My Single-Tier Propane/Electric Hybrid Brew Rig

[diatonic]

How's the brewing been going for you, Chris? Have you had time to finish wiring the panel for the electric HLT? Any new pics for us?

Brewing has been going well. I still haven't finished the wiring to heat the HLT electric. I have all the parts, but don't have the circuit run out to my brew area yet.

I'll be brewing batches 5 and 6 in the next few weeks. Not much new to report

I'm participating in the 1st round of Iron Brewer, and have to come up with a recipe using Rye Malt, Simcoe hops, and dark Belgian Candi Sugar. That will probably be my next brew, as there's a timeline I'm working against. Also planning to brew a Parti-gyle soon. I have the grain ready for that batch. Will post updates when I have them.

Life has been hectic lately!

 

[ghart999]

Diatonic - in one your pics you show a plate chiller mounted to the stand. What chiller is it and do a have details/pics on how you mounted it? Thanks.

 

[diatonic]

Diatonic - in one your pics you show a plate chiller mounted to the stand. What chiller is it and do a have details/pics on how you mounted it? Thanks.

I think that's a shot of Snake10's rig. If you search his username you should be able to find pics of it.

 

[Maltose]

any shots of the inside of your control panel?

 

[EarthBound]

Thank you for posting all of your work on here. I look up to you for this electric hybrid feature.

Any way you could come up with at least a hand-drawn schematic? Your control panel is awesome!

 

[J-Malone]

just subscribing....I love this rig, I am in the process of building my own and I am borrowing ideas from here....

 

[rekoob]

DUDE, F-in NICE.... love the build. I have been drooling over Snakes build and you have done this stand justice. Love it.

 

[diatonic]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Sorry I've been kind of absent. Lots going on with work & family, but I've managed to knock out 3 11 gallon batches in the past 5 weeks, with another planned this weekend. I'll try to get a schematic of my wiring up shortly.

 

[J-Malone]

any chance you could post some pics of your in place IC and the HERMS HEX? I am thinking of doing the same thing but with stainless steel coils...

 

[rsklhm10]

Build looks top notch. Quick question, where did you get those thermometers from? I am a fan of the 5" face and the hinge feature similar to the brewmometer...

 

[diatonic]

any chance you could post some pics of your in place IC and the HERMS HEX? I am thinking of doing the same thing but with stainless steel coils...

I'll try to take some pics tonight. I basically put 90° brass 1/2" ntp to 3/8" flare connectors on the inside of the bulkhead couplings, then flared the ends of the copper coils to attach.

Build looks top notch. Quick question, where did you get those thermometers from? I am a fan of the 5" face and the hinge feature similar to the brewmometer...

I just searched eBay often for 5" dial thermometer paying close attention to stem length, & temp range. With some patience I got them pretty cheap. They are freaking big though, and sometimes seem like overkill. I put a 3" dial on my BK, though I only really use it to monitor temp during the whirlpool/chill.

 

[J-Malone]

I'll try to take some pics tonight. I basically put 90° brass 1/2" ntp to 3/8" flare connectors on the inside of the bulkhead couplings, then flared the ends of the copper coils to attach.

Why did you choose copper over SS? How do u clean the copper?

 

[diatonic]

Why did you choose copper over SS? How do u clean the copper?

Copper is cheaper, easier to find, easier to bend, and transfers heat better than stainless. I keep it clean with PBW every few batches, and don't worry about it tarnishing.

 

[klyph]

Sounds like your coil is attached similar to my system's original configuration.

 

[J-Malone]

Sounds like your coil is attached similar to my system's original configuration.

I like the way this looks...I am always concerned with cleaning, Isnt there an issue with copper and oxygen based cleaners? Or am I thinking about something else?

Do you think compression fittings would work? Is there a particular advantage to the flare connections?

 

[EarthBound]

Sounds like your coil is attached similar to my system's original configuration.

Good lord, that's alotta copper! Excellent work, man!

What's the OD and the length? Is that length necessary, or could I get by just fine with using less?

 

[klyph]

All the info is in my build thread, don't wanna highjack diatonic's thread.

And no, you don't need that much copper, I've reconfigured my system since then.

 

[EarthBound]

I like the way this looks...I am always concerned with cleaning, Isnt there an issue with copper and oxygen based cleaners? Or am I thinking about something else?

Do you think compression fittings would work? Is there a particular advantage to the flare connections?

Yes, comp fittings will work just as well. I choose comp fittings because I can good quality ones for cheap. Besides that, it's just a personal preference to choose one over the other.

 

[sanch]

This stand desperately needs a 01 printed on it somewhere and to be dubed
The General!!!
nice work,

 

[LKHA]

Why are you drilling the burner? If using the banjo designed for low pressure do you have to drill

 

[diatonic]

This stand desperately needs a 01 printed on it somewhere and to be dubed
The General!!!
nice work,

Haha. Thanks

Why are you drilling the burner? If using the banjo designed for low pressure do you have to drill

I didn't drill the orifices on my BG14s. They're designed for HP propane. I run them at about 10psi. I've since replaced my propane hose with a POL fitting on each end. The old connector would restrict flow when I was cranking both burners.

 

[diatonic]

Here's a crappy iPhone photo of the inside of my HLT (ignore the standing water, leftover from last batch.)

 

[diatonic]

Here's some info I sent responding to a PM that may be helpful. A cut sheet for my stand, and a link to the AutoCAD drawing for my stand:

This is what I have for a cut sheet:

 QTY  Length   Purpose
 **************************************
 4    20"      Vertical Corner Supports
 2    17"      Vertical Mid Supports
 3    59"      Main Horizontal Beams
 1    58 7/8"  Gas Beam
 9    13.5"    Kettle Supports/Bottom front to back
 
 Total - 39.3 Feet

You can download my blueprints here.

 

[LKHA]

Haha. Thanks

I didn't drill the orifices on my BG14s. They're designed for HP propane. I run them at about 10psi. I've since replaced my propane hose with a POL fitting on each end. The old connector would restrict flow when I was cranking both burners.

What is a p o l fitting

 

[diatonic]

The POL fittings look like this. It is a straight-through design, with no excess flow safety valve.

 

[EarthBound]

Here's a crappy iPhone photo of the inside of my HLT (ignore the standing water, leftover from last batch.)

Have you brewed electrically with this rig yet?

 

[Puckhead]

Awesome Build. Any change getting a cad file in 07 format. I'm using 08 and wa not able to open it....

 

[EarthBound]

Have you brewed electrically with this rig yet?

Hmm... I guess not...

 

[diatonic]

I haven't yet. Wife lost her job shortly after building the rig & haven't put the circuit in the garage yet. brewing right now with propane though!

 

[tomroeder]

Subbed!!!! Incredible man....I am going to steal most of your ideas to rebuild my stand!