New Grainfather Connect Controller (Pre-Orders)

[HBHB]

We've just flicked the switch on Pre-Orders for the new Grainfather Connect Controllers. Lay-By is available for those tight on $

Keep in mind, nobody has an exact date for these at this point in time and we're still working on November. If they come in before then, it's a bonus, but they will be dispatched same day we receive them.

Price shipping and other details are on the page. http://nationalhomebrew.com.au/beer/brewing-equipment-pots-and-hardware/grainfather-connect-controller





Martin

 

[bradsbrew]

Have you still got my name down, Martin?

 

[HBHB]

Have you still got my name down, Martin?

Yes Brad, all those who have pre-nominated for one will still get them on time. This is just for those who haven't nominated to get one and those who don't want to be doing it too close to Xmas expenses etc by request.

 

[SBOB]

Will the grainfather start coming with this controller? Or its always going to be an optional extra?

 

[Bridgey23]

From what I hear the new Grainfather will have the new controller although the price will increase. I think by the same amount as the controller will cost by itself.

 

[HBHB]

Will the grainfather start coming with this controller? Or its always going to be an optional extra?

in Australia at least, the next and subsequent production runs will have only the new controller fitted as standard. As Bridgey23 said above, the new RRP will be going up to reflect the same price as the current unit plus the new controller. I believe around the $1350 mark.

 

[Coodgee]

in Australia at least, the next and subsequent production runs will have only the new controller fitted as standard. As Bridgey23 said above, the new RRP will be going up to reflect the same price as the current unit plus the new controller. I believe around the $1350 mark.

reminds me a bit of the hifi loudspeaker market in Australia (back when people cared about good sound instead of overpriced little **** boxes). They always start off targeting a price point of $1000, $2000 etc and the price creeps up as they make improvements. ...just an observation.

 

[LAGERFRENZY]

I look at this in the same light as I examine the annual smartphone upgrade proposition. Do the features and benefits of the new model justify the expense of upgrading? If the answer is "**** Yes" I buy one. The old one still works. In saying that I still usually hold off for six months or more whilst the early adopters help get the bugs out to f the new system.

 

[sixfignig]

Is this a standalone unit that could be used to build your own system? (apologies if this is a stupid question dont know anything about these units)

 

[A.B.]

Is there any use for the "old" controller if I upgrade to the new one?

 

[GalBrew]

Is there any use for the "old" controller if I upgrade to the new one?

No reason why you can't use it to control the temp of a fermentation fridge. Although the stc-200 lacks the precision of the stc-1000 which most people use.

 

[HBHB]

reminds me a bit of the hifi loudspeaker market in Australia (back when people cared about good sound instead of overpriced little **** boxes). They always start off targeting a price point of $1000, $2000 etc and the price creeps up as they make improvements. ...just an observation.

Yep, bit like that. I'd never buy a car on first edition ever again. The good thing with this controller is it's been beta tested extensively and all the bugs ironed out with the program pre-release. What's coming out will undoubtedly change at some stage in the future and updates to the app are already rolling through and will continue to, as you'd expect from a decent development team with brewers best interests at heart.

I look at this in the same light as I examine the annual smartphone upgrade proposition. Do the features and benefits of the new model justify the expense of upgrading? If the answer is "**** Yes" I buy one. The old one still works. In saying that I still usually hold off for six months or more whilst the early adopters help get the bugs out to f the new system.

That's why they beta test them

Is this a standalone unit that could be used to build your own system? (apologies if this is a stupid question dont know anything about these units)

I don't see any reason to doubt it. male plugs on the sockets for the unit shouldn't cause any grief and if you're within the 10amp rating I don't see why not.

No reason why you can't use it to control the temp of a fermentation fridge. Although the stc-200 lacks the precision of the stc-1000 which most people use.

Is there any use for the "old" controller if I upgrade to the new one?

yep. just need to reprogram to cooling mode. shouldn't cause any difficulty.

 

[sixfignig]

I don't see any reason to doubt it. male plugs on the sockets for the unit shouldn't cause any grief and if you're within the 10amp rating I don't see why not.

So I'm guessing the unit has a PID, SSR and is rated to switch 10amp. This would be fine for my needs. Does it come with a temperature probe? If not, what type does it accept and what socket/connection?

This could be an easy way to build a 1V recirculation system without having to wire it all up (and the connectivity looks fantastic).

 

[LAGERFRENZY]

That's why they beta test them.

Plenty of products and services are beta tested Martin - Samsung Galaxy S7 for one, Census web site, Qld Health Payroll system, every frigging Apple and Microsoft OS that I have ever used - and guess what - they all still have bugs in them when they go live. Thank you for your reply just the same mate.

 

[fishingbrad]

So does this new controller override the "Mash/ Normal" switch at the base of the Grainfather ?

 

[HBHB]

So does this new controller override the "Mash/ Normal" switch at the base of the Grainfather ?

Yep, set to boil and the PID algorithm works out how much power is needed to avoid overshoot.

 

[HBHB]

I'm trying to think if I need this upgrade or not. Staying close to my brew to adjust temps at different stages doesn't bother me, I feel like it is part of the process. Is that the only advantage I would get?

Probably more a question for the open forum in the grainfather users KB. Can one of the mods perhaps move this to the Grainfather discussion thread so it's not bumping other retailers off the top of the board please.

I'll answer it over there in detail KB, then you can make your own mind up.

Cheers,
Martin

 

[HBHB]

UPDATE on the pre-orders. The new controllers are now on the way to us and should be here tomorrow (Thursday). That being the case all those who have pre-ordered and paid, yours will be dispatched tomorrow.

Those who droped an EOI for them asap, it's time to drop the orders through and pay. Your stock has been ordered and is inbound now.

Apparently the android app is still being tweaked, so for now (short term) full functionality rests with ios users.

http://www.nationalhomebrew.com.au/beer/brewing-equipment-pots-and-hardware/grainfather-connect-controller

 

[HBHB]

These have arrived - unfortunately too late for todays courier runs. processing has begun and they'll all go out Monday.

 

[Paul Smith]

Is the new controller just a plug and play. Can it be fitted to all of the previous grain fathers.
thanks

 

[paulyman]

Is the new controller just a plug and play. Can it be fitted to all of the previous grain fathers.
thanks

Yes and yes. It's an easy 2 minute change over if that.

Edited to add the quote.

 

[HBHB]

sorry I missed this....yep & thanks paulyman.

Got a few dozen left over that were pre-ordered, but still unpaid for.

These now go out to whoever wants them.

 

[peteru]

Is the new controller just a plug and play. Can it be fitted to all of the previous grain fathers.
thanks

It is just plug and play and it can be fitted to previous models. However, be aware that the new controller does not fit into the cradle as well as the old controller. The bottom part will not fit inside the metal bracket. It sort of half rests on top and ends up being lopsided and unstable.

The Android app is still not ready to go. What really sucks is that there is an Android beta release, but Grainfather people won't open up the beta to the public. There are bugs in the controller. Hopefully they will release a firmware upgrade in the future.

The Connect controller has been rushed to the market. It's a good idea, but it needed more polish.

 

[HBHB]

The Connect controller has been rushed to the market. It's a good idea, but it needed more polish.

I'd probably not describe it as rushed, knowing how many people got the unit and brewed with it over a period of months during beta phase. We're talking several hundred beers brewed on it over a period of many months. Once again though, it's a new product to market.

Understand the Android users are pissed about it not being ready yet. Kind of a buggered if you do and buggered if you don't thing. They've released it to dozens by arrangement so they can get more time identifying any issues while the Android app is being worked out and developed further. Guys who jumped up and down bitching because they wanted the beta, then got it and prompty started bitching in public forums because it's glitchy - FFS it's a Beta not a finished product. Hopefully when it's ready it'll be a decent product. For now i'm happy to be enjoying mine for what it is.

Have heard of a few cases where the new controller has glitched. Personally we haven't experienced any problems with ours yet, but it only gets brewed with about 6-7 times a week. Pretty sure if it can be stuffed up i'll manage to find a way.
Once we've clocked up another 20 or so brews and explored it thoroughly, we'll do a full review, worts, glitches, bugs and teething problems included as people would expect from us.

 

[Coodgee]

I've done two brews with the new controller now and I love it. It saves me so much time. Firstly, having the water in the grainfather ready to go the night before and waking up at 6:30am with the system ready to mash in is great. Then being sable to send the recipe from beersmith via email to the controller is awesome. Everything is done in the most efficient way possible. And standardising and automating mash steps has got to result in greater consistency of the finished product. Then during the boil, being prompted for each hop/boil addition is excellent. No more forgetting to add the whirlfloc or getting the times mixed up. And just as a personal thing, it helps to get my brew day done much quicker, because I find myself second guessing whether I started the mash at quarter past or half past and then deciding "better to give it another 15 to be sure" etc. It just standardises the whole process nicely.

 

[peteru]

Yes, beta releases can be a pain, but they are manageable. As are alpha releases. I used to run closed beta releases and in the end they are more work than open betas. These days I even run open alpha releases for new firmware versions. It has worked well. The tester community actually sorts itself out fairly well and many times you get very smart and active people appearing out of nowhere. You do need to provide a forum to engage with the tester community and allow the participants to have a discussion. Facebook is the most inappropriate avenue I can think of. Forums, such as this one, are a much better choice.

So far, most of the issues I have had with the Grainfather are just minor annoyances, but there is one issue that is serious. I've now had two instances where the controller stopped updating the temperature and the indicator was stuck while the heater was going. For example, I set the target temp to 65C. The read out started at 22C, but then it remained on 29C for a long time. I checked the temp with another thermometer and it was already up to 48C. Turning the controller off and on fixed the issue and the readout then correctly showed 48C. This has the potential to ruin a brew pretty quickly. I can't reproduce this reliably and Grainfather support say they haven't seen it.

I am very happy to hear that you have had many more brews without any issues. It'll be great to see a review that is both critical and informative.

 

[Marcus]

Is there any other difference with the new ordered grainfathers besides the control box?

Would it be worth buying an older stock grainfather and the new connect box separately to have a spare controller/other purposed box?

 

[peteru]

I had exactly the same question so rang NZ. The tech support person put me on hold an went to check. When she came back she told me that there is only one difference. The switch on the base of the GF is now and ON/OFF switch instead of HI/LO switch.

Based on that, I bought an older stock GF + Connect controller. It was the same price as a new model GF Connect, but in the process I ended up with a controller that I can use for the HLT. The window of opportunity for that might be closing. Once all the existing stock of old controller GF units is gone, the only option will be GF Connect.

 

[Batz]

I've done two brews with the new controller now and I love it. It saves me so much time. Firstly, having the water in the grainfather ready to go the night before and waking up at 6:30am with the system ready to mash in is great. Then being sable to send the recipe from beersmith via email to the controller is awesome. Everything is done in the most efficient way possible. And standardising and automating mash steps has got to result in greater consistency of the finished product. Then during the boil, being prompted for each hop/boil addition is excellent. No more forgetting to add the whirlfloc or getting the times mixed up. And just as a personal thing, it helps to get my brew day done much quicker, because I find myself second guessing whether I started the mash at quarter past or half past and then deciding "better to give it another 15 to be sure" etc. It just standardises the whole process nicely.

So can you mash overnight? Wake up ready to sparge?

 

[Coodgee]

So can you mash overnight? Wake up ready to sparge?

well yes you can do that, but it's not what I meant. I meant the mash water is at 67 degrees or whatever ready for mashing in. Some guys have set a mash schedule so they mash in at say 9pm, rest it at 50 degrees for 180 minutes, do a 2 hour mash and then give it another 180 minute mash out and then up in the morning ready to sparge.