Redwood Electric Rig

[Chosenwon]

Let me know what you guys think. I still have to sand, stain and get my march pump rigged up, but its close.

 

[Troubs]

I love wooden rigs for some reason! Looks very nice!

 

[Beer_Maker]

I love wooden rigs for some reason! Looks very nice!

heh heh heh... you said wood.

 

[Sawdustguy]

Looks very nice and compact!

 

[Chosenwon]

Looks very nice and compact!

That was one of my main goals. I didn't want something that was too big, its just high enough to drain into just about any fermenter with gravity, and high enough if I use a plate chiller i could get away with gravity for filling my better bottles. The Mash Tun drains through the handle of the keggle to shave a few inches. Lots of drawing before I started this, but I did build it (the wood framework) on one Sunday afternoon. The control panel and keggle are different stories. I have 4 batches on the kettle and control panel but zero on the system as a whole-Friday looks like a good break in day!

 

[freddyb]

AB I can understand, but NB!?!? There'd better be a good explanation for this.

 

[Chosenwon]

AB I can understand, but NB!?!? There'd better be a good explanation for this.

All legal-Scouts honor.

I got the AB one first, wish I would have gotten the NB first and made the kettle with that. Next step is to convert that NB into a mash tun, build the rims and wait for my last keg to get in from CHI for the HLT.

 

[Chosenwon]

A few more pics:

 

[bendavanza]

Nice.
I think electric is in my future.. I dislike brewing in the summer and getting a face full of heat blasting out around my kettles, feeling the BTU's wasted.

 

[Chosenwon]

Nice.
I think electric is in my future.. I dislike brewing in the summer and getting a face full of heat blasting out around my kettles, feeling the BTU's wasted.

I also did not like sweating into the kettle. All the heat is dumped directly into the wort on this system. Of course you lose some heat through the keg, but your heat doesn't have to penatrate through the keggle either. Let me know if you have questions. The Pol's stuff is great to use as a reference as are the others who have commented on his pages who have built simular systems.

Nothing beats heating up water for mash in at around 4-5 degrees a minute!... well I am sure some things would, but its pretty awesome :rockin:

 

[CodeRage]

Looks nice! I priced out a wood rig and steel is cheaper than decent wood, at least around here. Ought to be proud brother!

Remember when everyone kind of scoffed at electric brewing 2 years ago? Seems to be gaining serious ground now.

Let us know how Friday goes!

 

[Chosenwon]

Looks nice! I priced out a wood rig and steel is cheaper than decent wood, at least around here. Ought to be proud brother!

Remember when everyone kind of scoffed at electric brewing 2 years ago? Seems to be gaining serious ground now.

Let us know how Friday goes!

TELL ME ABOUT IT! I would have done this years ago if it wasn't for all the nay-sayers. "it will scorch your wort", "you will electricute yourself", "you couldn't get a consistant boil" Well my friends all of these things are wrong-I get incredible hot break, the boil is unbelievably even and gets there really quickly!

 

[wilserbrewer]

I like it...nice wood...nice compact and efficient footprint!

 

[The Pol]

I also did not like sweating into the kettle. All the heat is dumped directly into the wort on this system. Of course you lose some heat through the keg, but your heat doesn't have to penatrate through the keggle either. Let me know if you have questions. The Pol's stuff is great to use as a reference as are the others who have commented on his pages who have built simular systems.

Nothing beats heating up water for mash in at around 4-5 degrees a minute!... well I am sure some things would, but its pretty awesome :rockin:

Very nice bro, very nice. Enjoy brewing on it!

 

[psyber]

Sweet. That is exactly the type of setup I see myself with, probably 5 years from now when I get a house and garage.

Anywho, I assume you have some relays in your control boxes, but I did not see any heat sinks. Is your only heat dissipation that 120mm fan on the side? Also, what length is that cord going from the control panel to the outlet? If it is greater than 6ft could you tell me where you got it?

 

[Chosenwon]

Very nice bro, very nice. Enjoy brewing on it!

Thanks Pol, your rig pushed me over the edge to start mine! Maybe I can help you catch a break answering every electric question on the forum...

 

[Chosenwon]

Sweet. That is exactly the type of setup I see myself with, probably 5 years from now when I get a house and garage.

Anywho, I assume you have some relays in your control boxes, but I did not see any heat sinks. Is your only heat dissipation that 120mm fan on the side? Also, what length is that cord going from the control panel to the outlet? If it is greater than 6ft could you tell me where you got it?

Just one SSR for the 240. Its a 40 amp SSR with Auber Ins. big heatsink inside. I don't even have a fan rigged up right now, I have holes for ventalation, and I left room for a fan, but I stuck my finger through the hole and touched the heat sink and it didn't even feel hot to the touch, barly warmer than ambient temp.

I would have gone with a more compact box, but I saw how tight things had to be in the Pol's build so I went the next size up and I have room for a RIMS system in my future. I have two 6 foot dryer cords. One goes to the separate 30 amp GFCI I have mounted on the side of the control panel and the other goes from the element in the keggle to the outlet in the side of my control box.

I wish you luck in your build-It makes my brewing much more enjoyable. Remember to keep safty in mind when building anything like this.

 

[nebben]

That looks beautiful! You should be proud. Time to brew up an amber with it

 

[Whiskey]

Very Nice!

 

[The Pol]

TELL ME ABOUT IT! I would have done this years ago if it wasn't for all the nay-sayers. "it will scorch your wort", "you will electricute yourself", "you couldn't get a consistant boil" Well my friends all of these things are wrong-I get incredible hot break, the boil is unbelievably even and gets there really quickly!

You know, it is humorous how human beings seem to always think that thier generation has it all figured out.

Just think, many think that the brewing books and methods written about in the 1990's are the holy grail. Accepted without question.

I can imagine that was the same perception in the 70's, 30's... maybe thousands of years ago. Things are not the same now as they were in the 70's, 30's or thousands of years ago. I have no reason to believe that how we are brewing now, will remain the same 10-20 years from now either, that would be wholly arrogant.

Ingredients, processes, equipment and understanding are always evolving... we would be ignorant to think that the way it is done now, or 10 years ago... will be the future of our craft. It is simply illogical.

 

[Chosenwon]

That looks beautiful! You should be proud. Time to brew up an amber with it

I agree! The Redwood Amber. I only have one free better bottle availavle. I have 5 batches in the upright freezer now, Just fit it for a shelf and I have a 40 gallon capacity. Looks like I need more better bottles!

 

[Chosenwon]

You know, it is humorous how human beings seem to always think that thier generation has it all figured out.

Just think, many think that the brewing books and methods written about in the 1990's are the holy grail. Accepted without question.

I can imagine that was the same perception in the 70's, 30's... maybe thousands of years ago. Things are not the same now as they were in the 70's, 30's or thousands of years ago. I have no reason to believe that how we are brewing now, will remain the same 10-20 years from now either, that would be wholly arrogant.

Ingredients, processes, equipment and understanding are always evolving... we would be ignorant to think that the way it is done now, or 10 years ago... will be the future of our craft. It is simply illogical.

Wise words Pol. It seems like we may need some new Palmers and Papizans, no disrespect to them as they are legends, but the craft is always evolving. I loved your write up on no chill brewing too-which would have been a definate no-no to conventional wisdom of cool your wort as fast as possible.

We need more people to take a chance here and there and try new things. This hobby is for fun after all and experimentation is good (in small batches of course!).

Here is to figuring it all out!

 

[The Pol]

Wise words Pol. It seems like we may need some new Palmers and Papizans, no disrespect to them as they are legends, but the craft is always evolving. I loved your write up on no chill brewing too-which would have been a definate no-no to conventional wisdom of cool your wort as fast as possible.

We need more people to take a chance here and there and try new things. This hobby is for fun after all and experimentation is good (in small batches of course!).

Here is to figuring it all out!

For our generation anyhow!

 

[Chosenwon]

For our generation anyhow!

That is EXACTLY what I meant

 

[Chosenwon]

Quick question for everyone-How/where should I mount the march pump? I was thinking vertically against the middle support beam with the heat at the level of the bottom 2x6? Should I be worried about splashing the pump? Maybe make a hood for it of some sorts?

Pol-has your pump been a problem or had any problems?

 

[bendavanza]

Make a hood for sure.

 

[brrman]

I run my pump in the same orientation as Pol and it works just fine.

 

[The Pol]

Quick question for everyone-How/where should I mount the march pump? I was thinking vertically against the middle support beam with the heat at the level of the bottom 2x6? Should I be worried about splashing the pump? Maybe make a hood for it of some sorts?

Pol-has your pump been a problem or had any problems?

My pump has run flawlessly, 5 seconds to prime for a whole brew session. These pumps are bullet proof IMHO

 

[Hunlock]

That's a great setup!

 

[Chosenwon]

That's a great setup!

Thanks for the kind words guys, a lot of planning but it has all paid off so far.

Can't wait to pop this things cherry tomorrow!