My HERMS build

[Maltose]

After several months of researching HBT and planning my Gas/Electric HERMS, I've finally started putting parts together. Special thanks goes out to Pinup for my stand and Kal for sharing his amazing plans for his own rig. I've got the HLT pretty much rigged up, and I should have the MT and BK finished by next weekend. Then it's on to the control panel.

All stainless steel components
1/2"Tri-clover sanitary connections
Dedicated gas beam rail with Honeywell Y8210U Retrofit on HLT (to be installed)
Two March 809 Pumps
Bobby_M Sightglasses
5500 ULWD E-HLT
5500 ULWD E-BK

I'll continue to add photos when I make more progress. Sorry for the crappy phone shots...

HLT

HERMS coil

Welds (done by a friend)

 

[JonW]

Man, I love stainless.... sweet!

 

[Maltose]

Man, I love stainless.... sweet!

Thanks for the inspiration to finally start a build thread

 

[JonW]

Those big valves mounted to the pumps scare me. I've already busted pumps heads, so I'm moving to the SS ones for the durability. Be careful with those suckers!

 

[Maltose]

Just an update on the build...Most of the hardware is finally put together, I just have to finish wiring up my control panel.

 

[BIGREDIOWAN]

OMG that's a thing of beauty!!!! I'm a little jealous right now.......

 

[brum]

Wow that thing is BA. So fresh and sparkly

Very well designed setup

 

[Mparsons327]

Very sexyyyyy!

 

[bighoss]

All I can really say is WOW!!! Would be even more impressive to see this thing in some HD video on YouTube.

 

[WAORGANY]

Very nice looking rig!!!! What did you do, or how did you get those kegs so shinny!!!

 

[r8rphan]

Man, that's some serious bling...

So, are you planning to brew in the dark, or wear sunglasses?

 

[Maltose]

Very nice looking rig!!!! What did you do, or how did you get those kegs so shinny!!!

Thanks! Followed Bobby_M's instructions with the Gator Fine/Polishing pads with various levels of rouge. It probably took 3 hours per keg, but they were pretty beat up

 

[Maltose]

Man, that's some serious bling...

So, are you planning to brew in the dark, or wear sunglasses?

Planning on brewing in my basement, at least during the winter months. Then I'll have to put on some polarized sunglasses

I also just got in my Mini Brew 15G Conical Fermenter. I'm hoping to make the entire system closed (Cool, Transfer, Pitch, Ferment).

The system will be semi-automated with Auber PID's for the HLT and BK. Also have some room for BCS in the future if I decide, especially for fermentation in the adjacent room.

 

[Maltose]

Update 1/10/10:

Here's a series of shots from my control panel. It's a 16x14x8 Hoffman panel, that is primarily influenced by Kal's brewery. All cuts were made with a Green Lee Unibit and Dremel. I decided to leave out the amp and volt meters. The heat sinks at the top are secured by JB Weld and silicone to allow the heat sink to be fully outside the box and weatherproof. There are 3 RTD inputs, 2 pump, 2 element and 1 main power outlets. I'll add photos after it's all wired up. Again, thank you Kal for being an inspiration to many new E-brewers.

 

[Ace_Club]

Planning on brewing in my basement, at least during the winter months.

Make sure you have adequate ventilation in your basement. No need to get CO poisoning while making your inaugural run on that setup!

 

[Maltose]

Make sure you have adequate ventilation in your basement. No need to get CO poisoning while making your inaugural run on that setup!

It will be ventilated, but for now will just be 100% electric. I'm pretty sure after I start doing electric batches, I won't go back to propane, unless i go off-premise.

 

[Maltose]

got the relays and terminals wired up. i'll clean up the wiring after the door instruments are wired in.

 

[bgarino]

What temperature controllers are those???

 

[Maltose]

Auber SYL 2352

 

[nopucophop]

AWESOME!!!

I am in the early stages of building a system. Really just ordering pieces right now. My next order is the Steel. Was going to get 2x2 but thinking 1x1 may be fine. Curious what did you use?

 

[Maltose]

AWESOME!!!

I am in the early stages of building a system. Really just ordering pieces right now. My next order is the Steel. Was going to get 2x2 but thinking 1x1 may be fine. Curious what did you use?

1x1 stainless. Marcus (Pinup) made my stand and it is some quality work.

 

[milldoggy]

i see you used elbows for your herms coil. With welded coulpers, how did you get the elbows to be at the correct angle. I have welded fittings, waiting for them to come back from the welder and was looking at ordering my couplers. I was just going to order straight ones and use a tube bender to make nice angles on my copper. but if I can get the elbows to seat correctly, rather have them. Do you just teflon tape until it seats tight with the correct angle?

 

[Maltose]

i see you used elbows for your herms coil. With welded coulpers, how did you get the elbows to be at the correct angle. I have welded fittings, waiting for them to come back from the welder and was looking at ordering my couplers. I was just going to order straight ones and use a tube bender to make nice angles on my copper. but if I can get the elbows to seat correctly, rather have them. Do you just teflon tape until it seats tight with the correct angle?

Yup, took a couple times before I had the right amount of tape. I may try to put some TC's for a quick disconnect in the future.

 

[milldoggy]

what did you coil you herms around? Was thinking a corny, but that seems to small of a diameter.

 

[Maltose]

what did you coil you herms around? Was thinking a corny, but that seems to small of a diameter.

I tried with a coil of 1/2" stainless and kept crimping it. I ended up buying the 50' 1/2" stainless wort chiller from Midwest and cannibalizing it. Worked great

 

[milldoggy]

not a bad deal for 99, do you recall what shipping was?

 

[lostboysbrew]

Where did you get the plans for the control panel??? Did you come up with it on your own???

 

[Maltose]

not a bad deal for 99, do you recall what shipping was?

maybe $10-15, plus, after the cannabilization, i have another 25' coil to possibly upgrade to a DITCHES design, and the long piece that runs to the top may be used to make a whirlpool return port

 

[Maltose]

Where did you get the plans for the control panel??? Did you come up with it on your own???

Before the build, I had basically no experience in electronics, aside from hooking up a car stereo or two.

Kal's Website changed everything. My entire wiring diagram is based on his control panel. I left out a couple things and redesigned a couple of aesthetic aspects, but it is essentially a clone of his system.

 

[Maltose]

Alright guys, finally got a leak test going today on my HLT and MLT. Doing some more work on the control panel and installing heating elements this weekend.