My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
- mcgster
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My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
I thought i would share a few pics of my brewery build on a budget. I did alot of reading trying to determine the most cost effective way to start brewing indoors and after toying with the idea of using a potentiometer / rheostat style turn dial i ended up deciding on a single PID system with a 5500W Camco element.The goal of this build was to be able to brew indoors, have accurate and stable mash temps, and increase my efficiency. I was also trying to avoid sinking money into anything that wasn't scalable, so if i move to a three vessel system i can reuse everything.
I ordered my parts from Amazon.com, brewhardware.com and Auber for the PID. I did a lot of reading on HBT, Kal's electric brewery site and various other sites before i tackled the ordering / wiring.
I was pretty happy with the parts from brewhardware.com, the 1.5" triclover element kit was top notch, although the silver soldering took me awhile to figure out. Once i figured out how to do it properly it went very well.
Wiring in the 50A GFCI breaker took a lot more time then it should have, i had to move a ton of wires to get it to fit.
I am very happy with how the panel is working so far, but i definitely have a few regrets. I used a small eaton power center and i definitely would have gone much larger, i wasn't able to fit my element switch and run lights on. I also didn't use terminal blocks for my wiring and i will for sure in the next iteration.
I ordered my parts from Amazon.com, brewhardware.com and Auber for the PID. I did a lot of reading on HBT, Kal's electric brewery site and various other sites before i tackled the ordering / wiring.
I was pretty happy with the parts from brewhardware.com, the 1.5" triclover element kit was top notch, although the silver soldering took me awhile to figure out. Once i figured out how to do it properly it went very well.
Wiring in the 50A GFCI breaker took a lot more time then it should have, i had to move a ton of wires to get it to fit.
I am very happy with how the panel is working so far, but i definitely have a few regrets. I used a small eaton power center and i definitely would have gone much larger, i wasn't able to fit my element switch and run lights on. I also didn't use terminal blocks for my wiring and i will for sure in the next iteration.
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Last edited by mcgster on Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
- RubberToe
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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
Right on, keep posting pics! Are you using keggles?
I think about going 2 vessel all the time. I'm thinking what I have already plus a 20 gallon Stout bottom drain mash tun with RIMS.
Are you building a rig for outside or do you have a spot inside?

-Rob
I think about going 2 vessel all the time. I'm thinking what I have already plus a 20 gallon Stout bottom drain mash tun with RIMS.
Are you building a rig for outside or do you have a spot inside?

-Rob
Electric Brewery Build
On tap at RubberToe's:
Sometimes on a Sunday Belgian Dubbel, Oaked Old Ale, Ordinary Bitter
On tap at RubberToe's:
Sometimes on a Sunday Belgian Dubbel, Oaked Old Ale, Ordinary Bitter
- mcgster
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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
Thanks! I am using some old kegs, i had polished them up at one point but you can't tell anymore due to the propane burner flames coming up the sides.
I am just going to brew indoors from now on (i hope) i had a couple terrible brew days outside, minus 15, pouring rain and the propane line catching fire for my burner.... needless to say i'm looking forward to indoor brewing without propane!
I am just going to brew indoors from now on (i hope) i had a couple terrible brew days outside, minus 15, pouring rain and the propane line catching fire for my burner.... needless to say i'm looking forward to indoor brewing without propane!
- ajcarp
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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
Looks good.
I also would love to see some pics of the vessels and controller in action.
What was the total equipment cost for your build?
I also would love to see some pics of the vessels and controller in action.
What was the total equipment cost for your build?

- mcgster
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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
Thanks! I have to go through and do a final tally on everything. I bought all the parts over a few months to spread out the cost and a few of the parts I ended up not needing. I should have a total soonajcarp wrote:Looks good.
I also would love to see some pics of the vessels and controller in action.
What was the total equipment cost for your build?
- LiverDance
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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
I'm brewing 2 vessel electric as well. Just getting into it and figuring everything out. Can you walk me through your procedure on brewday?
"Twenty years ago — a time, by the way, that hops such as Simcoe and Citra were already being developed, but weren’t about to find immediate popularity — there wasn’t a brewer on earth who would have gone to the annual Hop Growers of American convention and said, “I’m going to have a beer that we make 4,000 barrels of, one time a year. It flies off the shelf at damn near $20 a six-pack, and you know what it smells like? It smells like your cat ate your weed and then pissed in the Christmas tree.” - Bell’s Brewery Director of Operations John Mallet on the scent of their popular Hopslam.
- canuck
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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
Sweet setup, Mark!!! I'll have to drop by sometime soon to check it out! 

- bluenose
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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
I didn't know those TC ports existed... I'm thinking of picking one up for my next project. Would anyone else be interested in getting one to save on shipping? I did a quick investigation and the best deal on shipping seams to be at 6 units until you get over 10 units. An order of 6 looks to work out to roughly $71 USD per unit with shipping.
I'll start a group buy thread if it looks like there's any other takers
I'll start a group buy thread if it looks like there's any other takers
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- mcgster
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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
I have ordered from brewhardware a few times, the first two i ordered to calais maine to save on shipping. This time with the TC i ordered it to my door because i didn't feel like driving to Calais in the ice storm and i was pretty happy with the timing.. and no duty.. it was 35$ for shipping but i think it was 20$ to calais and when i didn't have to pay duty it worked out being even.bluenose wrote:I didn't know those TC ports existed... I'm thinking of picking one up for my next project. Would anyone else be interested in getting one to save on shipping? I did a quick investigation and the best deal on shipping seams to be at 6 units until you get over 10 units. An order of 6 looks to work out to roughly $71 USD per unit with shipping.
I'll start a group buy thread if it looks like there's any other takers
I had a hard time finding silver solder in Saint John and the proper flux. I ended up getting MG Chemicals 3% silver solder and ruby flux on Amazon.com for about 20$ total. The difference in the product is night / day i went through a hole role of oatley silver solder and benzomatic silver solder and it was like rain drops on a windshield... with the 3% silver solder i could smash it with a hammer and not budge the TC
- mcgster
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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
THanks Shane!
I'll post some action shots this weekend, i plan on brewing Saturday and Sunday as long as everything goes ahead as planned with the parts.
I'll post some action shots this weekend, i plan on brewing Saturday and Sunday as long as everything goes ahead as planned with the parts.
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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
Looks good Mark, look forward seeing some action shots.
Fermenting: Oud bruin/Vienna Pekko SMaSH
On tap: Nelson dry hopped Berliner/ Scottish Heavy 70-/ NE IPA
- mcgster
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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
Thanks GM! Once i get it dialed in i'll have to try and replicate that barley wine you made it was great!
- mcgster
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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
I had to cut and resolder my dip tube to make it fit due to the size of the element, i wasn't expecting it to take up so much room, but i wanted to get it as low as possible. The dip tube is not as pretty as it was before but it still does the trick
I never thought about a mount for my panel... but because letting it sit on my table next to 15 gallons of water didn't seem like the best idea i scrambed to find a place open to get a mount. All i could find was Wal-Mart so this shelf mount had to do the trick, I drilled a hole through the case and put in a 1/4" bolt with a wing nut and washer to hold it in place.
It lives!
I never thought about a mount for my panel... but because letting it sit on my table next to 15 gallons of water didn't seem like the best idea i scrambed to find a place open to get a mount. All i could find was Wal-Mart so this shelf mount had to do the trick, I drilled a hole through the case and put in a 1/4" bolt with a wing nut and washer to hold it in place.
It lives!
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- mcgster
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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
Put three batches through the setup this weekend and i had a few things to learn but all but one of the batches turned out great.
Getting ready for the mash
My major issue with the setup is the 1/4" Stainless coil that i use for my recirculation, it restricts the flow so there is quite a bit of tweaking to get a stable mash temp.
The boil going with my high end ventilation setup
Getting ready for the mash
My major issue with the setup is the 1/4" Stainless coil that i use for my recirculation, it restricts the flow so there is quite a bit of tweaking to get a stable mash temp.
The boil going with my high end ventilation setup

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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
What are you running for a fan? Where did you get it?
- mcgster
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Re: My Two Vessel eBrewery Build
I'm using a ventech 240CFM fan i'll post some pic's. The ventilation is temporary but it has far exceeded my expectations it does a great job of pulling all of the moisture out.
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