Why are brewing controllers so expensive?

[augiedoggy]

Do the math, a 2000 watt 120v element is 16.6 amps, a 5500 watt 240v element is 22.9 amps. (volts times amps equals watts)

yes but my 2200w 240v elements draw about 9-10 amps... keep in mind , elements arent always quite as powerful as the rated markings stamped on them.

 

[Gruel]

Maybe it's a metric versus imperial thing.
Here in Chicago, 2400W at 120V draws the same current as 4800W at 240V, 20A.
Even with the new major.

 

[Beermeister32]

In the industrial area where I work, the line voltage will fluctuate. That has an effect on motors and all other electrical systems, computer battery backups, etc. I placed a meter on the line voltage once, you would be surprised how it moves aound. Optimally 117VAC, it would drop down to as low as 95VAC at times, triggering beeping from the battery backups. This is in a typical SoCal modern industrial park. Also the low voltage does other things like playing havoc with fluorescent light ballasts, etc. Motors don't pull the rated amperage and can load up, and can cause damage. The systems really are optimized for 117/120VAC.

 

[Gruel]

In Germany they slowly crept up from 220V (that's what the old people still call the line voltage, but it hasn't been there since the 80s) to 230V and now 240V, to arrive at a common European standard. Equipment tolerances were adjusted well beforehand, so that old stuff would continue to work.

95V when nominal is 120V = over 20% down you would call a brown out though in pretty much any country.

 

[YeasternStar]

Attached is some wisdom from a bloke named CD Pritchard at an earlier time in electric homebrewing -- it helped me to build a basic controller for the boil kettle. Later I added an Auber PID in its own enclosure for temperature control during mash recirculation. Like Beer666's, these controls are more basic than the lovely control panels, but I only want limited automation in my brewing. View attachment 687924

Yes, you're taking me back a few years with this post. C.D. Pritchard was a very charitable homebrewer who used to have a very nice webpage that made available the details of his self-built RIMS system. He had pictures and drawings of his system on his website and even allowed people to download the Basic Stamp code he had written that included a lookup table he put together for a 10-K thermistor. His Basic Stamp controlled the entire mash process and he made the details available to anyone who wanted it. In today's homebrewing environment where so many great pre-built systems are available there isn't much demand for a do-it-yourself setup like his, but back then it was a badge of honor to build one. I don't know what became of Mr. Pritchard, but I am deeply indebted to him for his generosity.