Garage Needs a brew rig...

[Biermann]

I'd sell you my rig, but it ain't electric, so never mind!

Ditto. I'd sell mine, but again, its not electric.

 

[Aust1227]

Re: Wiring

I am struggling with the concecpt for wiring this brew rig up.

At the moment I am thinking about installing a sub panel box on the rig w/ a 20 amp GFI 220 v circuit for the HLT element, a 15A 110V GFI for the pump and the RIMS heating element. I would leave an open slot or two for any future additions, or just add a few outlets to the rig in case I need to plug other things in.

I haven't seen any rigs with subpanels on them. Is there something more simple than this?

 

[Plan9]

We can't add a sub panel from that outlet you have. It doesn't have a neutral, which the 120v would need.
If you plan to roll the rig around we will have to run 2 cords, 1 to the 240V and 1 to a 120v outlet. If you are going to permanently mount it, we could run new cables to the panel.

I'll look through the warehouse and see if we have an extra sub-panel, just in case.

 

[Aust1227]

We can't add a sub panel from that outlet you have. It doesn't have a neutral, which the 120v would need.
If you plan to roll the rig around we will have to run 2 cords, 1 to the 240V and 1 to a 120v outlet. If you are going to permanently mount it, we could run new cables to the panel.

I'll look through the warehouse and see if we have an extra sub-panel, just in case.

Makes sense. wasn't thinking about that. I guess plugging it in in two places isn't a bid deal. Just plug the HLT heating element into the wall, everything else run through the control box.

I look forward to working through some of this stuff with you.

 

[Bad Shark Brew]

Aust1227-
What part of town are you in? I'm near Orlando as well. I have some electrical experience and would be willing to help you and Plan9 get your rig up and running.

 

[BrewBeemer]

You usually dont fire up the boil kettle till our done with the HLT. At least that is my understanding

A friend of mine went from NG to propane and now all electric. There has been many times when he has turned one of the wrong relays on in a hurry without looking or thinking about his actions and having the main breaker pop.
Another friend can only brew electricially when the family is gone as he only has a 60 amp service in that 1923 house. Too much power can be controlled, not enough your SOL.

 

[Aust1227]

Construction on my rig has started. I am going to go all electric. That will allow me to build with wood without concern over burning down the garage. My first pictures of the build.

 

[Grimsawyer]

Looks awesome so far. Btw, is that cute little keg a 5 gallon or a 7.5? :rockin:

 

[Aust1227]

Looks awesome so far. Btw, is that cute little keg a 5 gallon or a 7.5? :rockin:

It is a 7.5. It is perfect for fermenting in. But I never know if it is clean in there. I am glad you think my keg is cute.

 

[IrregularPulse]

4x4 corner posts or 2x4?

 

[Aust1227]

4x4 corner posts or 2x4?

Those are 2X4. I was a little short on the lumber take off. I have three more studs in the car. There will be more vertical support added!!

 

[Aust1227]

The brew rig is growing. And material is showing up.

Put three coats of a high gloss exterior enamal on the 2X4's. Looking pretty good so far..

The pids arrived. Time to start trying them out.

 

[Plan9]

Very cool! I'm getting excited.

I've got most of the controls fabbed up. I need to pick up heat sinks, and an exhaust fan tomorrow. I didn't know you had ordered SSRs.
I've got some 1/4" board we can use to make a temp board to test everything out.

 

[Aust1227]

Very cool! I'm getting excited.

I've got most of the controls fabbed up. I need to pick up heat sinks, and an exhaust fan tomorrow. I didn't know you had ordered SSRs.
I've got some 1/4" board we can use to make a temp board to test everything out.

Sounds good. I think this afternoon I will screw around with the PIDs a little, see if I can get them to turn on lightbulbs and stuff like that. I thought I took the SSRs off my order, but I didn't!

A lot of other stuff will arrive today, then we just have the last order from mcmaster. OH, and I have to order the pump too.

 

[FSR402]

I brew with a wood rig but I would be a little concerned about the kettles sitting on the wood. Sure there is no flame but they do get damn hot.

 

[Aust1227]

I brew with a wood rig but I would be a little concerned about the kettles sitting on the wood. Sure there is no flame but they do get damn hot.

With electric elements inside the kettles water will act as a conducter. The metal will never be in direct contact with heat, so the kettles shouldn't get over 250 at any point. That is well within the safe limit for wood. I was concerned about it at first, but I just don't see any real reason for being concerned with the electric set up.

Anyone have any first hand experience of kettle temps with electric rigs?

 

[Bobby_M]

Yeah actually, the kegs will never get hotter than the water inside. I.E. the kettle will not go over 212 unless you pressurize it. It's why you can boil water in a paper cup over a flame.

 

[Homercidal]

Your garage just put my new garage to shame. now I feel bad.

 

[Aust1227]

Yeah actually, the kegs will never get hotter than the water inside. I.E. the kettle will not go over 212 unless you pressurize it. It's why you can boil water in a paper cup over a flame.

That is what I was figuring on. Would should be perfect for this application..

 

[FSR402]

how much heat does it take to start wood on fire?

 

[FSR402]

Never mind.... Google is my friend.. Looks like 570* and up depending on type

Looks like you should be good to go. :rockin:

 

[Aust1227]

Construction is well under way. Plan9 and I had a big day yesterday. We installed the bulkheads and pick up tubes, we got two of the elements in. Hooked up the pump.

We temporarily set up the PID/SSR/Element combo. It was working pretty well. Took about an hour to get the water from 72 to 170. That was with no cover, and no insullation. I think we can get that time way down. We also might be having an issue with the SSR not putting out enough power. it seems to be cycling ALL the time, rather than just pushing out the 240 consistantly..


Everything else is working well. Below are some pictures of where we are

Testing the hole saw..

Boil Kettle heating element

Current state of project

 

[trip2hard]

Looks pretty cool.... Anyone know if that heating element would burn anything in the boil?

 

[Gonefishing]

Hey, what happened to this build? Last post w/pix was 5/11

 

[Plan9]

I'll get some completed photos. I keep forgetting.

The rig is complete, and working great. The updates stopped, because Austin was kicked off HBT because someone found him rude in another thread.

As far as the question of the element burning anything in the boil...
We have not found this to be a problem. Close to 20 batches have been brewed on it with out any weird caramalizing. I've done a few Belgians with sugars added directly to the boil with no problems other than it is hard to stir the sugars up.

So far we are happy with it.
Two medals have been won with brews from this rig so far.

 

[trip2hard]

You should make a how to...

 

[Flipper]

Any Drawings, Schematics, parts list and cost? I am very interested in the all electric!

 

[Damonic]

Yeah, I'd love to see the followup pics.

 

[brewjunky]

I'm fond of the idea of an instant hot water system that has been discussed quite a bit here. I don't really like the idea of the element directly in the kettle, but for sure I'd use a 5000 watt element in a copper tube as both a strike/sparge water generator and the mash recirculative heater (run it lower power for this task). I'm barely smart enough to figure it out for myself when I finally get around to it so I'm sure I can't explain it to you in advance.

I use a 4500 watt element at 240 in my boil kettle and it works great

 

[brewjunky]

My rig is powered by 1 PID and a 40amp SSR.

I have a copper heating coil in my HLT

I have a 3000 watt element in the HLT and a 4500 in my boil kettle.

Im going to up the element in my HLT to 4500 or 5500