How High-tech Is Your Brewery?

[bugwan]

Where's ArnieW??? I've never seen a more automated homebrewery than his. Not that I've actually seen it, just the pics.

I hope he doesn't mind me linking to the site. He has plenty more photos in the Automating a Brewery thread. Still one of my favourites :beerbang:

 

[warrenlw63]

Where's ArnieW??? I've never seen a more automated homebrewery than his. Not that I've actually seen it, just the pics.

I hope he doesn't mind me linking to the site. He has plenty more photos in the Automating a Brewery thread. Still one of my favourites :beerbang:

Yep, had the pleasure of seeing it in the flesh myself a few years ago Bugwan. Like a giant version of a Lego Mindstorm kit. :super: Arnie's a bit of an automation/electronics whizz. Makes a killer beer too.

Can't wait to see pics of the new version when it's ready.

Warren -

 

[mika]

"How Many Apollo Missions Worth of Compute Power Controls Your Brewery?",

The Apollo missions are actually extremely low tech by todays standards, it's almost to the point where your desktop calculator has more processing power than the computer that put men into space. Scary stuff :blink:

 

[ArnieW]

Where's ArnieW??? I've never seen a more automated homebrewery than his. Not that I've actually seen it, just the pics.

I hope he doesn't mind me linking to the site. He has plenty more photos in the Automating a Brewery thread. Still one of my favourites :beerbang:

Hi bugwan,

you can see a heap of photos of progress on my blog site: http://hermanmachine.spaces.live.com/

I've been slowly working on my other web site, but it takes quite a bit of work to maintain a plain html space, so the info there has not been updated for a couple of years.

HERMAN Version 6 hardware is complete (except for control system), so the stainless steel kitchen rack has been converted into a mobile brewing trolley. I'm very happy with the result.

I've nearly completed testing of the new control system which means it is nearly ready to put together properly. When this is done I'll send out an invitation for a public HERMAN brewday.

cheers, Arnie

 

[bugwan]

Hi bugwan,

you can see a heap of photos of progress on my blog site: http://hermanmachine.spaces.live.com/

I've been slowly working on my other web site, but it takes quite a bit of work to maintain a plain html space, so the info there has not been updated for a couple of years.

HERMAN Version 6 hardware is complete (except for control system), so the stainless steel kitchen rack has been converted into a mobile brewing trolley. I'm very happy with the result.

I've nearly completed testing of the new control system which means it is nearly ready to put together properly. When this is done I'll send out an invitation for a public HERMAN brewday.

cheers, Arnie

Thanks for the reply Arnie - probably should have checked with you, to get the most up-to-date site address!

Looking fantastic mate, my experimentation with a DS18S20 has worked OK, but getting it going under Windows has been tough. My soldering is SHOCKING though. It's a wonder it works at all. I'm yet to employ it in the brewery yet, even then, it will be purely for monitoring, rather than automation.

Time brings everything

 

[SpillsMostOfIt]

Looking fantastic mate, my experimentation with a DS18S20 has worked OK, but getting it going under Windows has been tough. My soldering is SHOCKING though. It's a wonder it works at all. I'm yet to employ it in the brewery yet, even then, it will be purely for monitoring, rather than automation.

I got a couple of the DS18S20s and have found them to be a bit temperamental. One that I have in my fermentation fridge - after about a month of working perfectly - started generating CRC errors on each read. I haven't got to the bottom of why yet, but it has put a bit of a dent in my enthusiasm for them. Problem is that there doesn't seem to be a credible alternative.

 

[berazafi]

I got a couple of the DS18S20s and have found them to be a bit temperamental. One that I have in my fermentation fridge - after about a month of working perfectly - started generating CRC errors on each read. I haven't got to the bottom of why yet, but it has put a bit of a dent in my enthusiasm for them. Problem is that there doesn't seem to be a credible alternative.

I think there is a analogic device that basicly converts a thermocouple input into a digital data streem i cant remember the part number, but it looked simple to intergrate into a pc or PIC circuit. I just asked them for a couple of samples and they provided them for nothing



The best thing about thermocouple is that there is no acutal device needed at the point of measurement, just two wires joined together

 

[ArnieW]

I got a couple of the DS18S20s and have found them to be a bit temperamental. One that I have in my fermentation fridge - after about a month of working perfectly - started generating CRC errors on each read. I haven't got to the bottom of why yet, but it has put a bit of a dent in my enthusiasm for them. Problem is that there doesn't seem to be a credible alternative.

Might be a corrosion problem or just a fault with that particular unit. I've only had trouble with lead corrosion which was really my lack of protecting it. I've been using about 6 of them in my brewing rig for about 3 years without a single fault.

I'd say try another one and see how you go. You can put them is sealed stainless or copper tubes, or dip them in epoxy to protect them.

cheers, Arnie

 

[Swifty]

Well all this high tech stuff is making me look prehistoric. I have a $20 esky for a mash tun with braided hose for manifold. Heat sparge and mash water in 2 19 litre pots. Then split boil into two pots and no-chill in fermenter. Not high tech by any means but makes bloody delicious bears

 

[redbeard]

Welcome swifty, if your current gear works for you & your happy then keep going. Some beer afficionadios love to tinker & upgrade their beer hardware stuff, and thats cool too
Its up to you what you want, & there's plenty of advice here if you want it

 

[bonj]

4 VW wheels (5 lug) and 4 bricks.... that's my kettle stand.

 

[THE DRUNK ARAB]

4 VW wheels (5 lug) and 4 bricks.... that's my kettle stand.

BREWSTAND OF THE DECADE!!!

Classic Bonj!

C&B
TDA

 

[Jono_w]

This is my irst attempt at brewing and an automated RIMS all grain brewery.
It consists of:

HLT:
50L SS
2.4KW Element
Temp Probe
Pressure Sensor for level indication

MLT:
50L SS
2.4KW RIMS Chamber on side.
Temp Probe
SS Mesh false bottom
Pressure sensor for level indication

Boiler:
50L SS
3.6KW Element
Temp Probe
Reverse Chiller

7 Motorised valves and one magnetically coupled pump move the water and wort around.

The control cabinet houses a USB IO controller and various OPTO isolaters and realys.

The software was writted in Visual Basic.


This is my pneumatic capper, so much easier.


I have successufully completed 2 brews, looking forward to more.

Cheers..

 

[PistolPatch]

Obviously you plagiarised Bonj's design Jonathon

That's definitely the most amazing first post I've seen anyone put on AHB!!!

Welcome to the forum Jonathon.

 

[Adamt]

Wow, top stuff! I think only 1 first post beats that, that I've seen... it was entitled "Bar... Shed... Pub?" I had to change my pants after that one

Edit: Not sure if it was sqyre's first post, but anyway!

 

[Zwickel]

wow Jonathon,
Im speechless. Great stuff.

Thats absolutely brewers hardcore porn

Ive never seen an amateur brewery like that.

I bow for you, youre the King :beer:

 

[facter]

frack.


this really outclasses my freakin esky.

i think i need to start putting together a proper brewery =/

 

[Uncle Fester]

I forgot to mention, all wirings around the burners are silicon insulated because of the heat
Cheers

Man!..... What is it with Germans and Engineering?

Zwickel, your setup is GOLD!

Fester.

 

[oldbugman]

Since upgraded the mashtun

 

[berazafi]

This is my irst attempt at brewing and an automated RIMS all grain brewery.
It consists of:
View attachment 12601
HLT:
50L SS
2.4KW Element
Temp Probe
Pressure Sensor for level indication

MLT:
50L SS
2.4KW RIMS Chamber on side.
Temp Probe
SS Mesh false bottom
Pressure sensor for level indication

Boiler:
50L SS
3.6KW Element
Temp Probe
Reverse Chiller

7 Motorised valves and one magnetically coupled pump move the water and wort around.

The control cabinet houses a USB IO controller and various OPTO isolaters and realys.
View attachment 12602
The software was writted in Visual Basic.
View attachment 12600

This is my pneumatic capper, so much easier.
View attachment 12603

I have successufully completed 2 brews, looking forward to more.

Cheers..

This is what i had in mind, nice :super: