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Brewery Remodel.


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#1 LeftyMPfrmDE

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Posted 18 February 2020 - 09:09 AM

Well, after about a year or two of planning, waiting for sales, etc, i finally got all my parts to go with a EHERMS system. Originally, i was just going to modify my existing rig. but after thinking, planning, re-planing, laying it out in the garage, and eliminating cost redundancies, finally got a game plan. Decided to share the progress. 

 

this is existing rig, aBrutus-10 style that i built 6 years ago. this is when pumps were first employed in my regime. it originally had 3 burners, with temperature controlled asco valves, but it became a pain, and slowly striped out a lot of the bells and whistles. 

 

before-1.jpg

this is the collection of parts. 

parts-2.jpg

 

 

view of the control panel: predrilled for switches, PIDs, etc. 

 

box-top-3.jpg

 

this is where the cheap side of me kicked in, added some hinges for the control box. 

 

box-side-4.jpg

 

this is a mock up of what its going to be. there is still a ton of work to do, but, it'll be a sweet ride once it is done. 

 

Kettles-5.jpg

 

 

there will be more to come. 

 

 



#2 Poptop

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Posted 18 February 2020 - 09:12 AM

Good luck with your build.  Lovin the Mega's.  I just christened my 15 gallon on Sunday.  So much different from my keggle.  Heats and cools much faster for starters.



#3 HVB

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Posted 18 February 2020 - 09:53 AM

Nice.  Nothing wrong with those hinges.  My control box started life as a first aid kit.



#4 LeftyMPfrmDE

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Posted 18 February 2020 - 10:07 AM

Good luck with your build.  Lovin the Mega's.  I just christened my 15 gallon on Sunday.  So much different from my keggle.  Heats and cools much faster for starters.

thanks man. those pots are a blast to brew with. 

 

Nice.  Nothing wrong with those hinges.  My control box started life as a first aid kit.

 

I thought of going with a Hoffman style hinged J-box. then i saw a NEMA 1 box on the clearance rack at lowes for 12 bones. then another 10 for stainless stell hinges. couldn't say no. 


Edited by LeftyMPfrmDE, 18 February 2020 - 10:07 AM.


#5 Stout_fan

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Posted 12 March 2020 - 07:35 AM

Looks great, I'm planning on doing a similar setup and ditching propane at my new digs. Keep us posted on your progress.



#6 LeftyMPfrmDE

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Posted 14 March 2020 - 09:57 AM

Just a minor update for this early afternoon. the weather is warm enough to spend a little time on the control box. so finished drilling out remaining holes, gave a quick scoring with course steel wool, and apply spray paint. just some before and after pictures. 

 

it came out a lot better then expected. 

 

paint-1.jpg

paint-2.jpg

paint-3.jpg

paint-4.jpg

 

next on the list is wiring the control box, adding circuits in the garage for power, and a whole lot electrical goings-on. 



#7 LeftyMPfrmDE

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Posted 16 March 2020 - 06:21 PM

well, found out that I have to take some time off from work because of that damn virus. decided to PBW cycle the boil kettle, clean some other accessories, calibrate the sight glass, and leak test the heat stick, and fittings. so far, not a drop leaked. 

 

15844076079179020850691515836554.jpg


Edited by LeftyMPfrmDE, 16 March 2020 - 06:21 PM.


#8 LeftyMPfrmDE

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Posted 23 March 2020 - 03:57 PM

spent some time over the weekend and today and made some progress. Have all the romex and devices trimmed in, installed the herms coil in the HLT, and mounted the exhaust fan. 

 

some rough in pictures. 

1.jpg

2.jpg

 

this is where the control box will be hung on the wall. Power cord, and cables for both elements, and a 3 conductor cable for the receptacle to operate the pumps. 

3.jpg

 

just a over view. 

4.jpg

 

inside of the HLT

5.jpg

 

mounted the exhaust fan. still have to install the duct work to vent outside. 

6.jpg

 

made some good headway this weekend. its getting closer to completion.  



#9 Poptop

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Posted 23 March 2020 - 04:30 PM

[Love]

#10 HVB

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Posted 23 March 2020 - 04:52 PM

Are you using the hotrod in the boil kettle as well?

#11 LeftyMPfrmDE

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Posted 23 March 2020 - 05:24 PM

Are you using the hotrod in the boil kettle as well?


Yes, sir. Haven't had the time to leak test it. Have it out together.

Edited by LeftyMPfrmDE, 23 March 2020 - 05:27 PM.


#12 Stout_fan

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Posted 24 March 2020 - 01:32 PM

Have you considered a spray steam condenser for the BK?

A pro brewer friend just MacGyvered one into his BK. Sez he loves it!

 

ANYWAY.. Lookin' GOOD! :goodidea:


Edited by Stout_fan, 24 March 2020 - 01:34 PM.


#13 LeftyMPfrmDE

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Posted 24 March 2020 - 01:34 PM

Have you considered a spray steam condenser for the BK?

A pro brewer friend just MacGyvered one into his BK. Sez he loves it!

i have no permanent water hook up in the garage. the exhaust fan is the best option for me.  



#14 Stout_fan

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Posted 24 March 2020 - 03:04 PM

Well if anybody else is interested Brewers Hardware makes a kit

STEAM SLAYER

 

I think I played that video game as a kid

SteamSlayer-2T.jpg?v-cache=1536667599



#15 LeftyMPfrmDE

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Posted 04 April 2020 - 04:00 PM

Had some time today and worked on the new brew rig. got the HLT, herms coil and Mash ton leak tested, ran a cycle of PBW thru then. Really wanted to wire the control box and get that outta the way, but i'm missing or lost some terminals (on the way from amazon). so ended up doing odds and ends; finished the exhaust fan, bolted a pump to the table, etc. 

 

close up the box. 

 

Box.jpg

 

holes cut out for the vent line.

Ex-Fan-Finish.jpg

 

outside vent

Vent-outside.jpg

finished ex. fan

Ex-Fan-Finish.jpg

 

the 'water' pump. the outlet in the background is wired to the control panel. going to have both pumps individually controlled/switched. 

pump.jpg



#16 matt6150

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Posted 04 April 2020 - 04:47 PM

Looking good man. Electric is where it's at!

#17 LeftyMPfrmDE

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Posted 04 April 2020 - 05:12 PM

Looking good man. Electric is where it's at!


It certainly is! I've brewed on two different EHERMS systems, and they are super sweet. Cant wait to move on from propane.

#18 HVB

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Posted 04 April 2020 - 06:46 PM

Looking good man. Electric is where it's at!


I think I am going on 15 years with some kind of electric brewing and I would never go back.


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