stainless braided hose inside) and and just got my first pump to whirlpool. Looking to move indoors for various reasons. Been reading a lot here.

First I need to add a manifold to my mash tun, install 2 elements, one in the HLT and one in the BK, get a controller with one PID such as: http://brumatic.com/BRU-matic-DBC1MA-DBC1MA.htm
which has a manual control knob for boil control. I will learn how high to turn the knob to achieve my optimal boil. The PID and temp probe will be for automated control of the HLT water temp and the probe will stay there. I will unplug and plug in the elements when I need them. I will keep my mash tun, will not recirculate the mash, but use the pump to fly sparge while gravity draining the mash and sparge into the BK then use the controller to control the boil. I can then hook up my pump to the BK to do my usual whirlpool at the end and probably for now keep my immersion chiller.

Hope that makes sense. Just dropped a whole lot of cash on the basement build, will be adding two kegerators in the bar so that's extra. Can't afford the 3 vessel herms yet. Maybe in the future.

Scott

 

[ccfoo242]

That's similar to what I'm planning.

 

[Hello]

That is a solid plan. Alex over at BRUmatic is the mastermind behind my controller as well. I intended to go to HERMs, but I made sure I could brew more or less like you are until I did expand to the full HERMs setup. Here's how I work right now...

I did a test run last weekend. I am using my cooler as my MLT still and I did not recirculate my wort, though I could have by drawing out from the bottom into the top of the cooler. I put the temp prob for the HLT in a T fitting and recirculated the water through the pump because the valve needed to be open to let the probe take a temp reading. If I never intended to add the HERMs, the probe would simply be in the kettle wall.

I used a pump to move water to the HLT and then wort to the BK. Like you, I have a manual switch and knob on my panel, but had a PID and alarm put in for the BK. Although entirely unnecessary, it was just what I wanted.

My BK temp probe is in the kettle wall, the elements stay where they're at and I don't unplug them when not in use; I switch off my 220 breaker which is right next to the control panel anyway. So I have a 50a panel so I can run back to back batches if I choose, a PID for the HLT and BK, plug for wort and water pumps, two temp probes, two element plugs, and I did have him give me something like a 6' cord with the plug installed. The plug itself is not installed in case there are existing setups. But he'll put a plug on it.

All in all, I did the auto-tune of the two PIDs on Saturday and ran a test batch. I am very happy with the functionality of the system. My HERMs coil arrived and my hardware to use it will be ordered later today or tomorrow.

 

[Bigfish713]

So how do you like the BRU matic controller I am torn between building one or buy one from them.

 

[iijakii]

So how do you like the BRU matic controller I am torn between building one or buy one from them.

If you'd enjoy building one then go for it! It's a fun project for some people. That said, those Brumatic controllers are pretty nicely priced and quality.

 

[schach23]

Haven't taken the plunge yet

 

[Spartan1979]

I've thought about doing something similar. Just doing what I have been doing with a kettle and a Gott Cooler. Just converting the pot to electric although I probably would add a second kettle to act as a HLT and get rid of having to collect my wort in a bucket before the kettle is empty of my sparge water.

I make good beer, so just do what I always have and keep it simple.

 

[schach23]

I was gonna go this route but couldn't pass up the spike 25% off sale. Got a HLT with a herms coil and a 2"TC fitting for the element. Now I have 3 vessels. Looks like my cooler days are numbered. Just finished my basement and have a brewing spot. Really think this 3 vessel herms setup will simplify my brew day