Maxi Controlling FV Temp`s

[barneey]

The radiator heaters are easy to get, in a range of different low wattages and mounting it externally will prevent and condensation issues that might happen if you mounted the thing internally, final one if you were to mount a heater internally the pipework from the pump would need to be diverted. As my maxi sits on top of the fridge where the FV sits room isn't an issue. Would be interesting however to see a cartridge mounted one. The only other place that could house a heater would be in the actual tank itself although I'm not too sure if that would be all that economic, at the moment the flow passes over the heater & goes directly to the FV so makes the most out of the heat available whereas a tank mounted one would not, worth someone experimenting though.

[roscoe]

I wish I had seen this thread before.

I have a 100w radiator 'in-line' heater but it is manually valved to bypass the ice bank, thinking back a 2nd pump might be a neater solution. I had a washing hot/cold solenoid valve but the solenoids would burn out if left on for few hours which is needed when going up/down for lagers. The 100w heater stick into 100L of beer heats up about 0.8 oC/h which is ok for me, the numbers change depending on level of fermenter insulation and also the density of the glycol mix recirculating. Whilst I can get the FV down to 6oC at best using the ice bank as I haven't converted to glycol in the chiller yet, I need to use a glycol mix or the chiller coil would freeze and block. I really should make a better attempt to get the ratio correct the poor little pump struggles with thicker density of glycol if used to strong and the whole performance becomes poor.

Apart for the final crash cool, it works well and I don't need to move to glycol as any lagering would be down outside the FV and it does seem like its worth the hassle to get colder just to fine in the fermenter.

[dean_wales]

Another variation...

You could fit one of these to warm the fluid as it passes through:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290912828459

Dean.

[Cazamodo]

This is still on my to do list.

I have a maxi 310 but leaning towards using that in my little bar build. Mine has 4 product lines to use too.

Thinking about getting the smaller maxi 110 I think it is, I know theres one here somewhere, and using that.

Reckon that could cool two Fvs if I used python and product line with pump. Being chilled with internal ss coil.

[darkonnis]

I'm using a Maxi 110 at the minute, but I'm about to switch over to a 310 and use the 110 pump in it to power 2 FVs (part of the ultimate FV cooler build). If you're after a 110 (no python pump) give me a shout and we can work something out. You can just a aquarium pump I think, but as I have both I intend to use the pumps I've got.

[charliefarley]

There is a radiator heater (150w) plumbed into the pipework of the recirc loop on the maxi. The STC controls this and the maxi via a few relays. The recirc pump is DE- wired from the maxi.

So when cooling is required the STC fires up the maxi + pump.

When heating is required the STC fires up the heater + pump.

Due to the volume of the liquid + being housed in an insulated "cupboard" things tend to stay quite static so the maxi doesn't need to be on all the time, the cooling does take a little longer as there is no ice build up in the maxi but the reverse is true regarding the heating side being in the same loop.

I love this idea and have started having a go a wiring this up until I got to the part where the pump is controlled by both the heat and the cool power. How does this work? I see you have a couple of relays which obviously handle this. Any chance of a rough schematic? Or explanation to a non electrical minded idjut on how this works? Also, what type of relays are these? Buying parts that I don't know what to do with is my speciality!

[Belter]

I could be wrong but I looked at this last night. If you put the pump before the STC then I'm not sure you need any relays as the pump will run all the time when it's plugged in. You could also fit an on off switch so you don't have to turn it off at the wall to stop the pump.

[charliefarley]

yeah but then the pump is running 100% - I like the idea of the pump being switched by the hot or the cool cycle of the STC.

[Belter]

yeah but then the pump is running 100% - I like the idea of the pump being switched by the hot or the cool cycle of the STC.

Yeah hadn't thought of that. When the fermenter is at the right temp the pump will stop. That answersy question also. Glad you posted

You will need 2x double pole double throw (DPDT) relays. The small ones are usually 10A but it looks like Barneey has used 30A. They don't need to be that big as my maxi 110 only pulls 1A.

If no one beats me to it and I get chance I'll draw something up

[BenB]

You don't need two seperate relays. One SPDT will do with a bit of cunning. That's what I've got to run my fv chamber fans when either the heater or freezer are running.

[Belter]

You don't need two seperate relays. One SPDT will do with a bit of cunning. That's what I've got to run my fv chamber fans when either the heater or freezer are running.

I think we're going to need a bit more detail than that

[Fil]

You don't need two seperate relays. One SPDT will do with a bit of cunning. That's what I've got to run my fv chamber fans when either the heater or freezer are running.

I think we're going to need a bit more detail than that

still think if you have an old phone charger or similar kicking about to drive it
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5V-4-Channel- ... 339b3ad4d8
is the bargain basement option. and no need to get embroiled in logic, anything more complex than de-Roschler's theory after a pint and me brain aches..

if genius is stating the bloody obvious first, De-Roschler stated if u have X boxes to contain X+1 objects, one box must have more than one object in it..

[themadhippy]

where the pump is controlled by both the heat and the cool power. How does this work?

spdt /change over relay, common to the pump,coil and 1 side of the switch to cooling power,other side of switch to heating power. when the unit is calling for cooling the relay energise and switches the pump over to the cooling power rail,when its calling for heating the relay de -energise and connects the pump to the heating power rail, use a double pole relay and you can switch the neutrals as well

[BenB]

is basically it. Works well.

You don't need two seperate relays. One SPDT will do with a bit of cunning. That's what I've got to run my fv chamber fans when either the heater or freezer are running.

I think we're going to need a bit more detail than that

[BenB]

Bollocks. Quick handstand time.