It's Alive!

[kickrjason]

I would like to know how stable the wire shelving is when moving it around. I think this is a great idea. I move my wooden rig around the garage a LOT and I think I could transfer my system to a nice metal shelf rather effortlessly.

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[android]

real nice! good work. enjoy

 

[pilzner]

I would like to know how stable the wire shelving is when moving it around. I think this is a great idea. I move my wooden rig around the garage a LOT and I think I could transfer my system to a nice metal shelf rather effortlessly.

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Kickrjason,
Wire shelves are great. Perfectly stable. To add a little oomph I added two pieces of angle iron that run the length of the main shelf. The burners sit on these. It helps distribute the weight. I also drilled a small hole through that main shelf's corners and put a nail through it to make sure they wouldn't slip down with the weight. I bought my shelf at home depot. I can't recall how much weight they can handle, but when I did the math it was more than enough.

 

[pilzner]

Definitely drool-worthy. I like the minimalist approach using the wire frame shelving unit. You might want to put a screw/machine bolt through the shelf corner sleeve and upright on the shelf that gets hot. I don't know if the plastic wedge would hold up when hot (if it does, I don't know). Good luck with the maiden run!

Thanks Bobby,

The wire rack doesn't get hot at all....and yes I did put a nail through the corners.....just to make sure

I've brewed 4 times with it.....it works like a dream.

 

[pilzner]

Very nice setup! I've always thought a nice beer sculpture was like a piece of art and should be on display in the living room.

You could accomplish your pump and line flushing without the extra plumbing on the input side of the pumps. You can actually pump through your #2 & #3 pumps backwards to flush them out.

Jon,

I actually roll the entire thing into my office so that I can stare at it while i'm working

As far as the additional piping, I can flush the entire line including the pump. I was having issues with pumps seizing when the sugars got cold. With the quick flush, no issues with the pumps, and I get every little drop of liquid gold.

 

[nicadrick]

Definitely drool-worthy. I like the minimalist approach using the wire frame shelving unit. You might want to put a screw/machine bolt through the shelf corner sleeve and upright on the shelf that gets hot. I don't know if the plastic wedge would hold up when hot (if it does, I don't know). Good luck with the maiden run!

Bobby, I brew on a similar, but much less polished setup. My keggles sit atop the rack and the burners below. I thought for sure I would need to "pin" the plastic shelf shims with through bolts, but was amazed and the heat dissipation of the wire racks. NO worries on my rig however I only have two keggles on the unit as I still batch sparge in a extreme cooler on an adjacent table.

This is an awesome rig for sure!

 

[MaltedLiver]

What are your burners sitting in/on?

 

[pilzner]

What are your burners sitting in/on?

It's a burner that is in a box. I put a picture of it on the first page with all the others for you to look at.

I also added an image of the system when it's all broken down.

 

[nicadrick]

Pilzner,

I brew on the same type of rack, but have been reluctant to squeeze 3 keggles on the rack like you did. Not due to weight concern, but due to concerns about maintaining consistent mash temp with such proximity to the adjacent vessels.

Are you having any issues with your mash temp creeping as you fire either of the other vessels? Please advise. Thanks!

 

[pilzner]

Pilzner,

I brew on the same type of rack, but have been reluctant to squeeze 3 keggles on the rack like you did. Not due to weight concern, but due to concerns about maintaining consistent mash temp with such proximity to the adjacent vessels.

Are you having any issues with your mash temp creeping as you fire either of the other vessels? Please advise. Thanks!

Never had any issues with that. After all, we're only talking about 212 (BK) versus 152 (MT), and only when I do back to back sessions. If anything I am always battling the loss of heat and with the other keggle so close it probably helps a little (but again, I've never noticed this to be of any measurable concern)
My BCS-460 fires when needed and the mash recirculates the whole time, so my temps are pretty spot on.

 

[nicadrick]

Thanks for the quick get back pilzner. I guess I better finish that mash tun and find another pump so I can ditch the cooler. Cheers!

 

[dulavjo]

wow

 

[kickrjason]

What's the status on the video? I'd really like to see a brew and the cleanup afterwards. I am adding pumps to my system thanks to the swmbo's Christmas gifts of Northern Brewer Gift Cards.

 

[EarthBound]

Earthbound,

Each wiring diagram is pretty specific to the system you end up making. The wiring diagram I have was made by P-J.....he's on my profile as friend.
Best thing to do is to PM him and see if he can't help you out in customizing your system.

I have almost all the diagrams he's posted on here, and I do not need any help from anyone with customizing my system. Thank you, though!

I just noticed that your system is quite unique, particularly the electrical side of it, so I'd like to view a schematic to better understand the details of your electrical system. If you don't wanna post it, just say so.

BTW, I like that the liquid manifold disconnect-able using camlocks. It's a good idea, and I have not seen anyone do that sort of thing until now.

 

[pilzner]

Earthbound,

Relax, have a homebrew Here is my schematic.

I added a wireless feature so that I didn't have to connect any wires to my computer and it also allows me to view from all computers in the house including iPhone.

Camlocks are the best......the breakdown is incredibly easy now. with all the cam locks, I can remove and fix just about anything without having to breakdown the whole system......and also do it in the middle of a brew session without skipping a beat.

 

[pilzner]

What's the status on the video? I'd really like to see a brew and the cleanup afterwards. I am adding pumps to my system thanks to the swmbo's Christmas gifts of Northern Brewer Gift Cards.

Sorry about that.....you're right, I have to get to it. Hopefully this coming weekend.

 

[kickrjason]

Right on thanks in advance. Also any chance if a higher res pic of the schematic? It's all fuzzy on the download.

 

[EarthBound]

Earthbound,

Relax, have a homebrew Here is my schematic.

I added a wireless feature so that I didn't have to connect any wires to my computer and it also allows me to view from all computers in the house including iPhone.

Camlocks are the best......the breakdown is incredibly easy now. with all the cam locks, I can remove and fix just about anything without having to breakdown the whole system......and also do it in the middle of a brew session without skipping a beat.

If only I could stop drooling long enough to drink!

What's the model # of those Honeywell valves? I haven't seen those yet, but I'd like to look into them a bit more...

 

[P-J]

Right on thanks in advance. Also any chance if a higher res pic of the schematic? It's all fuzzy on the download.

There are 2 different versions of the drawing. The first provides no system control on the auxiliary outlet. The second provides a way for controlling it.

As always - click on the image to see the full scale diagram - printable on Tabloid paper (11" x 17")

 

[EarthBound]

There are 2 different versions of the drawing. The first provides no system control on the auxiliary outlet. The second provides a way for controlling it.

As always - click on the image to see the full scale diagram - printable on Tabloid paper (11" x 17")

Thank you!

 

[pilzner]

If only I could stop drooling long enough to drink!

What's the model # of those Honeywell valves? I haven't seen those yet, but I'd like to look into them a bit more...

Honeywell VR8300A3500
They're nice because you can convert to propane or natural gas with kit that comes with them. I got them from Hotwaterdeals.com for about $60 each.
FYI: you'll also need pilot burner Q314A4586 and thermocouple Q390A1061

 

[wncbrewer]

Hey pilzner,

I was wondering how you made your bcs wireless? Normal household wireless router? How does it work, does embedded control concepts assign a webpage to you and your bcs that can be accessed from any internet connection? I am by no means a computer savvy person.

I am thinking of buying one for my build but am not quite sold yet.

I had my home internet disconnected after I got a smart phone ( spend enough time on a computer at work). If I go with the bcs, and I run it from my android phone I would like to tether my phone to my tv via hdmi cable. That would be really cool.

I guess what I'm asking is what you think of the bcs? Is it user friendly? I have done searches but can find very little. I have also visited the embeded

 

[wncbrewer]

Sorry. Hit send accidentally

I have been on ecc's forum and it mostly sounds like greek to me. Thanks...wnc

 

[pilzner]

Hey pilzner,

I was wondering how you made your bcs wireless? Normal household wireless router? How does it work, does embedded control concepts assign a webpage to you and your bcs that can be accessed from any internet connection? I am by no means a computer savvy person.

I am thinking of buying one for my build but am not quite sold yet.

I had my home internet disconnected after I got a smart phone ( spend enough time on a computer at work). If I go with the bcs, and I run it from my android phone I would like to tether my phone to my tv via hdmi cable. That would be really cool.

I guess what I'm asking is what you think of the bcs? Is it user friendly? I have done searches but can find very little. I have also visited the embeded

I love my BCS, but I accept that it may be a bit tough for some people that don't have a bit of computer know-how under their belt.

Not that it's impossible to use, but you do need to program the logic steps and that can get a bit confusing if you are not used to that type of thing. Some of the steps are also more complicated then they need to be.....but again, for me I think it's great. Hopefully the BCS community will figure out a better interface.

As far as the wireless part is concerned, I used a NETGEAR WNCE2001 Universal WiFi Internet Adapter and plugged it right into the back of the BCS. The BCS is controlled via a web interface, so you can pull it up anywhere on your home network....even your iPhone.

 

[wncbrewer]

Thanks, I am ok with basic stuff like office, but for a 26 year old college grad...I suck out loud with computers. It sounds like there is some pretty complicated set-up involved. Internet connection is also sketchy and slow up here on the mtns. For these reasons I may just go with a pid panel. The bcs is very cool though. Thanks again for the response

 

[JonW]

Internet connection is also sketchy and slow up here on the mtns. For these reasons I may just go with a pid panel. The bcs is very cool though.

Just to re-iterate, the BCS does NOT require an internet connection. It does require networking either by being plugged directly into your PC or by being on a wireless router. The interface is web browser based, but can be on your local network only if you wish.

 

[wncbrewer]

I did NOT realize that thanks, I was hoping that you might weigh in here also. Are you happy with the BCS? I am intimidated by setup and worried about the user friendliness of it. Sorry to distract from your awesome rig pilzner.

 

[JonW]

If I did it all over again - I'd choose the BCS again. What pilzner said above though is right - it takes some setup and can be a bit confusing. The ECC forum is a good place though to get support from others (I check in there several times a day) and if you're willing to do some learning, you can get it done.

 

[wncbrewer]

Thanks, I think I will go for it. Yours and pilzners rig have both inspired me, and I'll be borrowing ideas from the both of you...cheers

 

[pilzner]

Wncbrewer,

Go to this page on Brewer's Hardware Brewing Automation It's a great review regarding the BCS, brew troller etc. and will give you some good insight as to what Jon and I are talking about.

+1 to Jon's point regarding the forums on embedded Control's sight. The Wiki instructions are good too.

Hell, if you get it in the end, and don't like it.....you'll be able to unload it pretty quickly on the classified section of this site.

Good Luck and thanks for putting me in the same category as JonW ....his rig was a big part of the reason that my rig's design is what it is.