Automated Herms

[IainMcLean]

I've been thinking about modding my brewery for a while and turning it into a HERMS system with some sort of automated control.

I have so far collected a smaller immersion element, a march pump that's spare and a windshield motor to stir the HLT as well as having a copper immersion cooler that will become the heat exchange. I have a 10amp / 2400w element that I use for brewing but seeing as I don't have a 15amp supply I'm trying to keep it so that I can run the pump, motor and small element when the big element isn't on....

Not having built anything like this before - the automation part - I'm kinda stuck with where to begin.... I read through part of the arduino development thread and a whole lot of similar stuff but it's all new to me. I guess I'd like to be able to buy control board parts, have the code downloaded and then put it all together in the brewery... but I'm not sure how.

Anyone got any advice?

 

[NickB]

Have a look at the Brewtroller. It's what I'm going with when I finally get around to my rebuild. Lots of options including motorised ball valves, volume pressure sensors etc.

Also, check the specs on you element - mine is a 2200W but the labelling states 1800-2200W. Should give you a little to play with, and pumps etc don't pull much anyway.

Cheers

 

[IainMcLean]

Have a look at the Brewtroller. It's what I'm going with when I finally get around to my rebuild. Lots of options including motorised ball valves, volume pressure sensors etc.

Also, check the specs on you element - mine is a 2200W but the labelling states 1800-2200W. Should give you a little to play with, and pumps etc don't pull much anyway.

Cheers

I have a small secondary element that should pull 6amps.... I figure it should put out enough heat @ 1400w coupled with the thermal mass of the water to keep the temp where I need it...

Early days though. Need to do a lot of reading and figuring out. Without working the small details out I'm thinking about having two sides - one with the big element and one with the small element, motor & pump - shouldn't blow a circuit that way and still be able to raise temperatures... hopefully...

 

[Zizzle]

I'd recommend spending $30 and just getting an Ardunio.

Read the arduino tutorials online and see if you can get a blinking LED working (it's easy).

Once you get that far I think you'll be able to start to see how to do the rest. Swap the LED for a SSR and you can now control a heating element. Get a DS1820 for reading temps. A relay board for pump and valves. That is pretty much all you need.

Matho and Bonj will have example Arduino code to look at too.

If you get an Arduino and decide it's a bit over your head, you can always ask for help here, but worst case you've waster $30.

If you get it working, you'll have a new skill for life, and begin to see other places where you want to put an Arduino.

 

[IainMcLean]

I'd recommend spending $30 and just getting an Ardunio.

Read the arduino tutorials online and see if you can get a blinking LED working (it's easy).

Once you get that far I think you'll be able to start to see how to do the rest. Swap the LED for a SSR and you can now control a heating element. Get a DS1820 for reading temps. A relay board for pump and valves. That is pretty much all you need.

Matho and Bonj will have example Arduino code to look at too.

If you get an Arduino and decide it's a bit over your head, you can always ask for help here, but worst case you've waster $30.

If you get it working, you'll have a new skill for life, and begin to see other places where you want to put an Arduino.

Like your thinking Zizzle.

Just downloaded the Arduino IDE and read some of the basics online - need to learn the programming language... but already I can see the possibilities here.

 

[IainMcLean]

Just got the Getting Started With Arduino book from an online source that 'might wear an eye-patch and have a wooden leg' and it's all making sense.

Seems pretty simple really.

Might have to buy a starter kit and get it going over the holidays.....