Show us your electric brewing rig

[jfkriege]

Two systems from a common control box. A 2.5 gallon system on the left and a 5/10 gallon system on the right. Pumps and some fittings are also shared. BK high to act as BK and RIMS when recirculation mashing.

I am currently cleaning them up and redoing the control box. I will post pics when I am done.

 

[cruelkix]

Here's the thread.

And a pic to get you started.

I prefer the touchscreen over the hard control panel

However, Ed and Kal your panels are friggin pro. I refuse to put a pic in this thread of the inside of my electrical boxes after seeing yours!

 

[klyph]

This is what I have for now until I get all the fittings soldered into my keggles.

 

[IrregularPulse]

This is what I have for now until I get all the fittings soldered into my keggles.

The best part about systems like these, they can make beer just as good as the ones that look like they belong in factories

 

[CodeRage]

a more recent pic with the new motorized ball valves.

Currently the copper and brass is being migrated out and a new PLC based control system is going in.

 

[kladue]

Which of the PLC hardware platforms are you going with?

 

[bzomerlei]

I really appreciate all the effort many of you have put into documenting your builds. I recently finished setting up my electric rig and have had two successful brew days on the new system.

I borrowed heavily from Kal's work, but I am using a BCS460 for control instead of separate controllers.

One thing that I ran into was some of the components going into the box were larger than anticipated. I was able to fit everything into a 12x12x8" box, but it sure would have been easier if I used a 16x16x10 box.

 

[CodeRage]

Which of the PLC hardware platforms are you going with?

Eh, I am debating between the home brand my company manufactures, SLC5, or possibly a home brew controller based on the mini-2440.

I am tempted to try using Automation Direct's DL06 PLCs but I don't have much experience with them and not familiar with their capabilities.
The price is affordable but I don't want to pay $400 for another RLL programming package. They have a free 100 word version but that won't got very far.

It's still far cheaper than the cost of AB and rslogix, though I have a copy available to me.

As for the home brew version, my ultimate goal is to make something IEC 61131-3 compliant using off the shelf or home built Modbus DAQ modules.

The goal for the brewery is to find something that can be put together by others without having to monitor e-bay auctions like a hawk or require the budget of a municipality.

 

[kladue]

Good luck with your system, I am converting the Java code to C# and am looking at the mini 2440 as the platform for future control system development. With a wide enough range of low cost interface hardware from the robotics arena it should not be to hard to build a control system for an electric RIMS or HERMS brewing system for a reasonable amount of cash.

 

[user 29649]

Great thread

Cheers
Mike

 

[shroomzofdoom]

Nice rig!

How do you like the Blich FB?

I am still a bit new to this--so sorry for my ignorance...

What is the vertical pipe with the yellow wire on the left hand side of your pic? Not sure if I can totally 'read' your setup from the pics.

Edit--Oh wait--is that actually a heatstick?

 

[daugenet]

So what is the statue??? i can see a reflection of some little guy

 

[user 29649]

How do you like the Blich FB?

It works great although I'm using it in the boil kettle to filter the hops.

What is the vertical pipe with the yellow wire on the left hand side of your pic?

It's a 240 volt 5500 watt heatstick.

Mike

 

[Gabrew]

Hey Mike,

Any closup pics of how you installed/wired the elements to the kettle (the one without the heatstick)

Thanks

 

[willatkinson]

So what is the statue??? i can see a reflection of some little guy

I was wondering that too. Vishnu?

 

[kal]

It works great although I'm using it in the boil kettle to filter the hops.

Whole hops only (not pellet) I would assume?

Kal

 

[ScubaSteve]

I was wondering that too. Vishnu?

I think it's Stretch Armstrong.....or possibly one of those Hulk Hogan dolls....

 

[user 29649]

how you installed/wired the elements to the kettle

It's your basic weldless setup, stainless nut on the inside and a couple silicone washers on the outside. A pvc coupler filled with liquid plastic covering the connections.

Whole hops only (not pellet) I would assume?

Yea I only use whole hops. Just easier for me.

Mike

 

[silver97232]

My brewery is fairly simple/cheap, but I'm more than happy.

My HLT is a (New) rubbermaid 20 gallon trash can, food safe. with a 5500W element, sight glass made from vinyl tubing, the thermometer gives off an alarm when I'm at temp. A cheap pump from HF keeps the water moving to ensure an accurate temp reading.

MLT is basic converted false bottom keg, If I need to do step mashing I have a heatstick.

BK has 3800W element, works great for 5 and 10 gallon batches, originally had the 5500W in it and was too much.

 

[BrewBeemer]

Slick rig CodeRage. LCC.

 

[storm_rider_1]

Here is a few pics of mine, its hard to get a good shot of the whole setup cause my room is only 6 feet wide.

MLT

HLT

BK

Control panel

I hit a button and switch a couple hoses around and the rest is all computer controlled, hoping to upgrade to touch screen soon.

 

[kal]

Here is a few pics of mine, its hard to get a good shot of the whole setup cause my room is only 6 feet wide.

Nice setup!

If I can offer one comment with the risk that I understand that I may be called an 'electrical code' nazi ))...

Having two electrical outlets and an unsealed control box between your boil kettle and the vent hood is just asking for condensation/electrical safety issues...

You may be aware of this and choose to go ahead, but I just wanted to point that out to others...

Kal

 

[storm_rider_1]

Nice setup!

If I can offer one comment with the risk that I understand that I may be called an 'electrical code' nazi ))...

Having two electrical outlets and an unsealed control box between your boil kettle and the vent hood is just asking for condensation/electrical safety issues...

You may be aware of this and choose to go ahead, but I just wanted to point that out to others...

Kal

I didnt even really think about that, I had my bro in law, who is an electrician, wire it all up for me. He was obviously thinking about all the beer i was going to pay him with, instead of safety that day. I was planning to Sheetrock that wall pretty soon i might have to move a few things around. I haven't had any issues with condensation or moisture yet, but better safe than sorry.

 

[p-nut]

This is my little setup.

 

[shroomzofdoom]

This is my little setup.

Nice 'little' setup!

What's going on inside that Honeywell? Or is it just a box? And what kind of control SW are you using?

 

[p-nut]

The Honeywell "box" is a xl15c plant controller used in hvac building automation. It has 8 analog inputs, 8 digital inputs, 8 digital outputs, and 6 analog outputs. I can run the brewery, fermenting fridge, and the kegerator with that one controller. You can get free software to program it but I am using a web interface to program it. This is all stuff I got from work. I can actually access it from anywhere and turn it on. It's nice to start heating the water before I get home. I just fill it up and turn the pump on to make sure everthing is flowing nicely and then turn everything back off.

 

[CoalCracker]

Here is mine, sorry for the bad pictures.. Narrow basement.

These were taken tonight while doing my first double brew day.. hit all my numbers.

 

[HDIr0n]

Here is mine

IMAG0083 by HDIr0n, on Flickr

 

[shroomzofdoom]

I can actually access it from anywhere and turn it on. It's nice to start heating the water before I get home. I just fill it up and turn the pump on to make sure everthing is flowing nicely and then turn everything back off.

Remote start brewing....sweet. Thanks for explaining that!

 

[shroomzofdoom]

Here is mine, sorry for the bad pictures.. Narrow basement.....
These were taken tonight while doing my first double brew day.. hit all my numbers.

CoalCracker, Can you give us more details on your setup....or a build link if you have one? Curious how you are handling this with only two vessels? I may not be fully understanding your setup.

Thanks!