Gaptooth Brewhouse is ready for action!

[pickles]

Well it's 99% done, just a few things to button up. I plan to send her on the maiden voyage next saturday. It's powered by 50A GFCI, SSRs on all hot legs, two 4500W elements (one in HLT and one in BK), RIMS has a 3500W element. All running on 220v. All 1/2" stainless plumbing (except the connections to the pump heads where I transitioned from hose barb to SS). Two Iwaki MD-70RLZ (~ 1/3 hp) pumps; I've measured flow rate from one vessel to the next (through the RIMS) at 7.5 gpm at full throttle. It has an Alfa Laval plate chiller (816 square inches) located in the lower left and the small vessel on the ground in front is a hopback that I haven't quite finished. And of course, its BrewTroller controlled. I did a quick test with 5.5 gallons; using the HLT element and the RIMS and was able to raise the water temp 56F in 10 minutes. You'll notice that for the HLT and MT I used the 2" sanke connector on the keg as my drain. A 2" tri-clover fits perfectly; and I don't have any dead space and don't have to worry about losing a siphon.

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More pictures

 

[PintOfBitter]

oh. yeah.

 

[ZWood15]

WOW! That's beautiful!! I want.

 

[bad67z]

Wow, that looks great. I really like the hard plumbing w/ Swagelok fittings. And the finishing touch of a bottle opener proves you have thought of everything. Good luck on the inaugural brew session.

Cheers....

 

[Ohio-Ed]

Very nice Pickles!
Congrats on finishing and good luck next week.

Ed

 

[pickles]

More pictures

 

[Reelale]

where did you get those RIMS? They look to be 4" or more diameter. And, I'm too lazy (druk) to read back, what are you using as a heating element.

 

[klyph]

Glorious.

Is there a reason the third vessel isn't inverted?

 

[ellijo89]

that looks amazing!

 

[pickles]

Glorious.

Is there a reason the third vessel isn't inverted?

Sure is. I'm gonna whirlpool after boil; trub cone will settle in the center and I can draw sweet wort from the side.

 

[pickles]

where did you get those RIMS? They look to be 4" or more diameter. And, I'm too lazy (druk) to read back, what are you using as a heating element.

They are filter cartridges that Greenmonti welded fittings on to. The RIMS element is 3500w @ 220v.

 

[JOHN51277]

Glorious, Glorious art right there! Bad@$$ setup man! Clean and simple!

 

[shelly_belly]

Very nice! What kind of valve is that hanging under the MT?

 

[pickles]

Very nice! What kind of valve is that hanging under the MT?

All the valves are 3-piece Whitey valves. That specific one is a 3-way valve with one FNPT connection and two swagelok connections. It really simplifies my plumbing layout. It allows me to drain MT to RIMS and the on to the BK during sparge.

 

[stubbornman]

Drools.

 

[schweaty]

Very clever idea you had inverting the kegs and using them as a tri-clover drain! Nice system and may you have many happy brews on it.

 

[P-Lay]

Very clever idea you had inverting the kegs and using them as a tri-clover drain! Nice system and may you have many happy brews on it.

+1. Great idea. Well planned and executed!

 

[frod1963]

Nice. Very nice.

 

[TheWeeb]

I know the old saying, if you have to ask, it is probably too much, but . .. . approximately how much do you have invested to date? Any chance you would share parts list and sources?

 

[pickles]

I'd say I have about $700 in parts. Most of the parts were salvaged and adapted for my purposes. I don't have a parts list, because I had an idea of what I wanted and designed it on the fly based on parts I had or could make. I did buy false bottoms from Jaybird, tri-clovers from brewershardware.com, and stuff from the Brewtroller store. I saved money where ever possible, for example I bought long tri-clover ferrules and soldered threaded connections or hose barbs on to them. I also made my own thermo wells from 1/4" ss tubing and soldered the end solid.

 

[NoNothing]

****ing brilliant design man.

 

[BrewBeemer]

pickles; can you shed some light on the big heat sink you used?
This what I was talking about long ago vs single sinks to each SSR.
Thanks.

 

[pickles]

pickles; can you shed some light on the big heat sink you used?
This what I was talking about long ago vs single sinks to each SSR.
Thanks.

It came out some medical device. It's 2-1/4" x 9-1/4" x 11" and weighs about 10 lbs. I have no idea of its heat transfer rate but assumed it would be big enough for 8 SSRs. The mounting surface is 1/4" thick.

 

[android]

damn dude, that is one sick brewing system. nice job.

 

[BrewBeemer]

It came out some medical device. It's 2-1/4" x 9-1/4" x 11" and weighs about 10 lbs. I have no idea of its heat transfer rate but assumed it would be big enough for 8 SSRs. The mounting surface is 1/4" think.

Yup i'd say it's just barely big enough for the job, JK that things a super great find and perfect. I bet under full power the sink is still near the ambient air temp with the SSR's very happy. Again congrats on a super find and brewery build.

 

[humann_brewing]

umm.... that is freakin' awesome, there is nothing left to say

 

[cpeneguy]

pickles; Just a quick question about your flow meter. Where did you buy that and how much was it? I'm still in the design\coding interface phase.... so hopefully soon I can start sourcing parts and building while its still to hot to brew outside. This is one hell of an awesome system you have here. Don't be surprised if inverted kegs start showing up on others systems very soon. Such a simple idea, but so F'n Brilliant!

 

[BrewBeemer]

pickles; Just a quick question about your flow meter. Where did you buy that and how much was it? I'm still in the design\coding interface phase.... so hopefully soon I can start sourcing parts and building while its still to hot to brew outside. This is one hell of an awesome system you have here. Don't be surprised if inverted kegs start showing up on others systems very soon. Such a simple idea, but so F'n Brilliant!

Just think how many "OH Chit!" brewers out there that already have their keg tops cut off, oops too late. Read, learn and make notes on ideas for the future build.

 

[pickles]

pickles; Just a quick question about your flow meter. Where did you buy that and how much was it? I'm still in the design\coding interface phase.... so hopefully soon I can start sourcing parts and building while its still to hot to brew outside. This is one hell of an awesome system you have here. Don't be surprised if inverted kegs start showing up on others systems very soon. Such a simple idea, but so F'n Brilliant!

Thanks, I'm not the first to use inverted kegs though. I've seen some others implement it for at least the mashtun.

I bought a whole bunch of the flow meters used, but I know McMaster-Carr sells them new, #9701K12. I have no idea how to connect it to the BrewTroller. Eventually I'll find someone to help me get it working properly, but for now its just a visual indicator.

 

[kladue]

I use similar units and same 4-20 MA interface, a 24V power source and 250 ohm resistor is all that is needed for a 1-5 VDC output signal.