Boiler to get into AG?

[BluePanda]

Thanks again, I appreciate your help. I've started ordering already

[sweatysock]

Sounds like a very similar setup to mine (I can't see the pictures as I am on works system and it blocks them) but I am wondering why most people require both a HLT and a kettle. I only have one 60ltr euro bucket with two elements. I leave the hop strainer in all the time as it syphons the last of the water out when used as HLT. I set up the evening before with treated water and one element on a timer. I get up early and the water is already at about 80 degrees. Dump the required amount in the mash tun and wait until it is at strike temp then in goes the grain. The hot water is still in the HLT until 30 mins of mash left when I tickle the temp up to sparge temp. If batch sparging the first lot is put in a fermenter (I only have 2 - 1 x 23ltr and 1 x 15ltr). Once the second lot of water is in the mash tun the HLT is then freed up for a kettle and the first lot from the fermenter is in the 'kettle' with both elements on then as soon as the second lot is done it is dumped in as well and comes up to the boil. Storeing is not too much of an issue but I dont see the need for two vessels that are doing the same job i.e. heating water. What are others views on this? Best of luck to the OP for his venture into AG - once you start you cannot go back! I am currently stuck on a Royal Navy ship and cannot wait to get home in two weeks and get a brew on!

[Goulders]

Ditto, though I use a Buffalo as HLT and boiler, so max 40l. Ex matelot here too. Enjoy your trip!

[sweatysock]

I will also be an Ex matelot very soon. Start resettlement after I have had my leave. I need to get off this forum and apply for a job - not much to do on a Sunday routine at sea!

[kearnage]

Update:

I tested the HLT. All seemed good.

The temp controller all connected up easily and worked first time.



The elements worked without having to shave anything off.



I made sure I took particular note of point 3 in the instructions on the temp controller. I don't want to get into any trouble.

[kearnage]

I got around to checking the seals on the mash tun and took the advice of Fil I think it was and moved the outer nut to inside the cool box wall so that the seals are either side if the inner wall only. That has resulted in a much better seal. Boiler has been tested and both elements work and no leaks. Looks like I'm ready to go.

[kearnage]

I've decided to add a sight glass to my HLT. As it's insulated I can't see through the sides of the bucket to measure water volume. I'll also then use the same fitting to fix my temp probe for the temp controller.

I already have a 1/2" BSP tank connector to which I will add:

Equal Tee (£4.69) - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171632078138?var=470610966396
Compression fitting for tube (£3.95) - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151235928260?var=450273551098
Acrylic tube (£5.99) - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290947446665

Total so far: £14.63

Does anybody know of anywhere cheaper to get a thermowell like this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151355425823?var=450743123529

I know it's only about £10 but I'm always looking for a bargain. For now I'll just use a spare blanking nut that I have to seal the end.

[kearnage]

Well after all the planning, buying and building it has finally come to brew day.

I got the boiler done with removable insulation



And completed the temp controller setup on the HLT



So it Brew Day - 1 .


Here goes.

[Fil]

Fingers crossed for a hassle free day with the maiden brew, 1st of many .. Just in the unlikely case the insulation on the kettle isnt enough to let the 2 x 1.5kw elements to maintain a rolling boil, cutting down the open surface area radiating off steam/heat by floating a stainless steel bowl, or simply partially liding will help.

[kearnage]

Thanks for the tip. I'll bear that in mind if it struggles.

[lord groan]

If you've got some scrap floating about make your own like I did

I already had some short bits of 6mm and 8mm tube. My temp probe was 4mm across so it fitted very nicely inside the 6mm tube. I could just have used all 6mm but in the end I cut about 5cm of 6mm and pinched one end, cut another 5 0r 6cm of 8mm and soldered the open end of the 6mm into the 8mm as well as a blob of solder on the tip of the 6mm to seal it, then I actually bought the 1/2"bsp flanged plug and backnut from Toolstation (less than £2), drilled an 8mm hole in the plug and soldered the 8mm tube into the hole, after that a silicon washer. Push the plug through the boiler wall and screw the backnut on outside and hey presto a homemade thermowell!

I adjusted the length and position so it didn't keep the temp probe directly over the element

[kearnage]

Thanks for the tips lord groan. As usual things didn't go according to plan last week so the brew never happened. On the plus side that did give me the time to add a sight glass to my HLT (including the thermowell built as lord groan described) and get all the parts I need to build a 10m counter flow chiller. I'll build that tomorrow and supply pics, prices and where to get all the parts if anybody wants to do the same. The sight glass cost less than £10 and the chiller will be about £25. I've got an electrician coming on Friday to install new sockets in the garage so I don't have to invade the kitchen.

I love it when a plan comes together!

[kearnage]

Here is the sight glass. Without the thermowell for the moment. I found that the pipe around the probe wasn't a tight enough fit so the temp reading was slow to react. I'll use 6mm pipe instead of 8mm







The counter flow chiller will have to wait until next week. Local shops were all out of stock of the hose connections I needed so I had to order online.

[Fil]

The trick to getting a good probe reading is ensuring the probe makes good positive contact with the end plate of your well, the probe sensor lives in the tip with a roomy well you can poke more than one probe in so can take 2ndary readings if you want to.. so dont fret too much over a wide well tube. once positioned a bung/cork or cablegland can be used to keep the probe in place.
and be mindful of the acrylic sight glass tube, after a few runs with hot water it may become even more brittle, a short sleeve of closed cell pipe insulation will protect it from casual knocks when not in use. You did a grand job of sitting it as low as possible, so many end up reading 20l or so at the bottom of the glass.

[kearnage]

Cheers Fil

I'm going to keep a good eye on the water temp in the sight glass during the whole process and see what it gets up to.

Thanks for the tip on the sensor / thermowell. Maybe I'll give it another go, I'll try re shaping the end of the pipe a bit to give a better internal contact.