15 replies to this topic

[ncbeerbrewer]

Well everyone, I posted a question last week about a dual stir plate that my dad assisted me in putting together for myslf and asked here about ideas for a container for the single unit dual stir plate: Discussion Well I got the finished project today and all is complete. I thought I would share some pics of how the finished product turned out. It does not seem that a dual setup is popular according to some internet searches. I am pretty excited about this setup since I will be able to propagate two yeasts to brew in a weekend. In addition it will be nice for brewing 10 gallon batches with friends and pitching into 2x5 gallon batches as well. Enjoy the pics. I am planning to brew this weekend and make up two batches and give this a go as well. Maybe up a double starter all at once too. Happy Brewing!!

[jayb151]

Is that a phone charger you have powering it?! How easy was it to make one of these?

[3rd party JKor]

Nice.Parts list?

[ncbeerbrewer]

Is that a phone charger you have powering it?! How easy was it to make one of these?

Thanks Jay. It was not that entirely difficult to make. Yes that is a 5V Phone Charger. We tried a 9V and a 12V but 9V spun the bar pretty fast and the 12V basically threw the stir bar off in a short period of time. JK,Let me see if I can put together the parts list for this. Its mostly Radio Shack pieces. The base is a plastic liner for a silverware drawer organizer.

[3rd party JKor]

Do the fans have any clearance to circulate air? I would think those fan motors would overheat if they don't have a constant airflow on them.

[ncbeerbrewer]

Do the fans have any clearance to circulate air? I would think those fan motors would overheat if they don't have a constant airflow on them.

Yes there is about a quarter inch clearance below the fans. The bottom is open as well. The fans run pretty cool. I used the one when it was a single unit and there was not any heat that I could detect from the touch too.

[Brewmasters Warehouse]

I have to say that it looks awesome. Nicely Done.Ed

[3rd party JKor]

What's the stirring capacity on one of those things?

[ncbeerbrewer]

I have to say that it looks awesome. Nicely Done.Ed

Thanks Ed. I appreciate it. Ready to put it to use this weekend. It was a fun build.

What's the stirring capacity on one of those things?

JK, I have used the fan and magnet to stir up to a 3 liter starter. I have a 2L flask and am getting another today too. Sometimes you have to turn up the potentiometer to start the stir bar spinning but can turn it down immediately to let it sit and stir continuously too. So that is the best answer I can give you at this point.

[ChefLamont]

Yea! That looks super nice. Great job.

[stellarbrew]

Nicely done, looks great. For the potentiometers, do you use linear resistance or log resistance for one of these?

[ncbeerbrewer]

Nicely done, looks great. Thanks Stellar!! Got a pack of 1084 and 3068 and brewing two this weekend so its going to be put to use tomorrow night for sure. For the potentiometers, do you use linear resistance or log resistance for one of these?

The Potentiometers are 25 Ohms and are linear resistance as well. They are from Radio shack along with most of the rest of the electrical components. Fan, on/off switches as well.

[jayb151]

Quick question. Do stir plates oxygenate the starter by creating turbulance, or do they just keep yeast in suspention? I know stir plates are good to have for a starter, but I'm just not sure why.

[3rd party JKor]

Quick question. Do stir plates oxygenate the starter by creating turbulance, or do they just keep yeast in suspention? I know stir plates are good to have for a starter, but I'm just not sure why.

They do it by continuously and efficiently exposing the yeast to oxygen. As the oxygen from the air absorbs into the wort, the oxygen in the air above the wort is depleted, then oxygen from outside the flask diffuses in to raise the concentration back to equilibrium. So you have oxygen continuously being pulled into the flask and you have very efficient transfer of gas into the liquid due to the agitation. Having the yeast well suspended also helps.

[Stout_fan]

I would think only one wall wort would be required.Did you really need two?

[ncbeerbrewer]

I would think only one wall wort would be required.Did you really need two?

Of course one works fine but two is better. This weekend I needed two starters 1084 and 3068. Having two plates meant starters were on Fri night one pitched Sat one last night. Plus I do 10 gallon beers with friends and pitch two packs of yeast so doing one starter batch split btw two stir plates is awesome. For me two is perfect. It worked awesome this weekend.