Switch from 3V to eBIAB ?

[cqout]

Why dont you make something like this - is is a alva based system and I have nicknamed it the AlvaMeister
It works a treat and is so easy to clean

[aamcle]

Things are getting complicated again, forget arms - lift your bag, dump the grain, rinse and use as a giant hop sock. If you do that you don't need to whirlpool you can let the break into the FV it doesn't make any difference.
How are you planning to cool the wort? Either no chill or chill in kettle will shorten your brew day.

atb. aamcle

[cerbera84]

dbambrick996 and cqout - your setups look great. I'm after a very cheap approach due to moving house, getting married and going on holiday this month...

aamcle, i'll use my immersion chiller to cool the wort, with a recirc / whirlpool to speed things up. i intend to use the whirlpool port as I'm not planning on using a hop sock.

did a bit more this evening, plumbed everything up and did a few quick tests.

IMG_8153 by Ben, on Flickr

all plumbed in to the new manifold on the brewstand - decided against the 12v pump because I already have Norm's pump in situ

IMG_8154 by Ben, on Flickr

used two dremel cutting discs 0.75mm and got this far... more discs required!!

IMG_8151 by Ben, on Flickr

quick test with 25 litres.

[cerbera84]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sn3z4Y ... e=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz-0rUd ... e=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofuGBiI ... e=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37R9ph3 ... e=youtu.be

god knows how you embed these youtube videos

[cerbera84]

bit of an update on this project.

did a double brew day with the system today, aamcle and Fil - you were right, balancing pump flows is a PITA !!

first beer was my Full Nelson - 5kgs of grain in the malt pipe. Balancing flows was tricky. I think i've read somewhere that some people don't recirculate for the first 15 minutes with recirculating BIAB? Anyway, ended up with 17 litres in the fermenter, topped up to 23 litres but still hit 1.050, so i'm thinking my sight glass is reading about 5/6 litres too low. Will investigate.

second beer was GH's vanilla bourbon stout - 5.5kg of grain in the malt pipe. Absolute nightmare this one. Could not seem to get anything flowing through the malt pipe. Had to put all the grain and some of the water into a fermenter just to try and salvage the mash. Lots of swapping containers later and it's currently reading 1.047, but it's a little warm still so will check it again tomorrow. Also put half a tin of black treacle into the fermenter, so probably looking at 5.5% potential.

Chilled these two beers in ice baths, never tried this before but i've moved house and now i'm on a water meter, so trying alternatives.

Each beer took 4 hours, this is somewhat faster than my attempts with my 3V setup. In terms of upgrades, i'm thinking that I might get round the whole pump balancing issue by using the lid that came with my bucket, cut some slits into it and clamp it down. Then i could recirculate in through the lid, and if there are any flow issues, it could just overflow Braumeister style.

Suggestions welcomed!

Untitled by Ben, on Flickr

Untitled by Ben, on Flickr

Untitled by Ben, on Flickr

Untitled by Ben, on Flickr

Untitled by Ben, on Flickr

Untitled by Ben, on Flickr

Untitled by Ben, on Flickr

Untitled by Ben, on Flickr

[alexlark]

Good elements them ain't they Ben.

[chris246810]

I have a similar system, not yet got round to adding a grainfather style overflow pipe but I just add a large handful of rice husks to the grain which seems to help cosiderably with keeping the circulation flowing through the mash

[cerbera84]

I have a similar system, not yet got round to adding a grainfather style overflow pipe but I just add a large handful of rice husks to the grain which seems to help cosiderably with keeping the circulation flowing through the mash

here is a link to Chris' build viewtopic.php?f=6&t=73159&start=15

Thanks Chris, your setup has given me some ideas. I will look to cut more holes in the bottom of the bucket to increase flow, will need a false bottom then. Will look at adding rice husks into the mash also. I'm off to IKEA tomorrow so I will pick up some splatter guards and stainless trays and see if I can come up with overflow protection too - I would like a set it and forget it mash if possible...

[cerbera84]

or maybe redirect the recirculation to the bottom of the bucket and add the overflow lid and attempt to copy a braumeister... decisions decisions

[cerbera84]

I have made some changes to this setup.

Introducing...

Untitled by Ben, on Flickr

Untitled by Ben, on Flickr

Untitled by Ben, on Flickr

Untitled by Ben, on Flickr

In a nutshell, upward recirculation and an IKEA splatter guard as a top filter. Seemed to work ok, and it held 5kg, with room for 5.5-6kg. However I think its become apparent that I don't enjoy rushing the brewday, and I'm going to go back to my 3V setup - I seemed to make better beer when I took my time. By rushing I'm making silly mistakes and its not improving my beer.

So I think an evening mash and sparge, followed by the boil the next day might be manageable and I might get an improved result - hopefully.

[MashBag]

Does anyone still use an ALVA here?