Yoopers New Control Panel

[lschiavo]

Yooper is on vacation so I have been renovating her control panel while she is away. The main reason for the project is the HLT element was too small. I haven't decided yet if I will go with 4500 or 5500 for the elements. The HLT will also now be a keg. It was a 10gallon cooler before.

There are six cords. 50A power, 2 elements, 2 low level floats and the temp probe. I built a 555 PWM circuit to control the boil.

Well, here is the panel. Sorry a little blurry. I will update with more when I get the kegs set up.

 

[Yooper]

Um, where are the instructions for me? I need "Yooper's Control Panel for Dummies (Yooper)" next to it!

Seriously- GREAT job. You went far above and beyond what I ever expected!

 

[stevehaun]

Nice job! One comment. I don't think it is kosher to switch or fuse a neutral. Your definite purpose contactor appears to be switching the neutral coming into the box from the main power cord. You also appear to fuse the neutral. I am not an expert - maybe someone else will chime in.

 

[lschiavo]

Nice job! One comment. I don't think it is kosher to switch or fuse a neutral. Your definite purpose contactor appears to be switching the neutral coming into the box from the main power cord. You also appear to fuse the neutral. I am not an expert - maybe someone else will chime in.

Thanks. I dont believe there is anything wrong with switching a neutral. It is actually required in some applications and they make neutral switching circuit breakers. I do not have any neutrals fused. Maybe you are confusing the terminal block in the upper right with fuses? You did make me realize a mistake however. I need to pull the coil power off the line side of the contactor

 

[stevehaun]

Yes, I guess I was confused by the white wire going into the fuse block.
steve h

 

[Yooper]

I'm really looking forward to the inaugural brew with it. I haven't brewed in about 6 weeks, so I'm definitely itching to brew ASAP.

I can't wait!

 

[azscoob]

Holy Crap Yoop! I wish my friends would help me out like that! all my friends ever do is drink my beer!

Excellent job Ischiavo! if I ever get set up for electric brewing I'm flying you out here to wire it....

 

[AnOldUR]

The main reason for the project is the HLT element was too small.

Curious, what size element was in the old 10 gallon cooler HLT?

 

[lschiavo]

Thanks azscoob.

I'm looking forward to the first brew too. Hope it works. I still have to test it.

 

[lschiavo]

Curious, what size element was in the old 10 gallon cooler HLT?

I believe it was 1500W.

 

[azscoob]

Thanks azscoob.

I'm looking forward to the first brew too. Hope it works. I still have to test it.

Could you two brewcast the first run? If anything goes amiss I would love to hear some quality northwoods yooper-style cursing live on the Internet!

 

[weirdboy]

I believe it was 1500W.

Wow, how long to get to strike temps with that?

 

[lschiavo]

Way too long! I don't think you guys would understand our cussing.

 

[azscoob]

I might understand, I spent like 27 years in Eagle River, with much time spent in the UP. Recently I guess I started speaking yooper in a drunken tizzy, or so they say.

 

[lschiavo]

I might understand, I spent like 27 years in Eagle River, with much time spent in the UP. Recently I guess I started speaking yooper in a drunken tizzy, or so they say.

A little Finnish mixed in eh?

 

[Yooper]

Could you two brewcast the first run? If anything goes amiss I would love to hear some quality northwoods yooper-style cursing live on the Internet!

We're putting this together tomorrow and brewing together in my laundry room. I'll try to webcast, if I can figure it out while lschiavo hooks it all up.

My laundry room is small, the rig is pretty big, and lschiavo is not tiny. We should be nice and cozy in there!



Hopefully, we can get started around 9AM or so. Since it's early, we shouldn't even be drunk yet.

 

[Yooper]

Holy Crap Yoop! I wish my friends would help me out like that! all my friends ever do is drink my beer!

Excellent job Ischiavo! if I ever get set up for electric brewing I'm flying you out here to wire it....

I tease him all the time about being a geek, but he really has a great engineer brain that amazes me. I only understand about 75% of what he says when he talks about electricity.

I told him he should build control panels to make $$$. He does a great job, and seems to like it.

The cool thing is that I've been a terrible influence on him, as has this forum! He's built a cool rig for himself, he's built a smoker, and he has all the best toys! He's got a pH meter, and he was talking about an RO system. He also has every tool I could ever want to borrow. Not only that, he's very funny. I'm lucky to have such a cool friend, and his wife is awesome, too.

He even let me "drive" the bucket truck last fall.

 

[wildwest450]

What size element did you go with? My hlt is a 5500w, 40 to 170 in 40-45 minutes, and thats topped up @ 15 gallons. You will love it.

_

 

[lschiavo]

Thanks Yoop. I'm blushing. You know I really do enjoy working on this stuff. I haven't gotten around to posting any more pics. Maybe we can do that tomorrow.

I went with a 5500 in the HLT and a 4500 in the BK. I can't wait to give it a run.

 

[k1v1116]

Could you post a schematic of the 555 pwm circuit? Is the pwm controlling a SSR or are you using a different type of switch like a triac?

 

[lschiavo]

I used Walkers pwm circuit. Check his gallery or I can post later. It works great 0 to 100%...nice. it is driving an SSR.

 

[azscoob]

Hopefully, we can get started around 9AM or so. Since it's early, we shouldn't even be drunk yet.

You are yoopers, who are you kidding? Don't you guys drink schnapps with breakfast?

 

[Scut_Monkey]

Yeah I'm interested to see you guys brew on this thing. Is the MLT still a 10gallon cooler? I believe that's what it use to be.

 

[lschiavo]

Yes. No change for the MLT.

 

[azscoob]

So the same size, just more power?

 

[EricT]

Great Job on this, I just built my new brew rig. Its a Electric/gas system so no real need to go with a power panel, but one of these days I'll have my garage wired with 220 and go all electric, when that day comes I will be asking you for one of these. BTW I lived in Houghton for 3 years and never saw a Tirdy Point Buck. LOL

 

[lschiavo]

So the same size, just more power?

Power was the main objective. Also the BK can now be unplugged and moved for cleaning.

 

[lschiavo]

Great Job on this, I just built my new brew rig. Its a Electric/gas system so no real need to go with a power panel, but one of these days I'll have my garage wired with 220 and go all electric, when that day comes I will be asking you for one of these. BTW I lived in Houghton for 3 years and never saw a Tirdy Point Buck. LOL

Thanks. I spent 5 years in Houghton myself. Great town but I don't miss the snow. My sysem is a hybrid too. I need to get more power to my shop.

 

[wildwest450]

Thanks. I spent 5 years in Houghton myself. Great town but I don't miss the snow.

So you moved to the UP?

-

 

[lschiavo]

So you moved to the UP?

-

No. I've lived here my whole life. I went to school in Houghton. It's about an hour away.