Automated Brewing

[Reuben Rowntree]

Hi Guys, I've decided to add some automation to my home brewery, and I'm looking for a few tips before I decide on the system. I'm currently brewing 20L all grain using a cooler or chilly bin as the mash tun, and boiling in a 30L pot. I plan on stepping up to 40-50L batches at some point and maybe even bigger. At this stage I'd like to automate a lot of things before the boil, but nothing too complicated.

I first thought I'd get a PID temperature controller, they start at around $50 it seems, but this quickly spiraled into something much more ambitious. Imagine having all your valves and heat controlled by a remote. The control panel at this place just blew my mind - So super cool, I think I NEED one for Christmas :)

After further investigation I came across two products that seem very interesting:
Brewtroller
BCS-460

I like the idea of the brewtroller (extremely customizable), and it seems like it might be cheaper - about $180 including some SSR's. But, I like the web interface of the BCS-460, I use a mac and the idea of controlling the brewery from an iphone or ANY web browser is very cool.

So I'm swaying towards the BCS-460, any comments? Does anybody here use either of these?

Initially, I just plan on having the controller keep the mash temperature constant (RIMS/HERMS) style, controlling a pump and an element. Eventually I may add valves etc.

I'd like to keep the entire cost/upgrade under $1000 if possible. I read a thread at aussiehomebrewer which goes something like this:
BCS-460 $187USD
+
SSR's $64USD inc Heat sinks (for four)

Not sure about these or other pieces needed:
Element ??
Pump ??

[Reuben Rowntree]

How's your system going Dale? I just had a successful test run of my system on the weekend. I have an electric HLT and Kettle as well as pumps all working, but no automated valves or volume sensing yet. Did you finish the volume sensors? I'm thinking about using the "bubbler" system. I might simply use a pipe down the outside.

here is how she looks so far :)

[Dale]

Hey Reuben, Sorry mate for being a slack arse really busy time of year for me work wise. I have had no time to get my setup any further so still have the volume sensors in the parcel they turned up in. Your setup looks like it's coming along well when you recon you'll get your first brew done on it?

[Reuben Rowntree]

Hey no worries Dale, we all get busy :) I have pretty much finished the project for the moment, I just need to label the control box and I have one motorised ball valve that I will use for my water in, and then I'll be done. I went with the bubbler system for my pressure sensors. I wasn't sure the bubbler was the right thing, but now that it's finished it is working really well. The real advantage is you don't have to worry about leaks, or disconnecting a tube. I bought all the parts from a local pet store for quite cheap. You need to add a 1M ohm resistor in line with the pressure sensor to stop it from going haywire (from the bubbles). It is discussed in the Brewtroller forums.

I've done two brews with it now, and it was heaps of fun. The first was a bit slow but the second brew I did this weekend and it came out really nice. The program function is great, you just enter how much grain you use and it calculates all the water needed etc at each step.

[martin w]

what size of pipe did you use in the vessels with the bubbler dip tubes? and where did you get it?

[Reuben Rowntree]

Hi Martin, I bought the tube from Steel and Tube. It was 7.9mm OD, but a little smaller would be ideal. You can see from the picture I have just used a rubber grommet to attach the hose at the top, it actuallt works quite well, because I can remove it easily. It is mounted to the wall with a little SS clamp I bought from Anzor for a couple of bucks. I'll type up a blog about it sometime soon with some pics.

You can also buy the tube from Mico Metals, but you have to buy a whole 6m length for about $50.

Steel and Tube sell it buy the metre but have a minimum $50 sale rule :( I bought some extra stainless fitting to make up the $50.

[Nick]

I 'm looking at building a Flash boiler like this FWIW:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/flash-boiler-153116/

 

The reason is that it produces hot water and steam on demand without pressure issues. This means that mash-in and mash temperature control is much more efficient.

 

You feed the hot water directly into the mash tun from the boiler for mash-in and a steam injection / mash recirculation setup for mash temperature control.

[Reuben Rowntree]

Yeah that looks interesting Nick, I haven't actually researched this idea much at all, but it seems like it would be a quick and efficient way of heating water. I briefly looked at an electric option but the amount of power needed is insane.

Upon a little research I found this to be a pretty good website for anybody else interested in the concept of steam.

http://www.brewingtechniques.com/library/backissues/issue2.4/jones....

 

Pretty cool stuff...