6 weeks....that's a short life expectany
New here. Like to say "hello"
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Vossy1
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Frothy
QUOTE (Seveneer @ Sep 3 2006, 07:35 AM) Exactly along those lines. I've started recirculating through a home made heat exchanger. It allows me to adjust the temperature of the mash without adding water and it gets the wort a clear as clear. To be honest, it's more about gadgets than making beer but it's fun.
/Phil.
Welcome Mr Lotus7
fantastic - maybe I could be the first to borrow some advice
I've been thinking about a HERMS for ages and I've got most of the equipment
Burco Boiler
1/2" coil of copper piping to fit inside
circulating pump + connects etc
I'm worried about how to regulate the heat as the Ranco thermostats and similar digital thermostats designed for refrigeration cannot handle the current required.
How do you go about it in your setup?
thanks
Matt
/Phil.
Welcome Mr Lotus7
fantastic - maybe I could be the first to borrow some advice
I've been thinking about a HERMS for ages and I've got most of the equipment Burco Boiler
1/2" coil of copper piping to fit inside
circulating pump + connects etc
I'm worried about how to regulate the heat as the Ranco thermostats and similar digital thermostats designed for refrigeration cannot handle the current required.
How do you go about it in your setup?
thanks
Matt
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Seveneer
Ha, you spotted the Caterham then!
I use a PID controller to trigger a Solid State Relay which then switches the live wire to the element as it can handle the current. The recirculation pump is turned on after the mash bed settles (approx 10 minutes) and is then left on for the duration of the mash.
I have a working system right now and have brewed 5 batches on it since converting to HERMS but it's still very much a work in progress and I'm still aquiring parts. I think I've got a pretty good idea of what I'm going to do with the final version though.
There's loads of stuff on the net about it. I'll post some pictures when I get it all tidied up and fitted to my shiny new stainless toys
Let me know if you need anything specific.
/Phil.
I use a PID controller to trigger a Solid State Relay which then switches the live wire to the element as it can handle the current. The recirculation pump is turned on after the mash bed settles (approx 10 minutes) and is then left on for the duration of the mash.
I have a working system right now and have brewed 5 batches on it since converting to HERMS but it's still very much a work in progress and I'm still aquiring parts. I think I've got a pretty good idea of what I'm going to do with the final version though.
There's loads of stuff on the net about it. I'll post some pictures when I get it all tidied up and fitted to my shiny new stainless toys
Let me know if you need anything specific.
/Phil.
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Frothy
Sorry Caterham, I planned to build a replica of one many years ago but failed to find a rear wheel drive Mk1 Escort to build it with...
a PID controller & solid state relay you say-> is a bit of electronics you've wired up yourself, I've seen some units that run from a PC? Can I buy the components from Maplin?
thanks
Matt
a PID controller & solid state relay you say-> is a bit of electronics you've wired up yourself, I've seen some units that run from a PC? Can I buy the components from Maplin?
thanks
Matt
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Seveneer
I got the PID controller from a bloke on ebay and the SSR from RS; I don't think Maplin does them.
I wouldn't bother with trying to connect it all up to a PC. The PID controller is quite complex enough to tune without trying to debug pc hardware and software (and I have a degree in electronic engineering and have worked with software for 12 years).
The connections are very straight forward. On the PID controller you have a couple of connections to the thermocouple, a couple to power the controller and a couple more to povide 12 volts to power the SSR.
/Phil.
I wouldn't bother with trying to connect it all up to a PC. The PID controller is quite complex enough to tune without trying to debug pc hardware and software (and I have a degree in electronic engineering and have worked with software for 12 years).
The connections are very straight forward. On the PID controller you have a couple of connections to the thermocouple, a couple to power the controller and a couple more to povide 12 volts to power the SSR.
/Phil.
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BitterTed