Prototype For A Cheap Braumeister

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BeerSwiller

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Hi All,

I intend on buying some quality parts eventually but in the mean time to make sure the final unit will work ok, im going for some cheap ebay items.

I have got together a list of items which im going to try to put together to build an all-in-one brew system.

PT100 sensor http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/110730828310?ss...984.m1438.l2649
Universal PID http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/320745287356?ss...984.m1438.l2649
12V Pump http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/260688654282?ss...984.m1438.l2649
SSR http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SSR25A-SOLID-ST...=item1c1affe90e

I already have a keg with a 2200w element so for testing i will use this, although beerbelly do have a 3600w that would be nice as long as it doesnt scorch the wort as its not a low density type.

If anyone can offer me any advice or assistance with better/different parts that would be great!
 
That pump also comes in a version with 1/2" bsp thread rather than barb, might be a better option than putting a hose clamp on the plastic barb?
If budget is a concern you can get a cheaper relay than that, think mine was under $5 delivered ;)
If you are making a true braumeister clone where the pump forces wort back up through the grain bed I would have questions about whether the little brown pump will do it for a full volume mash. No experience either way but I'm not 100% sure it will be strong enough. The one I'm making now recircs to the top of the grain bed, I'll let you know in a few days how it works!
 
Thanks for the info Tim, I was going to recirc to the top of the grain bed so that pump should be ok as a evaluation rig.
I was wondering how the PT100 probe accuracy will be, no eBay sellers seem to have any knowledge regarding this.

If this rig turns out ok, I will make another rig using auber programmable step PID and march pump but would like to see ifthis type of design will work well before throwing $$$ at it.

Cheers
 
If you are making a true braumeister clone where the pump forces wort back up through the grain bed I would have questions about whether the little brown pump will do it for a full volume mash. No experience either way but I'm not 100% sure it will be strong enough. The one I'm making now recircs to the top of the grain bed, I'll let you know in a few days how it works!
If the grain bed is liquidized it should not have to force much at all, it should be fluid and liquid and flow easily, unless the grain bed is compacted, which it should not be if recirculating from the bottom.
 
Often look at the braumeister and think, nah two and a half grand is.way too much. How much are budgeting for a clone build?
 
For a cheap prototype maybe a couple of hundred if that, for a final version it may cost $450-$500
 
mine could be done for under $200, i'm spending a bit more upgrading the hose barb to camlocks though.
From what I have read the pt100 probes are more accurate than k thermocouples, my pid switches to 0.1c resolution when I use the pt.
 
Was thinking about replacing my 2200w eBay element for this 3600w type for a bit for power, the 2200w type has ended up melting all the wires at the element entry and is only just holding together after some repairing.

Not too sure if this would be suitable for boiling wort as I've heard people talk about scorching with elements that are not a low density type?

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com.au/viewitem...Id=290590013580
 
Universal PID http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/320745287356?ss...984.m1438.l2649

That PID looks just like mine which will only take K type thermocouples and not PT100 probes. I suggest you ask the seller to confirm it will take a PT100.

I find that mine is pretty accurate above 50 C, +- 0.5 C

I also use it to measure the output temp from the plate chiller and find that at 20C it reads a bit low? so I have to adjust the flow to show 17 C on the PID to get 20 C in the FV.
 
Nah that one will take a PT100 probe, its a REX C-100 knockoff same as mine. Bit better actually as it says it has voltage output to control the SSR out of the box, mine was just a relay.
 
Nah that one will take a PT100 probe, its a REX C-100 knockoff same as mine. Bit better actually as it says it has voltage output to control the SSR out of the box, mine was just a relay.

Hmm, second image shows that it is a 0 - 400 C range K type thermocouple with relay output, in fact this is the same image as the one used in the ebay ad that I got mine from. From the third image it also seems to be missing the 3rd connection, screw connection No 8, which I thought was needed for a PT100 probe ?

I used one of these SSR's
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solid-State-Rela...=item2562f2845b
 
Hmmm yeah interesting. Maybe they cloned the label to the point that it shows features it doesn't have? Or maybe just one of the screws fell out in the second picture?
 

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