Stout Kettles powered by BCS Build

[sandyeggoxj]

Going to try RadioShack. The best buy near me only keeps one or two tubes on hand and someone just bought them.

How much do you think I need for 5 relays?

 

[waffle418]

Going to try RadioShack. The best buy near me only keeps one or two tubes on hand and someone just bought them.

How much do you think I need for 5 relays?

1 tube should be plenty. I put a dot and spread it out using something like an old credit card... just need a thin layer.

Here's a How-to

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Sweet. Purchase and installed. RadioShack had it. I went with Arctic silver brand ceramique.

 

[waffle418]

Sweet. Purchase and installed. RadioShack had it. I went with Arctic silver brand ceramique.

Artic Silver's in my panel and in my pc Just a personal preference to me.

 

[Docbruw]

Your order from Ebrew supply didn't have the paste in it? Mine did. BTW your build is looking good.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

I didn't order a kit. I pieced it together. I am using some different relays and such where the kit didn't make sense. Plus I thought ut had too many extras. Like LEDs . I only want green to tell me when things are actually powered.

 

[Kaiden]

Interested to see this touch pad come into play with this controller! Looks good so far!


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Thanks! Me too! I hope it works okay. I've heard it works pretty well on a phone so I hope it works on the tablet.

I got my mill and bcs462 in the mail today but they will be idle all weekend as I had to run to San Diego for the weekend. I will pick it back up in a few days.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

San Diego was fun. Have you been to Mike Hess Brewing? If not you should check it out. It was great beer and a fun place. Bought a growler and kept the pint glass that they used for the taster flight! I made the mistake of showing up with an empty stomach. D'oh!

I was hoping to make it to 2Kids brewing too because he is a member here but it just didn't work. Maybe next time I am out that way.

Bought the steel today for the brew stand. I decided to go with 1.5"x1.5"x14ga mild steel. I can't decide what I want so I will mock it up for cheap and use it for a while and see what happens. It was $70 for 60'. I bought a few other odds and ends and walked out for about $100. I will definitely have a bit left over, but I really like my scrap pile. Hoping to crank out the stand tomorrow because I am moving this weekend. If I can get the stand done then all that will be left is wiring up the panel. Making progress!

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Here are some updated pictures:









Starting the brew stand:















I still haven't decided how to finish the stand. I was going to put some cross bars on the top to hold the kettles, but I was also considering putting a top on it. Just something thin like 12 gauge. Decisions, Decisions...

 

[iijakii]

Those side cabinets are sweet. I vote a top, this isn't propane!

 

[waffle418]

Here are some updated pictures:
I still haven't decided how to finish the stand. I was going to put some cross bars on the top to hold the kettles, but I was also considering putting a top on it. Just something thin like 12 gauge. Decisions, Decisions...

I got my hands on a prep table from the family restaurant and I LOVE having a solid top but I also hate it... I've spilled water and it has no where to go with a solid top, but it would keep stuff from spilling all over your cabinets... Its all personal preference.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

I got my hands on a prep table from the family restaurant and I LOVE having a solid top but I also hate it... I've spilled water and it has no where to go with a solid top, but it would keep stuff from spilling all over your cabinets... Its all personal preference.

I decided to go with a top. I am thinking that I might put a lip around the back and sides so that a spill would be directed to a specific point. I have to buy a whole sheet, but I am going to have the supplier shear it to size. Should make for a nice clean top. I will probably start using fermcap to help with foam issues on large volume boils. I like the look of bare steel and I plan to paint everything with clear paint.

This is a prototype stand anyways. I plan to build another one out of 304SS once I work a few bugs out. I still can't decide where to put my pumps. They are problem children. I also think that I have a plan for my control panel, but still not set on that either. I was thinking of putting it at a 60 degree angle on the right side of the stand with a quick disconnect type arm that can relocated during storage.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Finished the stand. Total cost ~$160. I still have to drill a few holes for the pumps and control panel and then reinstall the file cabinets. The stand is going to get a coat of clear paint so that I can still see the steely goodness.

Quick Stats:
80' of 1.5"x1.5"x14gauge steel tube
25"x74" of 12 Gauge CRS
10' of 4"x.125" HRS flat bar

Welding with a Millermatic 251 mig with .035" ER70S6 wire and c25 gas at 16.5 volts and 180ipm wfs.







Control panel mount included:









High-tech CAD drawings for the stand:





Obligatory "look how good I am" picture:



Also made some progress on the control panel but this damn move is slowing me down...

 

[Ttownbrewer]

Very nice work!! I wish I had the ability to weld, never done it...

I like the flat top, I'm planning the same for my BK, and HLT with a tippy dump mash tun based loosely off another thread on here on HBT.

I'm subscribed to see this one out! Keep building!



Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Very nice work!! I wish I had the ability to weld, never done it...

I like the flat top, I'm planning the same for my BK, and HLT with a tippy dump mash tun based loosely off another thread on here on HBT.

I'm subscribed to see this one out! Keep building!



Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

If you decide to do it then buy quality tools and practice, practice, practice! There is a lot to learn at weldingtipsandtricks.com. If you are comfortable being uncomfortable then you can be a good weldor. It also helps to be consistent. I have taught many people a few tricks and they have really upped their game. If you were local I'd show you too!

Thanks for subscribing. It should be a fun ride by the time we are done

Prost!

 

[bemerritt]

Do you plan on finishing the top in anyway? I will soon be building something similar for my setup as well as a work bench and cant decide what i want for the top. Stainless seems too expensive and I like your option of mild steel. Maybe give it a decent finish and then spray it with a clear coat of rustoleum?

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Do you plan on finishing the top in anyway? I will soon be building something similar for my setup as well as a work bench and cant decide what i want for the top. Stainless seems too expensive and I like your option of mild steel. Maybe give it a decent finish and then spray it with a clear coat of rustoleum?

Yep, that is exactly what I am going to do. Cold rolled steel doesn't have the precipitated carbon layer to protect it from rust so it is sprayed with oil. I'm going to clean all the metal with acetone and then coat with clear coat. I was thinking about putting a 1 inch lip around the top so I am going to hold off until I make a decision on that.

I just out the heavy duty rubber wheels on and this thing is super tall. The surface is over 3' tall. I don't think I'll be able to look into the kettles from the ground level. I'm going to build some sort of catwalk type working platform and attaches to the stand during brew day.

 

[bemerritt]

Yeah, that is exactly why im planning on having my stand be about 2 feet in height. Just tall enough to prime pumps and store my glycol chiller under it.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

It is my fault for trying to fit those drawer units underneath. I have to brew on a gravel surface otherwise I would get regular 4" casters and lose about 6" of height. Oh well. It will make beer! This is why I didn't want to spend the money on ss for a while. Need to get some bugs worked out first. I would love to out a glycol chiller and such on the cart. That would mean brewing in place, but that would also mean a dedicated space in the garage!

I picked up a small stainless prep table, maybe 3'x2' that will make and excellent mill station. Needs some wheel but has room for 2 buckets underneath the mill output so I can mill almost continually.

 

[HerkDriver]

Seconded on the Hess Brewing. Ballast Point, Wet & Reckless, and Green Flash are all right around there. Great times. I miss living there. They usually had a foodie-gourmet type truck out front though.

Love the brew stand build. Keep posting!

 

[Boar Beer]

We run a 3bb Stout system. You have bought good equipment and the tri clamps are great to use. have fun building this guy

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Well, I have finally had some more time to work on this. Panel is about finished. Planning on testing everything on Sunday.

I do have another question: Can I pull the wiring from the chugger pump and wire in a longer pigtail?

 

[HerkDriver]

You could but the warranty would be shot... You could also spring for a couple of these like I did, or make your own if you've got some spare cords around.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007H5VDZ2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Practicing with water. Will try real beer on Saturday!

 

[scottstribling]

Just make a 3 foot pigtail for your pump. I did that for my chugger.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

SCott-
That is what I ended up doing. Works fine.

I am working more bugs out with my BCS programming right now. Just moving some water around. Currently running the "mash."


I did have another BCS question: how do I associate a different temp probe with a different output? I have a temp probe in my BK but since I only have 2 heating element outputs and 2 pump outputs the BCS is associating the BK temp probe with pump 1. I can't figure out how to change that?

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Brewing my first batch now. Looking at pre boil gravity I am at 70% efficiency. My crush is pretty big on the MM2-2.0.

The worst part so far is scaling the boil intensity back. I have it back to a 20% duty cycle and it is a very vigorous boil.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Turns out it was my browser. Ff isn't very good and safari is hit or miss. Chrome seemed the best. This was on a 7 year old Mac running lion...

 

[hammis]

i found i had the same problems with FF. sometimes it was ok, sometimes not. switched to chrome and blamo, issues gone!