my basement brewroom build

[TomRep]

 

[TomRep]

This is where I'm at as of now. only been working on it an hour or so each night.
Tom

 

[rsklhm10]

Looking good. The wiring was the worst part for me. I started out keeping everything super organized and perfect, but gradually got worse. The end product is pretty neat, but not to the extent of some others on here.

 

[pickles]

Where did you find the black connector on the left in the photo? I really want to add this feature to my system, but haven't been able to find a 50A version at a reasonable price.

 

[digi2k]

Cool setup... I have a basement setup, too. What are you planning on doing for ventilation from your hood?

 

[milldoggy]

Where did you find the black connector on the left in the photo? I really want to add this feature to my system, but haven't been able to find a 50A version at a reasonable price.

Kal sells them as part of the kit. The are call locking California style rectaple

 

[TomRep]

This is where I am as of now. After wiring up the 8 gauge wire for the element outlets, I realized I needed to get the wires sorted out. spent about an hour and a half straightening everything out and attaching it all. Have to finish wiring the elements, finish some ground wires, wire the start interlock, and I believe it will be finished.
tom

 

[Mrott]

lookin real sweet Tom! Too bad I won't have anything like that for quite a long time!

 

[TomRep]

Thanks bud! Have it all wired up and ready for testing (except the safe start interlock). Went to plug it in and realized our dryer outlet is a different style. Now I have to wait until I get my 240 line run into the brewroom.
Tom

 

[milldoggy]

Your stove is the proper plug. Did you use the spa panel for gfci?

 

[TomRep]

I didn't even hook my 240 up for the brewery yet. I am going to be using a spa panel though. Waiting to hear from a guy about some wire first. If no luck with him I'll be hitting the Depot. I swear I own atleast one isle in that place by now! I though of using our oven plug, but we have a double built in oven, so no easy task. Maybe I'll hit my neighbor up or this dude I know that has a panel in Pottstown thats eager to check mine out!
tom

 

[TomRep]

Got this bad boy fired up tonight! Two minor problems. 1) My transformer for my amp meter grounded to the back panel (even with two washers under it for mounting!) and fried itself and the meter. Emailed Mike to get some replacements on the way. 2) My element select lights did not work. Turns out I forgot to wire them in to the circuit. Other then that, everything fired up and worked great! I didn't check the voltages for the outputs of the elements and the pumps, but I should be fine there.
Tom

 

[blawjr]

MAN that thing is friggin sexy! Cheers!

 

[TomRep]

Wired up the element select lights, safe start interlock, and tacked all the wires in place. Ampmeter and converter are on there way from Mike. Hope to get them tomorrow but I'm thinking more like Monday. Everything is working sweetly right now. Tested all my outputs and they are all there. PID's are all reading properly with the probes attached. I do have one more probe to make up but I plan to do that sometime this weekend. My new pots arrived today as well. Only a couple more steps and my brewery will be complete! I will post up more pics of the panel with all the bells and whistles operating as soon as I get the new ampmeter working.
Tom

 

[CoalCracker]

Thought you were doing keggles? What size kettles did you get?

 

[TomRep]

I was going to, but couldn't pass these for the price. 20 gallons a piece

 

[noremorse1]

I was going to, but couldn't pass these for the price. 20 gallons a piece

Great build and setup Tom. Mind sharing where you scored those kettles for such a great price?

 

[TomRep]

I found a thread in the for sale forums that linked to an ebay auction. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f16/100-qt-aluminum-boil-pt-225279/ He was out of the 100 qt, but still had plenty of the 80 qt. For $65 shipped to my door, I couldn't go wrong. I wasn't happy with the keggles due to: 1) height when on the bench 2) fitting placement 3) smaller opening with the lip from where/how it was cut out. The kettles let me arrange everything how I want it and the height is perfect. Wasn't too fond of going back to aluminum (no other factor then the "bling"), but there is no way I can afford 3 new stainless pots with everything else that is going on in that room.
tom

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Glad to see some updated pics. Looks awesome.....nice work and very inspiring! I too am begining my basement brewery with an e-HERMs system very soon. I got my hands on a couple of stainless steel tables and am starting the keggle conversions very shortly. 5500W heating elements should be here tomorrow and I'm ordering everything else for the conversions this week. I plan on cutting the legs down on one of the stainless tables for easier access to the keggle openings. Keep up the great work and keep us posted! I'll start a brewery thread just as soon as I get the space cleared out.

 

[TomRep]

Hoppopotomus- Thanks for the kind words! I really love your knotty pine/backwoods style bar build. Read through that thread a couple times. looking forward to seeing your basement build!

 

[TomRep]

Got the ampmeter and converter in from Mike yesterday and everything is working fine. Ordered my elements and remaining items needed for the element boxes as well as all the fittings needed for the new pots. Hope to be able to do a leak test next week someday. Still have to run my 240 to the basement and hook up my exhaust fan before I can do an actual trial run through the system.
Tom
ps.- took a dark shot of the panel just for kicks!

 

[TomRep]

Christmas in October!

Sent from my DROIDX using Home Brew Talk

 

[Mrott]

hot damn... what time do you go to work? I wouldn't mind a Christmas in October!

 

[WortMonger]

Ohhhh the sexyness! Great build man. Keep the pics and progress coming.

 

[brettwasbtd]

Christmas in October!

....And now I need to go change my pants

 

[TomRep]

Actually got the stuff yesterday,just didn't get around to posting the picture.

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[milldoggy]

Looks good tom. Love 3 piece ball valves

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Who did you end up using for your fittings/parts? I have been driving myself crazy cross comparing each and every part over 5 or 6 different vendors and supply companies trying to get the best price. I have a supply company by my house that has "some" stainless parts, but can get everything on my list. Still waiting on my quote from them. What I am finding is that it's hard to beat bargainfittings.com for their weldless bulkheads. I have been using Kal's materials list and cross comparing all of the vendors and cannot come close to the $11 ea. for the weldless bukhead kits. By the time you part out the 1/2" ss closed nipple thread, the ss lock washer, the ss washer/shim, the O rings, and the coupling (or whatever other fixture you choose), the cost greatly exceeds the BF kits. Is this what you found? It looks like I'm just going to use BF.com for the weldless kits and the majority of the fittings if the supply company by my house isn't competetive. Any suggestions from your end?

Another questions: How many hours do you have into the control panel assembly? Just planning ahead. BTW....great work so far, can't wait to see everything come together.

 

[TomRep]

I went with bargain fittings. Honestly, I didn't even compare prices with anyone. I have in the past and bargain fittings is always the best deal. Plus, Wayne is great to work with. I needed a custom diptube made up for the system and he didn't charge extra or anything like that. I will always use him for fittings as long as he is around. As for the control panel, it took me a week and a half from the time I got it to the time to turn it on. One weekend was a lot of work gettingball the holes done and painting. After that, maybe an hour or two each night wiring it up. Thanks foe tbw compliments!
Tom

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[rsklhm10]

The control panel came out great and that is a pretty nice early christmas present... Out of curiousity, what is the large diptube for?