NEW Product Announcement - Spike Solo Panel

[mggray87]

Water batch in progress...
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Nice. Mine never shipped. Glad you got yours. Week 5 after ordered. Hard not to cancel my order.

 

[pennengr]

For what it's worth, I ordered mine on 8/22 right when preorders opened. I like real switches rather than touchscreens, which is why I waited for this rather than going with Blichmann's solution. The look is clean too. So far so good, with the exception of a reversed wire on the temperature probe cable.

 

[mggray87]

For what it's worth, I ordered mine on 8/22 right when preorders opened. I like real switches rather than touchscreens, which is why I waited for this rather than going with Blichmann's solution. The look is clean too. So far so good, with the exception of a reversed wire on the temperature probe cable.

So they aren't even done fulfilling preorders yet?????? I ordered mine the second it went on sale 9/38 hit refresh hella times in morning. Was 3 weeks after order. Then 4. Now who knows. Especially if your a preorder. I might have to scratch this

About the wire. They were talking about carefully putting together and testing each one. How did that happen. Or they aren't really testing

 

[pennengr]

Using an old temperature probe that came with my Brau Supply controller and not Spike’s. It is possible that is wired differently from what Spike ships, although I would have thought it was a standard part.

 

[We2smart]

Just announced our new Spike Solo brewing panel! This brand new panel was designed and will be assembled at our plant in Milwaukee, WI. It was designed to handle (1) 120-240v element, (1) brew pump, (1) AUX/steam condensing lid and a temp probe.

We also took a different approach with our panel. We asked ourselves, "How can we make a control panel that my mom could use without calling me for help?!". We looked at the market and saw that there are plenty of super complex controllers out there. Most are unintuitive PID or touchscreen. The have wifi and bluetooth and mash schedules and timers and apps, etc, etc. These are all features that are overwhelming for someone that just wants to have a nice simple Brew Day without battling wifi, bluetooth and apps just to heat some water. The simple BIAB systems have easy functionality but no style and not with commercial quality. We combined all of this into the most simple to use, badass designed controller on the market.

This will be launching as a stand alone product as well as with all Solo Systems going forward later this summer/early fall! If you're interested in learning more click the link below and if you would like to be kept up to date with pre-sale info, additional 'first look' details, etc sign up for the Back in Stock notification on the product page.

https://spikebrewing.com/products/solo-panel

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I expect to receive my Solo Panel as part of my Solo System. I can't wait ti put it together!!

 

[mggray87]

Using an old temperature probe that came with my Brau Supply controller and not Spike’s. It is possible that is wired differently from what Spike ships, although I would have thought it was a standard part.

What did they say about it not working ? Sending a new one?

 

[SpikeBrewing]

Using an old temperature probe that came with my Brau Supply controller and not Spike’s. It is possible that is wired differently from what Spike ships, although I would have thought it was a standard part.

Sorry about the trouble. There’s not a standard way to wire these so if you’re using a non-Spike probe it may need to be re-wired.

 

[pennengr]

Sorry about the trouble. There’s not a standard way to wire these so if you’re using a non-Spike probe it may need to be re-wired.

Thanks. I was able to get it going by switching the red and yellow wires.

 

[mggray87]

Thanks. I was able to get it going by switching the red and yellow wires.

I woke up today to tracking info to the 240V panel and solo panel stand

 

[mggray87]

Just got the panel right before leaving for work. It doesn't come with a element cable ?????

Guess I'm not using it this weekend.

Amazon to the rescue. 10fter. Except I don't need that long for the solo panel with stand on the solo cart. Prob cut it and custom fit it to run the wire clean

 

[Bobby_M]

Now that I've had some time with the panel, I have to say that the lack of an "element firing" indicator, whether mechanical LED or screen feature, is the one thing I have a problem with.

The design is sexy and the controls it does have are robust, I just like more intel so if I were to keep it, I'll be putting my own LED in.

 

[mggray87]

Now that I've had some time with the panel, I have to say that the lack of an "element firing" indicator, whether mechanical LED or screen feature, is the one thing I have a problem with.

it doesnt even tell you if the heating is on?

 

[Bobby_M]

it doesnt even tell you if the heating is on?

Well there is an element enable/disable toggle switch and the screen shows its orientation, but nothing about whether the heater is currently firing. Anyone that has brewed electric long enough knows why a big red light matters to help avoid dry firing.

 

[mggray87]

Well there is an element enable/disable toggle switch and the screen shows its orientation, but nothing about whether the heater is currently firing. Anyone that has brewed electric long enough knows why a big red light matters to help avoid dry firing.

Hmm first time electric. I'll have to pay careful attention

 

[We2smart]

Guys, I ordered my Solo Sep 28 and received my system a week ago. I have not used it yet but I am very confused about old threads 2-3 yrs old complaining about 5gals really means 3.5gals and something about the basket hanging keeps you from adjusting the amounts to accommodate lost of beer. Can someone please explain to me if that's still the case for a 10gal Solo system. If 5gals is max then I expect 5gals in my keg for football season. I am tired of buying beer because I ran out of homebrew beer and have to wait a month before I can enjoy again.

 

[mggray87]

The gen is going to sound obnoxious when the controller is pulsing the element to control the boil. It will be rapidly switching between a full load and zero load.

Well crap. Tested it. Your right. It's pulsing. I can't hear it as I have a 50ft power cord. So it doesn't bother me. But that being said will it kill my generator. I have boil at 60% to do a test boil to test for boil off. But it's pulsing. Other than annoying. Is it bad. That being said if I keep it at 100% it's good lol. Mash it pulses.

 

[Bobby_M]

Well, just on principal alone I find it to be contradictory to run an inefficient gasoline engine to create electricity to brew on. You might as well just use propane at that point. I understand there's a lot of argument about the utilities using questionable power sources for the grid, but we know for sure a local gas gen is about as bad as it gets. Not only that, but you have to feed the thing gas which is the one thing electric brewing is supposed to alleviate. What's the obstacle for a 240v circuit?

 

[Bobby_M]

Guys, I ordered my Solo Sep 28 and received my system a week ago. I have not used it yet but I am very confused about old threads 2-3 yrs old complaining about 5gals really means 3.5gals and something about the basket hanging keeps you from adjusting the amounts to accommodate lost of beer. Can someone please explain to me if that's still the case for a 10gal Solo system. If 5gals is max then I expect 5gals in my keg for football season. I am tired of buying beer because I ran out of homebrew beer and have to wait a month before I can enjoy again.

Don't get caught up in all that. Just brew on it and bring your questions after.

 

[We2smart]

Great advice!

 

[mggray87]

Well, just on principal alone I find it to be contradictory to run an inefficient gasoline engine to create electricity to brew on. You might as well just use propane at that point. I understand there's a lot of argument about the utilities using questionable power sources for the grid, but we know for sure a local gas gen is about as bad as it gets. Not only that, but you have to feed the thing gas which is the one thing electric brewing is supposed to alleviate. What's the obstacle for a 240v circuit?

I don't have one In my garage my laundry isnt in garage. It's inside the house

 

[Bobby_M]

Brew in the house?

 

[mggray87]

Brew in the house?

I'll just swap the panel cord to run 110v for now.

 

[mggray87]

Brew in the house?

My laundry room is about a washing machine and a dryer. 6x6 ft room. Haha

Well it all sounded good in my head when ordering all this. In case I wanted to do 10g batch. Oh well

 

[Bobby_M]

You surely can run an extension cord from the laundry to wherever. With electric, you have to think outside the box. So many people just assume they have to brew in a certain place.

 

[We2smart]

As long as you stay within the guidelines for electrical voltage, watts, etc they could effect the device over longer distance. I am not an electrician, but I have screwed up in the past a lot of devices not getting the correct extension cord and not knowing the length restrictions. I have also caused a fire extending a heater many moons ago when I was young, dumb and full of c...!

 

[mggray87]

As long as you stay within the guidelines for electrical voltage, watts, etc they could effect the device over longer distance. I am not an electrician, but I have screwed up in the past a lot of devices not getting the correct extension cord and not knowing the length restrictions. I have also caused a fire extending a heater many moons ago when I was young, dumb and full of c...!

That's the cheapest route. Get a 30ft extension cord to my dryer outlet and just have to keep the door cracked enough to have the cord in. And deal with the flies later!! I'll see what it costs to add a outlet right on backside of my house panel. Inside my garage

 

[mggray87]

You surely can run an extension cord from the laundry to wherever. With electric, you have to think outside the box. So many people just assume they have to brew in a certain place.

Change of plans. Getting a 30a dryer outlet installed tomorrow for dedicated homebrew. Oh well haha let's live on the wildd side!

 

[twd3pdx]

I've been working on putting together my system (15g 240v) over the past several months since the panel was announced. Received my panel a couple weeks ago and have been putting the whole thing together (first pic). Finally had some time to brew this weekend, but I should have tested everything out first before hoping to brew. I had everything powered up and the water temp was showing (second pic) so I set my initial mash temp for strike water and turned on the element. Walked away for a few minutes, came back and the panel was showing a big fat dash where the temp reading should be; I checked the water temp with a thermometer and it did heat up to about 72 degrees before it shut down due to the safety controls. Turned it off, unplugged everything, double-checked the temp probe connections, plugged everything back in, powered it up, same result. I've already called Spike and left a message but damn, I'm disappointed.

 

[We2smart]

Wow! I too have just set my Solo System also. After football I plan to put some water and PDW in it and see what happens. I have a 120v setup see attached

 

[twd3pdx]

Wow! I too have just set my Solo System also. After football I plan to put some water and PDW in it and see what happens. I have a 120v setup see attached

Nice! Good luck!