The Bread Maker

[dean_wales]

Well it seems from the AHB thread that I had my wires (literally) crossed and both SSRs are for heating elements, so two elements is totally fine out of the box.

[barneey]

Well it seems from the AHB thread that I had my wires (literally) crossed and both SSRs are for heating elements, so two elements is totally fine out of the box.

before I start cutting anymore holes / buying extra bits, I am airing on the side of caution & will await the arrival of the control panel to test and discover the true potential of the thing. + making sure I don't get any magic smoke appearance whilst assembling the thing. (its always a bugger to get that smoke back inside).

One acceptation to that is I did order a Photon before they sell out again.

[dean_wales]

OK. My sanity has been exhausted looking for somewhere to buy a 'tall' 100L pot like barneey's one. They are pharmaceutical ones and you need a small fortune to buy one new. They are very VERY shiny though my eyes still hurt from staring at them!

So I need to rethink on vessels. I am also coming to the conclusion that it has to be a standard pot for the costs to be worthwhile cloning rather than buying an actual BM. The natural option seems to be the 50x50 100L stockpots. These might work but the standard malt tube would be very narrow in the middle which might play havoc with where the fluids should be and also makes boil losses / heat distribution on 25 L batches a problem. To make that work I think a custom malt pipe is needed and I have three local fabricators quoting on making one to fit.

On the other hand, now that I know the capacity of the BM 50L is actually only 85L (no idea why I had assumed it was 100L!) I have been looking at the 80L thermopots as an option. They seem to be a possibility. This AHB thread here gives handy dimmensions by the way: http://aussiehomebrewer.com/topic/57924 ... ld/page-45

Image from that post below, please remove if that's not OK:


The internal dimmensions of an 80L thermopot are allegedly 45cm wide by just shy of 50cm tall. That means the original malt tubes should slot in nicely.



The issue will be clearance between the top of the malt tube and the lid for the retaining bar and nut. However I think I can do this within the 4cm or so available using a thick flat stainless bar and a suitable wing nut. As Baarney did earlier in this thread...


What do you reckon? Good idea or bad idea?

Can anyone confirm the lid arrangements on these pots - is the inside of the lid flat? Does it sit accross the top of the pot or does it come 'down' into the pot itself?

I'm itching to get started but I have to be near certain it will all come together before I start ordering!

Dean.

[barneey]

It will be tight but do-able, I think.

Couple of observations / thinking out aloud.

Is the curve on the bottom of the thermopots more pronounce than a stock pot? if using skin fittings it may be a tighter fit to get everything in. Build wise it might also be easier to remove the entire outer skin bottom to get free access to the internal skin (at least for a prototype build.)
With the bar I used, go for the heaviest gauge or maybe a U or box section.

[dean_wales]

FYI it seems the alternative malt pipe idea of using stainless flue pipe is not cost effective if sourced in the UK.

Sigram Flue Systems Ltd just sent me a quote for a single skin 316 stainless steel seam welded section of 400mm diameter and

Cost is £43.00 + VAT + Delivery of £30.00 = The same or more than an original malt tube from BM.

Thanks,

Dean.

[dean_wales]

OK our friends at Bergland have confirmed the current/exact internal dimmesions of the 80L pot as being 446mm diameter and 494mm deep. It would be great if a Braumeister owner could confirm that the 50L tube is indeed exactly the height in the photo.

I think I am going to go for it! It will be very tight for space but if it works out OK then this is a plus point in my book - better heat retention, shallower boil and more portable. Most of the time I will probably be using the smaller tube anyway.

I will order the thermopot today and the two original malt tubes. I go on holiday for a couple of weeks now so they will be waiting for me when I get back.

BTW Baarney, I will be using threaded bar - what do you feel is the best way to mount this into the base? Particularily with the thermot.

And yes I reckon the bottom migh end up coming off completely.

Dean.

[barneey]

My malt tube with seal = 483mm

As for the central rod, large washers and bolts both sides should displace the weight.

I cannot remember (but think) the stainless used on a thermos pot is a lesser gauge than a normal pot.

[dean_wales]

Wow, it really will be tight!

I wonder if I should wait for the pot to be delivered first? Ah what the hell. I can always grind a little off the bottom!

That's what I was thinking about the bar. The skin looks quite thin and the lever effect etc seems like it could easily damage the skin.

Anyway, time to order!

[barneey]

Just replace the lid

[dean_wales]

WTF is that!?

[barneey]

the new BM unit, what else?

[Andy]

Dalek.

[dean_wales]

A rather large and shiny 80L thermopot arrived today. I must say I am impressed with the build quality for the price (£97 all in, inc shipping). I expected paper thin metal but I think it has enough rigidity for this project. And sooooo shiny!

This is going to be hilariously close though. It could either be an unnervingly perfect fit or an expensive bad idea!

I make the internal pot height 494mm as specified by Bergland. The lid however does sit inside the pot by a substantial amount as I had feared. It is difficult to measure due to the seal but I estimate between 10mm and 13mm. That makes the likely residual internal height between 484mm and 481mm right in the ball park of the malt tube.

So there is nothing left for it but to order a malt tube and hope for the best. I suppose I can always sell them on to recoup some of my costs it goes belly up - I also have some ideas of mods or compromises to make it it doesn't fit.

The question now is where to get them from. Barneey suggested http://www.brauundrauchshop.ch but I make a 50L tube and seal to be £100 without shipping and they dont seem to ship to the UK? I have asked Brew UK to confirm prices and availability as when I contacted them a while back they suggested it would be around £70.

Are there any other sources people can recommend?

Dean.

[Pinto]

buy a set of bending rolls and make your own

[dean_wales]

Actually, what am I thinking. This is meant to be cheap imitation! If I get the original malt tubes and seals I am only going to be tempted to buy their filter plates too. That would be a few hundred quid gone.

I think I'm going to try and get hold of some of that cheap stainless flue pipe. Half a meter of the 350mm diameter stuff would do the trick, now to find a seller that will ship to me.

Dean.