power! a practical question

[warthog]

thanks again. i'm really just posting my thought process (or lack thereof) as its happening. you should see what i usually eat ;-) i'm thinking that the minerals will change my water chemistry, leading to beer problems, i already have difficulty with lighter beers (pils etc) due to my very hard water.

so here's the plan as it stands:
60qt hlt w/ 5500w heating element (controlled via ssr and some sort of pwm type modulator)
60qt m/l t with a good thick layer of insulation (probably a rubber type - thickness/r value tbd)
60qt bk w/5500w heating element (controlled by the same method as the hlt)
15 gallon fermenter/inductor
the system will be a multi-level 'brew sculpture' the bk will be able to move to 2 levels, for filling and draining to the fermenter. this will save space overall
the whole system will be on casters so i can store it out of the way

things i am still thinking about:
control methodology - plc or discrete pid controllers
how to ensure that the hlt and bk are not using more than 30a together - 30a is my max, its an older house with 150a service, adding a 50a circuit i think will cause all sorts of new problems

 

[passedpawn]

thanks again. i'm really just posting my thought process (or lack thereof) as its happening. you should see what i usually eat ;-) i'm thinking that the minerals will change my water chemistry, leading to beer problems, i already have difficulty with lighter beers (pils etc) due to my very hard water.

so here's the plan as it stands:
60qt hlt w/ 5500w heating element (controlled via ssr and some sort of pwm type modulator)
60qt m/l t with a good thick layer of insulation (probably a rubber type - thickness/r value tbd)
60qt bk w/5500w heating element (controlled by the same method as the hlt)
15 gallon fermenter/inductor
the system will be a multi-level 'brew sculpture' the bk will be able to move to 2 levels, for filling and draining to the fermenter. this will save space overall
the whole system will be on casters so i can store it out of the way

things i am still thinking about:
control methodology - plc or discrete pid controllers
how to ensure that the hlt and bk are not using more than 30a together - 30a is my max, its an older house with 150a service, adding a 50a circuit i think will cause all sorts of new problems

Pump. One of the major advantages of an electric system is that the kettles can be at ground level. If I were you, I'd build a very low structure and mount a pump on there. I don't use gravity for anything: my system is space-station ready.

Lots of 30A-limited brewers on here with control boxes that switch between the different elements to make sure only one is lit. In fact, I'm one of them. Never a problem.

 

[warthog]

the shape of my brew space limits my configuration options. i plan on having my hlt directly above my m/lt, with the movable bk mounted to the same mast on the side. i could still use a pump, to transfer to my fermenter, but i have concerns about hot-side aeration. maybe i could put the pump after the chiller....
ah yes, the other thing that's still tbd - wort chilling. my current thoughts there is just to run my immersion chiller from my cold water tap, and into my drain (as i do now) wait till the wort is cool enough, then transfer.

 

[warthog]

bad news update due to a mis-understanding with the boss (wifey), i do not get 1/4 of the basement, i get 1/6th of the basement for my brew space (~175 ft^2). i may not even have room for the space saving 10g system i was planning. aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhh. i need to figure out a more compact plan......

 

[passedpawn]

bad news update due to a mis-understanding with the boss (wifey), i do not get 1/4 of the basement, i get 1/6th of the basement for my brew space (~175 ft^2). i may not even have room for the space saving 10g system i was planning. aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhh. i need to figure out a more compact plan......

Hmmm.

 

[CidahMastah]

brew shed?

 

[warthog]

maybe. i'm not looking forward to winter brewing then. we get some serious snow here. i think i'll see what i can do with my space.

 

[jpc]

bad news update due to a mis-understanding with the boss (wifey), i do not get 1/4 of the basement, i get 1/6th of the basement for my brew space (~175 ft^2). i may not even have room for the space saving 10g system i was planning. aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhh. i need to figure out a more compact plan......

You go back and TELL her that you get exactly what she would get if she were to divorce you--

HALF!!!

 

[wilserbrewer]

i need to figure out a more compact plan......

BIAB e-kettle w/ hoist...can't get any more compact AFAIK?

 

[warthog]

You go back and TELL her that you get exactly what she would get if she were to divorce you--

HALF!!!

you tell her. i have 3 words that sum up the situation.

1. irish
2. redhead
3. menopause

run, fast, don't leave any tracks, moving water is your friend.....

 

[passedpawn]

you tell her. i have 3 words that sum up the situation.

1. irish
2. redhead
3. menopause

run, fast, don't leave any tracks, moving water is your friend.....

Bwaaah!

 

[warthog]

BIAB e-kettle w/ hoist...can't get any more compact AFAIK?

i've never heard of BIAB e-kettle. i'll have to look into that.

 

[warthog]

ah, just read the e-biab thread. definitely a space saver, may save me a few bucks too.... may have to stay with 5g batches. has anyone done this with 10g batches? how big a kettle do you need for that?

 

[wilserbrewer]

ah, just read the e-biab thread. definitely a space saver, may save me a few bucks too.... may have to stay with 5g batches. has anyone done this with 10g batches? how big a kettle do you need for that?

I have done 15 gal batches in a 20 gal pot, but would advise a 25 gal. pot for 15 gal. Rule of thumb for me is kettle should be double batch size unless brewing big beers. BIAB does have limitations, as gravity increases, a dunk sparge helps efficiency. Can be very simple or involved as well...simple would be say a 4500w element running at 100% for 10 gal batches...shut off power at strike temp, mash, lift bag and run 100% for the boil. Involved would be recirculating w/ pumps and pids and heat exchangers etc. etc.

Best of luck w/ the redhead...very funny btw...and you don't look easily intimidated which only makes it more humorous

 

[warthog]

i've done a little more reading on biab. its a lot like what i did before i made the jump to all grain, as i steeped specialty grains in my extract on the stove. i see a way to be even more minimalistic. instead of racking to a fermentation bucket after chilling, just pitch into your brew kettle, and slap on a tight fitting lid with an airlock on it! heck, if you had a pressure tight lid with ball/pin lock fittings you could pressurize it, blow out the trub and stick in in your beer fridge (though, racking somewhere in there might be a good plan).

 

[warthog]

well, it has been a long time (too long) but i've finally finished my kettles and stand. i still need to build the controller, i will work on that after the kids are in bed.

link thingy:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f170/my-long-awaited-build-question-421907/#post5366013