CoopsOz
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 6/1/09
- Messages
- 178
- Reaction score
- 34
Hi Brewers,
I built a 3v system a couple of years ago thinking it would improve my beers from my BIAB days, it turns out it didn't. It just meant I had heaps more crap in the garage with a lot more cleaning on brew day. As a result I lost interest and haven't brewed for over a year.
Last week I decided that in order to get out of my funk that I would have to simplify the process. I set about converting things I already had in to a 1v recirc. I have read and then read some more but I still have questions.
So here is the build so far. I've got my old HLT with a 2200watt element.
My 19 litre Big W pot. I've cut the slots but I suspect there isn't going to be enough flow. Should I be cutting more slots or drilling holes? I was trying to maintain some sort of structural integrity, The hole in the middle is for an overflow that I saw on one of the other builds. I've put stainless bolts on the bottom so it stands proud of the element, should they be covered in some silicon tube to prevent an accidental short? What would happen if they did touch the element uninsulated? Is that a catastrophic event or will it just burn it out?
My old mash tun false bottom used as a top filter.
Butchers hooks to lift out the malt pipe. The holes were cut with a chassis punch.....it worked a treat.
Incomplete controller from Lael (running Ard Bir). Not sure which version, it was bought sometime ago and only built last week.
And finally my old pumps. I'm not sure if Lael's controller can drive these 240v pumps so I may have to go to a little brown pump. Any advice?
This is how it sits atm.
One concern is the limited amount of space above my malt pipe. I chose my existing HLT as it already had an element but I do have a taller keg that could be used (my old mash tun), if I was to go down that path I will need to buy another element. Also, with the taller keg, the space between the inner and outer is reduced significantly which I'm led to believe can cause issues.
So far all I have had to purchase was the grinder disk/flapper disk and butchers hooks. I'm pretty keen to keep it as a budget build but will spend the coin if I have to.
Any advice? Am I completely off the mark? Thanks in advance.
Coops
I built a 3v system a couple of years ago thinking it would improve my beers from my BIAB days, it turns out it didn't. It just meant I had heaps more crap in the garage with a lot more cleaning on brew day. As a result I lost interest and haven't brewed for over a year.
Last week I decided that in order to get out of my funk that I would have to simplify the process. I set about converting things I already had in to a 1v recirc. I have read and then read some more but I still have questions.
So here is the build so far. I've got my old HLT with a 2200watt element.
My 19 litre Big W pot. I've cut the slots but I suspect there isn't going to be enough flow. Should I be cutting more slots or drilling holes? I was trying to maintain some sort of structural integrity, The hole in the middle is for an overflow that I saw on one of the other builds. I've put stainless bolts on the bottom so it stands proud of the element, should they be covered in some silicon tube to prevent an accidental short? What would happen if they did touch the element uninsulated? Is that a catastrophic event or will it just burn it out?
My old mash tun false bottom used as a top filter.
Butchers hooks to lift out the malt pipe. The holes were cut with a chassis punch.....it worked a treat.
Incomplete controller from Lael (running Ard Bir). Not sure which version, it was bought sometime ago and only built last week.
And finally my old pumps. I'm not sure if Lael's controller can drive these 240v pumps so I may have to go to a little brown pump. Any advice?
This is how it sits atm.
One concern is the limited amount of space above my malt pipe. I chose my existing HLT as it already had an element but I do have a taller keg that could be used (my old mash tun), if I was to go down that path I will need to buy another element. Also, with the taller keg, the space between the inner and outer is reduced significantly which I'm led to believe can cause issues.
So far all I have had to purchase was the grinder disk/flapper disk and butchers hooks. I'm pretty keen to keep it as a budget build but will spend the coin if I have to.
Any advice? Am I completely off the mark? Thanks in advance.
Coops
