Doppel-Hund Brewing - My new brewery build

[WishboneBrewery]

It's a bit like a a TC-10 only from china via ebay. Would it be able to be hooked up to a ssr? I know it's only rated for 10A so technically out of the question for switching an element on and off. Although I think pdtnc uses one for just that purpose!

pdtnc, any issues with yours matey?

Working on the kettle element a treat so far mate, there are others on the forum using them for the HLT's though It probably depends on the Element, I'm fairly sure they are no higher than 2kW.

[leedsbrew]

It's a bit like a a TC-10 only from china via ebay. Would it be able to be hooked up to a ssr? I know it's only rated for 10A so technically out of the question for switching an element on and off. Although I think pdtnc uses one for just that purpose!

pdtnc, any issues with yours matey?

Working on the kettle element a treat so far mate, there are others on the forum using them for the HLT's though It probably depends on the Element, I'm fairly sure they are no higher than 2kW.

Cool. I'm going to be using two elements. one is a curry's cheapo kettle one (the one that is in) and the other that is waiting to go in is a cheapo argos (cos curry's had ran out). They look identical. they are both 2.2kw so I recon if I use one with the temp control and the other as a boos to get near strike tamp, then turn it off and use the temp controler!


LB

[WishboneBrewery]

Hmm, if your Currys cheapo is the same as mine, mine must be 2.2kW... I had a feeling one of my elements was 1.8kW, I just don't remember which!
I do exactly that, both elements ON until somewhere near 80c then turn the direct wired one OFF and leave it to the Temp controller which does a cracking job. When I get round to Insulating the HLT it will hardly even fire up to re-heat, I put the Set point at 81c with (I think) a 2c drop, and so far its always hit my Strike temp.
The Little Solar Pump stirs the HLT from Bottom to Top, its surprising how much cooler the temp goes when you turn the pump on due to the colder layer below the elements.

btw, I tried Darkstar's 'Smoked Porter' the other week which is 'Not a Patch' on how good yours was

[leedsbrew]

Hmm, if your Currys cheapo is the same as mine, mine must be 2.2kW... I had a feeling one of my elements was 1.8kW, I just don't remember which!
I do exactly that, both elements ON until somewhere near 80c then turn the direct wired one OFF and leave it to the Temp controller which does a cracking job. When I get round to Insulating the HLT it will hardly even fire up to re-heat, I put the Set point at 81c with (I think) a 2c drop, and so far its always hit my Strike temp.
The Little Solar Pump stirs the HLT from Bottom to Top, its surprising how much cooler the temp goes when you turn the pump on due to the colder layer below the elements.

Cheers Ade, I buggered my curry's one yesterday trying to tighten it up too much so i'm using two Argos ones now, but the curry's one I had was definitely 2200W. I was thinking about mounting one of those little pumps below the HLT to do exactly that . IIRC they go at a max of 6L/minute so was going to use that for HLT recirculation and a totton for other pumping duties.

btw, I tried Darkstar's 'Smoked Porter' the other week which is 'Not a Patch' on how good yours was

Wow, thanks. I've not had that but was on the lookout for it. I found whats left of my peat smoked malt yesterday while tidying. Think I'm going to make a peat smoked stout for christmas this year.

[leedsbrew]

in fact this is what I came up with

Fermentables
Ingredient Amount % MCU When
UK Pale Ale Malt - Marris Otter 1.701 kg 33.6 % 1.9 In Mash/Steeped
UK Munich Malt 1.674 kg 33.0 % 3.5 In Mash/Steeped
UK Medium Crystal 0.348 kg 6.9 % 7.6 In Mash/Steeped
UK Flaked Barley 0.348 kg 6.9 % 0.2 In Mash/Steeped
UK Chocolate Malt 0.348 kg 6.9 % 56.9 In Mash/Steeped
UK Wheat Malt 0.298 kg 5.9 % 0.2 In Mash/Steeped
UK Peated Malt 0.200 kg 3.9 % 0.2 In Mash/Steeped
UK Roasted Barley 0.149 kg 2.9 % 34.7 In Mash/Steeped


Hops
Variety Alpha Amount IBU Form When
UK Fuggle 4.5 % 59 g 28.5 Loose Whole Hops All Of Boil
UK Fuggle 4.5 % 24 g 5.3 Loose Whole Hops 15 Min From End



Yeast
DCL US-05 (formerly US-56) SafAle

[leedsbrew]

I now have two water tight elements!

Had them both in over night with 65L of water to make sure the vertical pressure of that much water wouldn't make the seals leak. I ended up using the silicone washer, with a rubber washer in it on the outside of the copper tank, and then another rubber washer between the silicone surface and the black plastic block of the element back. took a while but I got there!

LB

[WishboneBrewery]

recipe sounds good Don't think the Wheat malt is necessary with the Flaked barley in there.

Have yo taken a picture of the element you've just fit? *hint*

[leedsbrew]

hmmm, will sub it out for MO then! chers for the heads up! (can't remember putting it in!)

I haven't taken a photo yet as I'm now on a night shift. I'll be doing some tinkering tomorrow though so it'll have to wait till then!

[WishboneBrewery]

though, visually speaking, is all that rubberwashery hidden within the element cover?

[leedsbrew]

things have been a bit slow on the build front lately.............but look what the postman just brought!

[polymoog]

VERY NICE!!
ive looked at one of those for myself but the on line pics ive seen looked like the little legs wouldn't hold the weight of 15 gallons. (as they are designed for a paella pan)
However now i can see yours it looks like it might be strong enough, have you tested it yet?

[leedsbrew]

Yeah they are well made! I'm not going to have it weight bearing though as my stainless 113L boiler has a tare weight of 50kg on its own, so with wort in I think that will be pushing it.

I already have a mild steel stand that I need to clean up and mod.

The burner sits really well on a lip inside the stand




I plan on cutting the stand down so that the tank sits just above the burner



So it will go from sitting on the stand from THIS



To THIS (please forgive the rushed photoshop! )


This will also make mean that the boiler is at a more useable height, as I'm only 5'8"


Incidentally I wanted to check that I had cleaned the boiler sufficiently on the inside of the top. The only way I could think of was to put my camera inside the tank on a timed exposure!







shiny MUCH!


Cheers


LB

[WishboneBrewery]

Ha ha.. Class.
Why did you stick a photo of yourself inside your copper?

[leedsbrew]

it's not a photo, it's my reflection in all that shiny!

[leedsbrew]

Ball valves, hose tails and lots of copper pipe arrived from BES today! they do pack things well don't they!