Grainfather!!

[2LiveBrewCrew]

I think I'll go take a look at Harbor Freight. Thanks for the info.

 

[2LiveBrewCrew]

OK, here's a question I don't have an answer for so I'm going to put it out there. I'm not an electrician but would dielectric grease work on the heater plug and the connect unit heater receptacle to form a better connection and maybe reduce plug/receptacle burnout?

 

[2LiveBrewCrew]

guys, open up your controller and put a plug on the controller, quit screwing around with new controllers. They all had this problem, just fix it yourself.

View attachment 642583

How many screws hold the connect unit together? How many on the back and how many on top if any?

 

[skleice]

I s-h-i-t on this app pretty hard, so I thought it was only fair that I come back and say it is improving. I still don't like all the clutter/adds/social media garbage, but at least it's functional now. I find that it works much better on my Android phone than my iPad.

 

[shortyz]

you want to know how many screws hold it together? dude i duno grab a screwdriver and take it apart.

 

[Chino_Brews]

OK, here's a question I don't have an answer for so I'm going to put it out there. I'm not an electrician but would dielectric grease work on the heater plug and the connect unit heater receptacle to form a better connection and maybe reduce plug/receptacle burnout?

I would say no on the dielectric geese because it is not electrically conductive. You just need to replace the receptacle with a higher quality one

 

[Chino_Brews]

How many screws hold the connect unit together? How many on the back and how many on top if any?

I don’t remember how many screws on the back, but FYI there are two screws under the Mylar mask on the face of the control box. You need to use a heat gun to melt the glue and gently pry up the mask without ruining it. When done, scrape off the glue and re-glue the mask down with something like silicone glue.

 

[2LiveBrewCrew]

I don’t remember how many screws on the back, but FYI there are two screws under the Mylar mask on the face of the control box. You need to use a heat gun to melt the glue and gently pry up the mask without ruining it. When done, scrape off the glue and re-glue the mask down with something like silicone glue.

Thanks for the info. That's what I was looking for. I thought I read something in one of the posts a while back but memory ain't what it used to be. Appreciate the answer...

 

[speavler]

Is reflectix wrap better that the Graincoat? I found the Graincoat at a decent price.

I use both

 

[2LiveBrewCrew]

Has anyone had any melting/fusing issues with the updated connects?

 

[speavler]

I s-h-i-t on this app pretty hard, so I thought it was only fair that I come back and say it is improving. I still don't like all the clutter/adds/social media garbage, but at least it's functional now. I find that it works much better on my Android phone than my iPad.

I wish i could say the same. It's like the controller and app are on different pages. I click ok on the controller to start the mash and the next thing i know it's going onto the mashout. trying to manually go to a step while temp is steadily increasing just puts me in a fit of rage. i am so over this thing.

 

[Jag75]

I've noticed as long as I have the updated app as I brew it works good. The one time i had issues i learned that it was due to me not updating the most recent version

 

[jlinz]

What is the consensus on extension cords? I want to brew outside and the grainfather cord is super short.

 

[alestateyall]

What is the consensus on extension cords? I want to brew outside and the grainfather cord is super short.

Extension cords are fine. Your pulling 14-15A so size accordingly. Unwind the whole cord. If you leave it wound the heat can’t dissipate and it can melt/become a fire hazard.

Here is a nice guide:

https://www.homedepot.com/c/ab/best...any-situation/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90559d97e0

 

[nepatsfan1]

I was thinking of getting the (RoboBrew) false bottom for my Grainfather. Anyone that has it pluses, Minuses..

 

[Jag75]

I was thinking of getting the (RoboBrew) false bottom for my Grainfather. Anyone that has it pluses, Minuses..

Just curious but why would you add a false bottom?

 

[nepatsfan1]

Just curious but why would you add a false bottom?

I saw a David Heath youth video adding it and was wondering anyone else has done it yet and is it worth it.. Thats all

 

[murphyslaw]

I saw a David Heath youth video adding it and was wondering anyone else has done it yet and is it worth it.. Thats all

I saw the same video and wanted to buy it. Couldn't find it in stock at the time

 

[elgee]

I was thinking of getting the (RoboBrew) false bottom for my Grainfather. Anyone that has it pluses, Minuses..

I would get it. I make a lot of hop heavy beers and the filter has gotten clogged a few times. I have considered getting it since using a hop spider (in my opinion) reduces the hop efficiency when whirlpooling. Just my two cents, I’m sure others will have different experiences.

 

[murphyslaw]

I would get it. I make a lot of hop heavy beers and the filter has gotten clogged a few times. I have considered getting it since using a hop spider (in my opinion) reduces the hop efficiency when whirlpooling. Just my two cents, I’m sure others will have different experiences.

Exactly. It should be better than a hop spider. And easier to clean.

I may even wrap the false bottom in a paint strainer bag to filter even better. That would defeat the easy cleaning, though.

 

[Jag75]

I'll have to check out that video . If it aids in keeping the filter and pump from getting plugged I'm all for that . Theres been a couple times I've had issues .

 

[KyleF318is]

I was thinking of getting the (RoboBrew) false bottom for my Grainfather. Anyone that has it pluses, Minuses..

Why does this free forum cost me money? Haha. Just ordered it from Williams. I saw the video a while back and it was out of stock but they’re now restocked. For $30 I’ll be the guinea pig. I’ve also been kicking around the idea of a paint strainer around the Mash Tun. Been stirring halfway through mashes and feel that’s been getting more grain in my wort.

Thanks for the reminder to buy the false bottom! Cheers!

 

[cpham574]

I would get it. I make a lot of hop heavy beers and the filter has gotten clogged a few times. I have considered getting it since using a hop spider (in my opinion) reduces the hop efficiency when whirlpooling. Just my two cents, I’m sure others will have different experiences.

How many oz of hops are you using when it clogs? I’ve done 6-8oz pellets loose in the GF with no issues so far. *knock on wood*

I just make sure I get a good whirlpool going and then leave it alone so all the material settles into a cone. Usually wait about 15-20 mins before I start transferring to the fermenter

 

[Jag75]

It just doned on me that I have an extra top screen . When I received it the little tab was broke off so I was sent a new one. You think that would work as a false bottom? Or does there need to be some sort of legs on it to keep it off the bottom?

 

[2LiveBrewCrew]

Jag75, there's three legs on the bottom of the plate . The legs hold the plate up about 1 1/4" . You could probably use your plate and use three stainless bolts and nuts to make some legs... I got my plate from MoreBeer. They had the best price. You might have to wait till they have it in stock. They'll send you a notification when it's in stock.

 

[Jag75]

Jag75, there's three legs on the bottom of the plate . The legs hold the plate up about 1 1/4" . You could probably use your plate and use three stainless bolts and nuts to make some legs... I got my plate from MoreBeer. They had the best price. You might have to wait till they have it in stock. They'll send you a notification when it's in stock.

Stainless bolts & nuts are good idea. Easy peasy . So I'll just have it about 1 1/4 tall . I think that screen will fit perfectly in there without the rubber ring

 

[2LiveBrewCrew]

If you do this with the bolts they can't extend above the top of the plate any more than the thickness of a stainless nut. Need space between the top of the plate and the bottom of the inner basket other wise the basket won't sit all the way down.

 

[2LiveBrewCrew]

It should work out for you.. Remember if you go with the bolt and two nuts to lock down the plate and make three legs like that, no part of the bolt should be above the top nut. Keep the bolt and nut flush. There's little space between the inner basket and the new plate. After you make the legs make sure the basket sits flush on its metal support ring.

 

[Jag75]

Was thinking of putting the bolt through the bottom going up and having a nut on the bottom and top . Dont know if I explained that very good .

 

[murphyslaw]

Have you all been using the grainfather app exclusively for your recipe building and everything?

I'm a long time beersmith user and have continued to use it as my primary brewing software, just importing the file to grainfather for brew day. But the lack of a fully functional beersmith app is pushing me away. Beersmith is literally the only thing I use my old laptop for.

Has anyone moved on to use the grainfather app and regretted it?

I'm planning my new basement brewery build. I'm thinking of mounting a kindle fire on the wall and using that for my tilt, inkbird wifi, and brew day app.