Successfull fix for the wort in the dead space in the walls of my Brewzila

[kohalajohn]

My Brewzilla AIO has a metal basket. There is a dead space for wort in between the basket wall and the outer wall. The vorlauf recirculation system does not catch it, as the wort is just pumped to the top of the mash, and drains down to the center hole in the bottom. The dead space wort just sits there, and extraction efficiency is reduced.

We were discussing solutions, none of which were satisfactory, when @Bobby_M showed me the solution he has cobbled together in his shop. Photos below.

I have just finished modding my Brewzilla. And it works.

These machines have an external drain valve at the bottom. I was not using it for anything. You remove it and run a metal pipe outside of the machine and up several inches, then drill a hole (gasp) in the outer wall. The plumbing enters the machine and connects to a small whirlpool fitting. It is angled at a 45 degree angle upward. It causes wort to run up the sides of the AIO and forces the dead space liquid to mix in and circulate with the entire body of wort.

It was a very anxiety creating job to drill a big hole in the side of my new Brewzilla. I measured several times. But I got it.

I had to replace an inner piece of Brewzilla OEM plumbing as it was a bit leaky but that is all tight and dry now.

The video is too big to upload, but the photos below will give you the idea.

Anyway. Thanks @Bobby_M. It works.

 

[DuncB]

I did similar to my Guten AIO, but removed the existing tap and placed whirlpool pipe , the added benefit with your mod and mine is that the wort mixes over the outer temp sensor much better as well..

You will have a really good post boil whirlpool now as well.

 

[Bobby_M]

It looks like you have a bit of a leak on the recirc port. Those threads on the whirlpool fitting need teflon tape and a go a little heavy. Those threads are intentionally undersized..

 

[kohalajohn]

That photo was taken before I fixed the leak. All tight now.

I put a small slice on the neoprene jacket so it's all insulated now. Looks very good.

I think this is now a pretty good machine.

Looking forward to trying it out in a batch tomorrow.

 

[Bobby_M]

Yeah, it's going to perform well. That stirring action is a game changer. I keep that valve wide open and only close it a tiny bit if I want more volume through the recirc over the top.

 

[kohalajohn]

btw, about leaks, I have started using yellow gas tape instead of white water line tape. Even when doing water fittings. The yellow gas tape is thicker and has a soft gasket like body to it.

Like you say, threads can be deliberately undersized. It's rare to find threads set to close tolerances.

A few wraps and when you screw on the fitting, you can feel the threads sink into the gasket - like material of the tape.

 

[kohalajohn]

Yeah, it's going to perform well. That stirring action is a game changer. I keep that valve wide open and only close it a tiny bit if I want more volume through the recirc over the top.

I may write to kegland suggesting that they (or you) offer a Premium version of the Brewzilla. The heat diffusion plate on the bottom is great. And the neoprene jacket. And the bottom tap should just come with your design of second recirculation piping. And the bluetooth thermometer that sits in the middle fo the mash, making PID no longer necessary. And that spinning thing that lets you do Clean In Place, along with a second metal arm to hold it. And the extension cord for the display.

I have paid for shipping seven times for the above gear.

 

[Broken Crow]

I may write to kegland suggesting that they (or you) offer a Premium version of the Brewzilla. The heat diffusion plate on the bottom is great. And the neoprene jacket. And the bottom tap should just come with your design of second recirculation piping. And the bluetooth thermometer that sits in the middle fo the mash, making PID no longer necessary. And that spinning thing that lets you do Clean In Place, along with a second metal arm to hold it. And the extension cord for the display.

I have paid for shipping seven times for the above gear.

No need to write them, you could just tag them as they are signed up here and like most brew gear companies they read this site and will probably get around to ripping Bobby off as other companies have done... The Brewzilla is a basic compromise unit directed toward an audience that just wants a simple way to make beer.... I'd rather spend my money with Bobby to get the parts and solutions that fill in the gaps on lesser equipment as he's an active supporter of the community who's been ripped off already.
..just sayin

 

[kohalajohn]

Good point @Broken Crow .

Hey, @Bobby_M consider putting together a premium upgrade package as I describe above.

 

[Broken Crow]

Good point @Broken Crow .

Hey, @Bobby_M consider putting together a premium upgrade package as I describe above.

He already did put together a few packages that not only address all the shortcomings of turnkey AIO's, such as standarized replacment parts and configurability, plus: the future-proofing cost-savings of repurposing the unit should you decide to expand to LoDO brewing:
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/biabpackagepremium.htm
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/biabpackageblichmannbd.htm
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/biabpackagetank.htm
...and then other companies jumped on the bandwagon, but nobody else makes or sells his very well designed false bottoms or recirc ports.

 

[Willy]

I got the same mode from @Bobby_M for my Brewzilla 100L. Love it - reduces potential boil overs and bottom scorching issues - tweak how open each valve is based on mash density, no sparge vs sparge, etc.

Due to the much wider aspect ratio of the 100L vs the 35L (with extended mash pipe) - I keep the bottom valve at about 50-75% open - agree with Bobby that it should be at or near 100% for the 35 L.

The Bobby_M mod also makes whirlpooling and hop collection work better. Same for chilling down after the boil. I use my Brewzilla 100L with BIAB inside the mash pipe with no bottom. No sparge.

And I agree with @Broken Crow - the Brewzilla 35 L is an okay solution for "I just wanna make some beer" target customer. However - the 100L version is quite awesome, especially with the BrewHardware mod. The pump is not a riptide, but it is so much more powerful that the 35L. The controller is really cool - PID, power and pump throttling, Bluetooth/wifi to change settings on my phone, a timer to do step mashes or preheat water while you sleep. Multiple thermometers and the ability to use both to determine heater control. Basically - the Brewzilla 100L is different, and perhaps a better value if you end up getting the extender, new mash pipe etc for the Brewzilla 35L. Had I known... I would have just gotten the Brewzilla 100L in lieu of the 35L. YMMV. With the whirlpool port mod of course. Ha.

 

[Whisky River]

I may write to kegland suggesting that they (or you) offer a Premium version of the Brewzilla. The heat diffusion plate on the bottom is great. And the neoprene jacket. And the bottom tap should just come with your design of second recirculation piping. And the bluetooth thermometer that sits in the middle fo the mash, making PID no longer necessary. And that spinning thing that lets you do Clean In Place, along with a second metal arm to hold it. And the extension cord for the display.

I have paid for shipping seven times for the above gear.

ahhh you had me at PREMIUM and BREWZILLA! Classic Does that come with an order of jumbo shrimp?