Stirplate version 2

[James P]

This time, with the benefit of hindsight, I went ahead a built another stir plate / utility box.

The idea was to house my Erlenmeyer flask, my breakable brewing gear, and all the other crap I seem to have acquired.

I have already decided that the switch will need to be changed to a missile switch, but other than that I am really happy with it.

More photo in my photos.

[HerrSchnapps]

Nice! Where'd you acquire the culturing tubes from?

[James P]

Trademe! They are 50 ml however 15ml or 10ml would do the trick too!

Just looking for a pressure cooker now....

[HerrSchnapps]

50? Wow, that's a lot of yeast... yeah, I'm keeping an eye on pressure cookers at the moment too.

[James P]

When I bought them, they were the only ones available... the suppliers have started to stock the smaller ones after I asked about them....

I have yet to use the 50's, however they will provide a much larger surface area for cultivation when slanting.

[HerrSchnapps]

I meant 50 tubes :) I have my stir-plate running right now with water, but unlike yours and Ged's, I can't seem to get a vortex right down to the stir-bar...

[James P]

Oops... 50 is over kill however that was the minimum. If you want 10 I'm happy to split for the cost. :)

It took me about a minute from start to full vortex, turning the knob small amounts. First couple of times I cranked it on and the stir bar went flying!

[HerrSchnapps]

I have mine at full speed... it could be the fan maybe?

[James P]

What rpm rating is your fan? And your power supply is 9/12V?

What about the distance between magnets and bottom of fermenter?

[HerrSchnapps]

2000rpm, 12V, pretty close.

[James P]

I use one of these: fans it's rated 3000rpm, I wonder if that could be enough to cause an issue.

Maybe Ged can shed some light on his fan's RPM rating?

[Ged]

I used the 3000 rpm fan from dick smith with a 12v input...Dont think the magnet distance would affect it as if the field wasn't strong enough it wouldn't spin the bar...I reckon james has hit it on the head with the RPM issue? The vortex is nice to look at but I reckon any obivous mixing / aereation would be fine.

[James P]

I'll see if I can find a 3000rpm fan in all my PC crap in the garage and let you know HS.