RubberToe Electric Brewery - BIAB to 2 Vessel HERMS

[RubberToe]

Are you guys hitting your mash temperatures ok? I guess that has more to do with attenuation than efficiency.

I measure my volume and gravity pre boil and post boil so I'm confident my numbers are good.

[sleepyjamie]

Are you guys hitting your mash temperatures ok?

im probably thinking since im brewing outside and i havent successfully insulated my mash tun perfectly is probably the cause.
im going to stick some more reflectix on it and do some better insulating during the mash.

[LeafMan66_67]

I'm getting my mash temps ok, but volumes could be off a litre or so. I'm leaving 4 litres or so of break and hop material behind in the bottom of keggle.

[RubberToe]

I built a false bottom today. The idea is to keep the bag off the element and thermowell and recirculate the mash with the element active to maintain tempurature. I went to Mariner Forge in Woodside today and picked up a piece of perforated stainless with large holes (about 2cm). It's decent gauge and cost me $20. Not quite enough to make two of the same size but almost. I got it home and cut it with my angle grinder and a fresh disk. The legs are stainless eye bolts with nuts and fender washers.


False Bottom by Hot Pepper Daddy, on Flickr


False Bottom by Hot Pepper Daddy, on Flickr

-Rob

[sleepyjamie]

fuck yeah.

can we build one of these for me next week?

[RubberToe]

I just measured what I have left and it should be enough to do another one with a couple of small flat edges, so yeah.

[mr x]

Very neat.

[sleepyjamie]

I just measured what I have left and it should be enough to do another one with a couple of small flat edges, so yeah.

that'd be bomb.

lets schedule a beer drinking and metal shop session.

[derek]

lets schedule a beer drinking and metal shop session.

That sounds scary. Very, very, scary. I'm afraid I can't make it. (I just finished telling my wife that I would not be held responsible for locating the missing fingertips as she seemed to be trying amputate them while deboning a chicken.)

[CorneliusAlphonse]

lets schedule a beer drinking and metal shop session.

That sounds scary. Very, very, scary. I'm afraid I can't make it.

agreed. angle grinders and beer consumption is one combination that should never, ever happen.

the grain bag support looks great though!

[RubberToe]

I was loaded when I made that WTF are you talking about??

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[GAM]

I have a bunch of stainless rod and bolts maybe we could trade for some of that sheet material.

Sandy

[RubberToe]

I have a bunch of stainless rod and bolts maybe we could trade for some of that sheet material.

Sandy

I barely have enough left for one for Jamie. If you need some drop by Mariner Forge sometime, they were cool about it.

[RubberToe]

Well today I wired up my other temperature probe to monitor the chiller output and made the base and hopper for the grain mill.

After wrecking my water bottle / plastic carboy hopper I decided I was tired of messing around and just used a HDPE bucket as the hopper. It's super simple and works fine, once the grain is through I just sweep the remaining bits onto the rollers. The base is made from 5/8" MDF I had already.


Grain Mill Hopper and Base by Hot Pepper Daddy, on Flickr


Inside Grain Mill Hopper by Hot Pepper Daddy, on Flickr

[RubberToe]

So I got my hands on a used 5000 BTU A/C for $25 for the fermentation room and installed it last night. Here's what I have so far.


Fermentation Room by Hot Pepper Daddy, on Flickr


Fermentation Room by Hot Pepper Daddy, on Flickr


Air Conditioner by Hot Pepper Daddy, on Flickr

I need to build the temp controller and put some foam board on the side with the A/C next. As for the condensation and dripping from the A/C I don't anticipate much since it shouldn't be running very often but it's tilted back a bit and there's a hose attachment on the back. I'll be running a tube to a container or something.

[sleepyjamie]

Looks good. Might wanna put some reflectix tape around the edges of the room to seal any drafts

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[LeafMan66_67]

If you are looking for something cheap for a temp controller (and only going down to 50 degrees) I saw some Siemens mechanical heating / cooling T'Stats at Princess Auto for $9.99. Didn't look close, but I assume they are 24V operation.

[RubberToe]

Interesting, I will take a look at them. I have another ebay temp controller for this but the PA tstat may have some promise as it was likely designed for A/C units, etc.

[LeafMan66_67]

They are down in the surplus section.

[LiverDance]

Interesting, I will take a look at them. I have another ebay temp controller for this but the PA tstat may have some promise as it was likely designed for A/C units, etc.

Rob if you think these are decent let me know or grab me 2 if you think I can use them in my system. I have nothing electrical so far.

[RubberToe]

Rob if you think these are decent let me know or grab me 2 if you think I can use them in my system. I have nothing electrical so far.

Do you mean for your HLT/MT/BK temp control? These, or the ebay jobbies won't cut it there. I can really recommend the Auber 2352 http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_ ... ducts_id=3 for that.

You are going all electric, correct? Any propane in this system? That may require a different PID.

[LiverDance]

Rob if you think these are decent let me know or grab me 2 if you think I can use them in my system. I have nothing electrical so far.

Do you mean for your HLT/MT/BK temp control? These, or the ebay jobbies won't cut it there. I can really recommend the Auber 2352 http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_ ... ducts_id=3 for that.

You are going all electric, correct? Any propane in this system? That may require a different PID.

Yeah going all electric but know nothing about it I should really sit down and have a beer with you sometime and work out what's in my head.

[RubberToe]

Sounds good, I'd love to chat with you about your plans. Maybe meet for a brew sometime on the weekend.

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[bluenose]

I like how you built it under your stairs... I'm thinking of doing something similar, only I have to deal with infloor heating.

[RubberToe]

I like how you built it under your stairs... I'm thinking of doing something similar, only I have to deal with infloor heating.

I was very fortunate in that the previous owners of my house had built this insulated cold room already. It's just a matter of taking a few more steps in my case.