267 replies to this topic

[HVB]

Again, my dip tube is wide open. I pull off the side of the cone into a plate chiller. I don't understand why people have issues with clogging a plate chiller. If you are worried about the plate chiller being clogged a CFC can be clogged almost as easy. As far as a cleaning a plate its no different than a CFC. I like the smaller footprint of the plate vs a CFC too.

 

 

 

I just like the CFC better and it would take one hell of a clog to block it.  It the end it works better for me and my system and I feel I can clean it better.  I know a plate works for many but it did not work better for me.

[matt6150]

Well I'm finally finished, for now. There are things I'm still uncertain of how I want them, but for now I'm going to brew and see how it goes. This is a pretty big jump for me. I'm going from a super simple cobbled up batch sparge system to, well just look at the pics. A lot of new things here for me. I have never fly-sparged so I'm sure that will be a challenge. Although I think I might just batch sparge for this first one. I did brew a batch of water last weekend just to see how things would go. It went OK. got a few things to work on and think about. But still ready for the first brew this weekend. Probably just going to do a 5gal. batch of a blonde just to keep it simple and cheap in case I totally screw it up. I will have to fill the HLT to the top even for a 5gal batch I suppose to keep the coil submerged, so I will have to calculate how to treat the whole pot of water vs mash and sparge additions I'm guessing. Should be a fun weekend! I have some final pics of the build over the last month of piecing it together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[djinkc]

That's really sweet.  You guys would laugh at my simple old school setup.

[MyaCullen]

damn,just beautiful

[HVB]

Looks good Matt. You will never look back once going electric.

[DieselGopher]

Matt, that looks sweet!!!

[HVB]

 

I am sure you will trim them after seem test runs but as that hose gets hot it may "fold" over and cut off circulation.

Edited by drez77, 27 June 2014 - 05:24 AM.

[BlKtRe]

Excellent. You did well. Cant wait to hear how the test batch goes. How did the PID learning go?

 

Fwiw, I really don't care for my silicone hoses because of the fold issue. When mine need replaced I plan on getting the nylon reinforced silicone hoses or go back to the el cheapo reinforced hose from HD. 

[HVB]

Excellent. You did well. Cant wait to hear how the test batch goes. How did the PID learning go?

 

Fwiw, I really don't care for my silicone hoses because of the fold issue. When mine need replaced I plan on getting the nylon reinforced silicone hoses or go back to the el cheapo reinforced hose from HD. 

I can see that.  I have mine cut and routed so I have no issues now, prior to that it was a pain.  I have also made them as short as possible and used 1/2" copper in a lot of places.

[BlKtRe]

I can see that.  I have mine cut and routed so I have no issues now, prior to that it was a pain.  I have also made them as short as possible and used 1/2" copper in a lot of places.

 

JMcG has the reinforced silicone. They do not have any fold issues at all. Pricier for sure but will last a long time. 

[HVB]

JMcG has the reinforced silicone. They do not have any fold issues at all. Pricier for sure but will last a long time. 

I will be using plain old silicone for a while since I got 75' of it for about 25 bucks on clearnace.

[matt6150]

During my test run I didn't see any issues with the hoses folding at all. I was even recirculating boiling water. They seem to be very thick walled, got them from brewhardware.com. Time will tell I suppose. The reason that hose coming out of the pump on the right is so long is that I made it long enough to go over the top of the BK and reach the bottom. I have a few more camlocks coming today to redo some things as well.

[HVB]

. The reason that hose coming out of the pump on the right is so long is that I made it long enough to go over the top of the BK and reach the bottom. I have a few more camlocks coming today to redo some things as well.

I see.  I just use the whirlpool port on my kettle when I do a transfer.

[matt6150]

How did the PID learning go?

Good so far. I followed most of the setup on Kal's site and did the auto-tuning on the HLT. I think I have most of the features figured out. Except, which I'm sure you wondering about, the timer feature on the HLT PID. Still haven't looked into that yet.

[matt6150]

I see. I just use the whirlpool port on my kettle when I do a transfer.

Ok yeah I could do that too I suppose. No issues there when it gets above the level of the port? And I guess that whole hot side aeration thing is still a myth?

[matt6150]

Matt, that looks sweet!!!

Yeah and I'll be waiting for you to come down and check it out!

[MtnBrewer]

Spectacular!! Nice work, Matt. As for the hoses, I've never had a problem with silicone hoses (other than how damn expensive they are).

[HVB]

Ok yeah I could do that too I suppose. No issues there when it gets above the level of the port? And I guess that whole hot side aeration thing is still a myth?

My port is all the way to the top and goes down.  I have never had an issue doing it this way.

 

httpss://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9nm2NrncrB8/Uhtw2lipwwI/AAAAAAAADb8/ujzEOPn-4kw/w1155-h866-no/20130825_180528.jpg

[matt6150]

Cool, good to know. I will probably just try that and cut that hose down.And thanks everyone for the kind words!

[BlKtRe]

I underlet my wort into the Kettle. Just like I underlet strike water into the Tun. Those valves can go both ways you know. They dont care!  

Edited by BlKtRe, 27 June 2014 - 09:51 AM.