Under Construction - Brutus Style Rig

[Otto]

Hi all! I have just started the construction of a 100 Litre Brutus Style, 3 Pot Beer Brewing Rig.

Thought I would chart my Progress as I went, and maybe get some advise along the way.

Have sourced pretty much all the parts, and as I don't wont to have to spend money upgrading, I have gone straight to a bigger size and Use all Stainless and Silicone parts.

The Stand is being constructed out of Stainless and awaiting the arrival.

I have decide to get most parts from the US and because of the NPT has meant that other parts then had to come from the US.

For the Pumps I am using 2 new Hot water Booster pumps that have been stripped down, they can handle upto 110C and under test, seem to work well. Plus they were only $36 each

I have started with the control panel construction, and have completed most of it, few Switches to straighten up and a few more wires to connect, but other than that its looking good and tested out OK.

Panel was made using clear Perspex and using my wife's Scrap booking Vinyl Cutter to do up the Diagram, logo etc and stick to back of Perspex then paint over with black paint. Worked out really well I though, and cost $3 for the Vinyl plus a can of spray paint.

Any questions comments welcome

[Ralph]

Nice! I look forward to seeing your build!

With the HWB pumps a couple of questions

1. How are you going to control the flow speed of the liquid, or are you just going to run them at whatever speed they run at?

2. Where did you buy them for $36?

[Otto]

Hi,

I have Ball valves at each ends of the pump, so I can control input or output.

The pumps I got from Trademe, placed a bid on some Auctions and no one else bid.

[Otto]

OK Sorry its been a long time, but here are the up dates of the build. Tanks are away having the ball valves welded on.

New Brewing tank is being built along with the cooling coil. Will have photos of that is son as I get them back.

Comments welcome.

[Otto]

Well The beast is finished, put the first batch down yesterday, went with out a hitch. Pumps worked fine.

The new Conical Fermentor is a Gem.

Photos attached!

[Brett Soanes]

how easy are the pumps 2 clean cheers brett

[Otto]

To Clean the pumps, I just pump boiling water through them for a couple of minutes.

They can be pulled apart, but no real need. I have a good filtration system out of the Mash and Boiler, so I get no junky bits through.

[Otto]

OK, Just a few updates.
Have finished my Kegerator.

Managed to score a westinghouse double door fridge freezer off trademe for just under $200. Was like new.

So I cut out the existing drink and ice dispenser and created a new one using GoogleSketch, sent it off to a Perspex shop and they cut it out for me. Glued together and mounted into the door (after some major cutting and grinding)
Have put a cheapo Temperature controller off ebay onto the door and that controls the freezer, so it maintains a 2-3C instead of going down to -18C

The freezer side is tall and Narrow, so can only fit 2 corny's, but I suppose if I put te CO2 outside could probably fit 4.

The Dispenser only has one tap at present, the other one is still coming from OZ.
Installed an IR beam on each Tap and an LED cluster above the Tap, so when you put your Glass in to fill, it lights up. (Nerdy I know, But had the parts laying around)

In the process of installing KegBot so that I can monitor the consumption, whos drinking and other stats.

Check it out at www.kegbot.org

Here are a few pics of the kegerator so far;

Will Post some photos of the KegBot once I have completed it.

Otto

[Chad Keven]

thats awesome, best kegarator ive seen online as far as looks go, it looks very functional with the built in drip tray etc, keep posting!

[Otto]

Hi, just another update.

Have installed the Kegbot system onto the fridge that monitors the consumption and people drinking it, as well as lots of other functions.

Users have to use an ibutton to authorize there pour, no authorization and you cant get a beer because the solenoid valve wont open the beer lines.

Going to change the tablet for a cheap 8 inch chinese knock off.

But photos below of the almost complete project.

Regards

Otto

[Chad Keven]

whats my code? is this to stop alcys drinking all your piss?

[Otto]

Better than codes, uses ibuttons. Yours is in the post! ;-)
I'm away 4 weeks at a time so stops e ermine drinking my beer, and I can check via the Web who's been drinking it all. Handy.

[Peter Smith]

yeah just you and the NSA have full auditing ability......