Tank thermostst

The forum for discussing all kinds of brewing paraphernalia.
Post Reply
mattkee

Tank thermostst

Post by mattkee » Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:21 pm

I want to heat my hot liqor tank to an exact temperature. A cylinder stat from a domestic hot water system is not accurate enough and hard to adjust a couple of degrees. Any idea where I can get a more accurate tank stat?

User avatar
mixbrewery
Drunk as a Skunk
Posts: 831
Joined: Mon May 21, 2007 7:48 pm
Location: Hemel
Contact:

Re: Tank thermostst

Post by mixbrewery » Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:36 pm

Normal hot water tank stats will only heat too about 70c, so not high enough to provide hot liquor for preheating the mash tun or for sparging.

You will need extra electronic controls.
Several setups on here use PID control, me included, but is seen by some to be a bit ott.
Other simple thermostats are available that will control your heater element.

Maybe other brewers with relevant setups can provide more details.
Check out the beers we have for sale @ Mix Brewery

escapizm

Re: Tank thermostst

Post by escapizm » Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:24 am

I've just bought temp gauge from mashmaster.com for about £27 deliverred and also a qmax cutter 12.5mm to put hole in my birco. The gauges are specific to brewing.

Waffty
Lost in an Alcoholic Haze
Posts: 645
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:39 pm
Location: Peoples Republic of Dudley

Re: Tank thermostst

Post by Waffty » Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:26 am

mattkee wrote:I want to heat my hot liqor tank to an exact temperature. A cylinder stat from a domestic hot water system is not accurate enough and hard to adjust a couple of degrees. Any idea where I can get a more accurate tank stat?
I bought one of these HERE from this seller, which can be fitted into your HLT/Boiler and is happy to switch loads of 16A, so fine for kettle elements or immersion heaters.

The one listed only goes up to 90c but if you speak to the seller, he can get one that covers 40C to 120C, so it's ideal for strike water + the rolling boil afterwards.

I haven't got round to fitting mine yet but from memory, it has a 1/2" thermowell, that screw into your HLT/Boiler & the sensor part just slides into this & is held in place via a screw. So it's possible to leave the thermwell in place & remove the thermostat.
Fermenting - Nothing
Conditioning - Nothing
Drinking - Tea
Planning - Everything, if only I had the time ... !!

homers brew

Re: Tank thermostst

Post by homers brew » Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:18 am

mixbrewery wrote:Normal hot water tank stats will only heat too about 70c, so not high enough to provide hot liquor for preheating the mash tun or for sparging.
It is possible to adjust the range on a tank stat but it is fiddly (and I ain't sure this is possible with all of them).

You need to take it apart and inside you will see the temperature adjuster assembly. This is a rotating knob with a cogged level for the user to adjust the temperature. You need to pull off the level and refit it at a position the give you the correct temp range.

If you search t'interenet to see what the biodieselers do then somebody will have some clearer instructions. I have done this myself on a biodiesel rig. It does take a bit of fiddling to find various temps and is not very accurate. Well not as accurate as digital temp controller. It does require some testing to make sure you achieve the correct adjustment. I seem to recall sticking it in a pan of boiling water and testing for continuity across the sensor or hearing the click or something like that (it was a few years ago) to check the correct range had been achieved.

An alternative is to use a cooker thermostat.

cockneyron

Re: Tank thermostst

Post by cockneyron » Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:12 pm

RS Components do a 0-120degC capillary thermostat
I have just taken delivery of one but have not got around to fitting it yet

garwatts

Re: Tank thermostst

Post by garwatts » Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:39 pm

cockneyron wrote:RS Components do a 0-120degC capillary thermostat
I have just taken delivery of one but have not got around to fitting it yet
I guess its this one?
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/sear ... 284#header
If so I would be interested in seeing how you fit it?

cockneyron

Re: Tank thermostst

Post by cockneyron » Tue Sep 01, 2009 6:11 pm

Yup thats the one.

I made a thermowell from a ss set bolt.

I drilled it out from the head end to a reasonably close fit for the capillary bulb. (when in use smear with some heat transfer paste.)

I turned down the thread of the bolt to give a wall thickness of 2mm,but I left 30mm of thread intact at the head end.
This enabled me to fit it through the tank wall and capture it with a ss nut and seal it with a fibre washer.

I stripped the innards out of an old heater control box and mounted the control section in that and drilled through the face for the control knob.

Sorry I can't sends pics but I am away from home at the present.

Post Reply