POLS $10 HLT Sight Gauge!

[The Pol]

Epiphany...

I already have a hole and a stopper thermometer going through the wall of my HLT. It isnt needed since I have my A419 controller on that vessel now. SO, I am going to get some polycarbonate tubing and create an "L" that will go through a standard drilled stopper, seal tightly and tada, a perfectly and simple sealing HLT sight gauge! My thought is heating it gently to the point where I can bend it, find a small(er) radius form and bend the 90 deg. angle.

McMaster-Carr

 

[Bobby_M]

Sounds good to me. Eyebolt on top to stabilize it?

 

[The Pol]

Sounds good to me. Eyebolt on top to stabilize it?

Sure sure... I think it will be a great addition since I have the stopper and hole already there. It will also be SWEET for measuring out my step mashing quantities when I step mash and pump over from the HLT to the MLT! :rockin:

 

[Lost]

could you use a plastic racking cane for this? It's already got the bend and would seal fairly tight in the typical stopper.

 

[The Pol]

I dunno if it can handle the heat.... actually from past experience I dont think it will

 

[planenut]

How about some velcro at the top to secure it instead of an eye bolt?

 

[The Pol]

That is so '80s!

 

[kladue]

Would you like to try some teflon tubing, have some in 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" OD that can be heated and bent for a sight glass. The tubing is rated to 400+ degrees but is not as transparent as polycarbonate, there is an example piece on the mixer for the phase2 system.

 

[Duckfoot]

You using the silicone stoppers from McMaster? Just curious since I am going to work on my new HLT soon...

 

[Bobby_M]

If racking canes are 1/16" wall acrylic, I'm pretty sure the high temp limit is 160F. If you go to polycarb, depending on who you talk to it is rated to at LEAST 200F though I've seen some rated as high as 250F. It's not that they'll burst into flames or disintegrate at those temps but they'll get soft and perhaps hazy.

 

[Displaced MassHole]

Pol-
I know you have an electric rig but do you think that plastic would handle direct fired vessels? mcmaster says its rated to +200F, whatever that means.

 

[Bobby_M]

Mcmaster also has a 250F rated version in 3/8" OD. A lot of people have been using sight glass kits that I put together based on 3/8" and 1/2" OD and I only heard of one breaking (though the cause is still a mystery). So far no melty heat related problems. If you've got a stand where the flames lick up the side to the point where your ball valve handle's rubber is burned off, it might be an issue.

 

[planenut]

Hey Pol,

I was wondering if you ever got this done? How it worked, Pics?

Thanks

 

[The Pol]

Not done yet... it will be... when it is I will post it. Should be easy, I already have the hole in the cooler for the digital thermomter that I dont need anymore. I already have the stopper... I just need the tube.

Along with my new "no chill" method and fermentor, I am making some pretty neat strides in brewing technology and techniques.

 

[planenut]

Not done yet... it will be... when it is I will post it. Should be easy, I already have the hole in the cooler for the digital thermomter that I dont need anymore. I already have the stopper... I just need the tube.

Along with my new "no chill" method and fermentor, I am making some pretty neat strides in brewing technology and techniques.

Thanks, I'll be waiting and watching.. I haven't heard or read about the "no Chill" method and fermentor.. Did I miss it?

 

[The Pol]

Thanks, I'll be waiting and watching.. I haven't heard or read about the "no Chill" method and fermentor.. Did I miss it?

Well it is buried in another thread. It is a method that the Aussies use. No chill, natural cooling, saves time and water. There is minimal investment to try it out, so I am doing it... I will be using it with a recipe that I have brewed 5x or more, so that I can tell what the major differences are, if any, to the brew.

Basically you drain the HOT wort into an HDPE container, void of headspace, let it cool... then pitch whenever you want to. In my case, it will be 24 hours later. I will be using foam control drops to keep the krausen down and keep the cooled wort in the same 5 gallon container that I tossed the brew in to cool.

Drastic? Kinda... worth trying? Definately.

Aussies use the NO CHILL menthod almost exclusively and brew up some award winning beers with it. So... it can't be all bad. Like I said, this will be an experiment!

 

[planenut]

hmmm, I want to hear how it goes...

 

[The Pol]

hmmm, I want to hear how it goes...

You will, IF I survive.

 

[planenut]

Will you be using a better bottle, ale pale or something else?

 

[WortMonger]

Can't wait to see pictures of a finished project, sounds neat.

 

[The Pol]

No, I will be using something else, from USPlastics I presume... just wait, be patient... still working out the details.

 

[WortMonger]

LOL, fine then... I will wait. Still want to see it though.

 

[The Pol]

The sight glass thing is pretty easy, not done though.

The NO CHILL carboy/fermentor is another story. Still working out a lot of details for cleaning/sanitizing/draining...

I have only been working on the idea for a few days since I really got into the Aussie BYO article and then the Aussie boards.

 

[WortMonger]

Honestly, I don't like the "no chill" idea, but I read everything and am always interested in experiments and the write-ups that come with them. Can't wait to read more.

 

[The Pol]

It is okay, people dont generally like ME... so this method fits me well

 

[WortMonger]

LOL, well I like ya just fine . I'll check back and read later on.

 

[The Pol]

Cool cool, there will be a thread on it, I garanteeee ya.

 

[The Pol]

Buying some 1/2" dia. polycarbonate tubing from Mc Master tonight, I got some 3/8" free from a member here, but it is too small to seal in the hole in a drilled stopper.

I will be able to use the sight gauges, new silcone tubing and no chill fermentor in about a week! I will have a full thread containing the updates on the system and the brew session, all in one.

 

[LooyvilleLarry]

Hey Pol. I just used a regular stopper and a drill bit. You can make it whatever size you need then

 

[The Pol]

You were able to do that with a gum stopper???