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Dedicated Grainfather Guide, Problems and Solutions Thread
- Thread starter HBHB
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hi there i need to know what model of the grainfather is the latest model and is there any new models coming out and weather i should i wait or get one now and if any problem i should fix when buying thanks
Coodgee
Well-Known Member
Don't wait
wambesi
brewer
Our current model is the version with the Bluetooth controller and rest assured there are no new models being released for now.Mr_Brewer said:
Buy!
I'd wait to see if there are any firmware updates for the Connect controller and for the new Android app to be released. The Android app is being rewritten because the first version wasn't working very well and iMake decided to cut their losses with that version and start from scratch rather than try to fix what they had. It was probably the right call, but it does mean that the full power of the Connect controller is not currently accessible to anyone not using a recent Apple iOS device. (BTW: I contacted iMake asking for information so that I could develop Linux software to talk to the Connect controller, but they are not interested.)
The Connect controller has bugs, like intermittently cutting out the pump and heating, the temperature readout getting stuck or being unable to exit step mash mode without having to turn the unit off and on. Some people also report that they have to power cycle the unit if their Bluetooth device goes out of range, since they can not re-establish connection. It is not clear if it is possible for the end user to upgrade the Connect controller or if it needs to be done at the factory. If you are not in a hurry to buy right now, I'd give it a few months until iMake sort out the controller and app issues.
You might also consider an alternative brand. The Grainfather has some worthy competition these days - units that are similar in design, but at much lower price point. If you are an Android user, the Connect controller in it's current state is no better than controllers on other units.
The Connect controller has bugs, like intermittently cutting out the pump and heating, the temperature readout getting stuck or being unable to exit step mash mode without having to turn the unit off and on. Some people also report that they have to power cycle the unit if their Bluetooth device goes out of range, since they can not re-establish connection. It is not clear if it is possible for the end user to upgrade the Connect controller or if it needs to be done at the factory. If you are not in a hurry to buy right now, I'd give it a few months until iMake sort out the controller and app issues.
You might also consider an alternative brand. The Grainfather has some worthy competition these days - units that are similar in design, but at much lower price point. If you are an Android user, the Connect controller in it's current state is no better than controllers on other units.
Gloveski
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Double brew day yesterday
All went well except heaps of grain in the boil again , getting over having to seive out all the grain during the boil.
3 different suppliers and 1 grainfather kit and I have had the same problem with all , its got to be the bottom plate or seal .........email time I think 40 minutes of seiving is not fun
hit target on a smash , and missed by 2 points on a Rogers Clone due to my fault for not checking beersmith water calcs with the grainfather one was 2 litres different so ended up with a litre and a half extra in fermenter and colour nor right.
Hopefully it will still taste ok
All went well except heaps of grain in the boil again , getting over having to seive out all the grain during the boil.
3 different suppliers and 1 grainfather kit and I have had the same problem with all , its got to be the bottom plate or seal .........email time I think 40 minutes of seiving is not fun
hit target on a smash , and missed by 2 points on a Rogers Clone due to my fault for not checking beersmith water calcs with the grainfather one was 2 litres different so ended up with a litre and a half extra in fermenter and colour nor right.
Hopefully it will still taste ok
hi all i have just done this as a test i have had the grain in a plastic container for the last 3 years in a back cardboard and i could not bring my self to throw them out so test it is .......
after buying a grainfather toady i decided to give this a go i had bit in the fridge
see photo
also 1st time i have made a recipe in beersmith
so let me know what i have done wrong ??
and why do these photo are all over the place
they are the ok on my computer sorry
after buying a grainfather toady i decided to give this a go i had bit in the fridge
see photo
also 1st time i have made a recipe in beersmith
so let me know what i have done wrong ??
and why do these photo are all over the place
they are the ok on my computer sorry
sixfignig
Well-Known Member
A recent turn of events means I have a Grainfather coming.
I'm "side-grading" from a homemade 1V system, so familiar with processes.
As someone who has come from a similar system, are there any "gotchas" I should look out for or general tips?
I've also attached a few screenshots of a Grainfather profile I've picked up off the internet for BeerSmith. Any advice on this configuration?
I'm "side-grading" from a homemade 1V system, so familiar with processes.
As someone who has come from a similar system, are there any "gotchas" I should look out for or general tips?
I've also attached a few screenshots of a Grainfather profile I've picked up off the internet for BeerSmith. Any advice on this configuration?
SixStar
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Go with 90 minutes mash. You'll get better efficiency than 75%. I got 91% yesterday.sixfignig said:
Sparge SLOWLY, makes a big difference. Still
Do your mash out too.
Put the top plate down on the grain a little more firmly. Seems to help.
Too fine of a crush is not a good thing in my opinion.
Make sure sparge water is the right temp too. I sparge with 79c water. I've also made a screen from aluminum foil and a large strainer that trickles the water down onto the bed.
I whirlpool also.
Don't take short cuts cleaning the chiller. Let that thing circulate pbw water at 60c for at least 30 minutes. You want to keep that thing spotless.
PS lemon is your best friend. Cut one in half and use it to scrub anything that has caked on your element or whatever. It will eat through it is seconds, no kidding.
You are going to love it!!!!
Chridech
Well-Known Member
Are you using the Grainfather online (mash) efficiency calculator for this figure?SixStar said:
Try plugging your grainbill weights and post sparge volume into the Brewer's Friend (link on this site) efficiency calculator or
BeerSmith for comparison.
Dan Pratt
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hey Fletcher,fletcher said:
i was at a blokes apartment a few weekends ago and he had hacked the controller on the GF to run through and entire mash and boil cycle without having to manually make changes during the brew, like the BM does.
SixStar
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You must mean that his GF has the new connect controller and he used the new GF brewer community website to create then load his brews profile into the controller???Pratty1 said:hey Fletcher,
i was at a blokes apartment a few weekends ago and he had hacked the controller on the GF to run through and entire mash and boil cycle without having to manually make changes during the brew, like the BM does.
It was my apartment that Pratty1 was at.
I haven't got the Connect controller.
I bought an STC1000 and reprogrammed it by flashing the software with STC1000p/ovbsc.
"How to" details here: https://github.com/matsstaff/stc1000p
And specific details on using it here: https://github.com/matsstaff/stc1000p/tree/master/ovbsc
It probably ended up costing me ~$70 due to all the bits and pieces (and postage) required. I did this way before the Connect was released.
I haven't got the Connect controller.
I bought an STC1000 and reprogrammed it by flashing the software with STC1000p/ovbsc.
"How to" details here: https://github.com/matsstaff/stc1000p
And specific details on using it here: https://github.com/matsstaff/stc1000p/tree/master/ovbsc
It probably ended up costing me ~$70 due to all the bits and pieces (and postage) required. I did this way before the Connect was released.
Gloveski
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Another brew done today , all went pretty well , had my first stuck sparge so had to stir the grain up a few times. Still grain in the boil but used to using the sieve now . 85% Efficiency and ended up with a slightly higher OG . Pretty easy to use after 5 brews , very happy with my purchase
harvesteros
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Hey all, just got hold of my grainfather after doing BIAB for a while. Interested to hear peoples experiences with recipes, not 100% sure where to start. The connect app has some built in but keen to hear from experience what might be a good tasting beer to start off with. Cheers!
meathead
Well-Known Member
Try the app ones they're tried and tested to the equipment, or you can find a beersmith profile in this thread and use another.
Good luck
Good luck
jyo
No Chillin' Like a Villain.
Just treat it like any other brewing vessel and brew what you want, mate.
harvesteros
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Ok, cheers guys I'll do that.
just trying to find out if anyone has had this problem with the grainfather
i did a single 4.5kg of Joe White Pale Malt 27l water and 4l of sparge water
problem was did not get to a good boil and would only get to 91dg
all in all i brewed it for 90mins and in the fridge see what happens ?
today i tryed the same again to see if any problems and bugger me it would not get over 40dg
so i had to transfer all out to see if it was suck some how or what so clean it all out bugger of a job tipped it upside pushed the reset button and tried again and it worked to 67dg and sat there again farkk
did the same but only tipped it on its side a bit and push button and of it went again to 95dg and sat there
so be sides hitting with hammer any one had this problem.
i did a single 4.5kg of Joe White Pale Malt 27l water and 4l of sparge water
problem was did not get to a good boil and would only get to 91dg
all in all i brewed it for 90mins and in the fridge see what happens ?
today i tryed the same again to see if any problems and bugger me it would not get over 40dg
so i had to transfer all out to see if it was suck some how or what so clean it all out bugger of a job tipped it upside pushed the reset button and tried again and it worked to 67dg and sat there again farkk
did the same but only tipped it on its side a bit and push button and of it went again to 95dg and sat there
so be sides hitting with hammer any one had this problem.
