Replacement controllers

[MashBag]

I have a BM20 with the original controller (which is fabulous).

Speidel do not / will not supply these as a replacement in the event of failure. Just a pretty flashing led, Internet connected, unreliable piece of junk that I really don't fancy.

Has anyone got any ideas if there are any 3rd party controllers (with pump control) that might work?

[barneey]

Many moons ago the Australians look up the Aussie forums made a knock off original style BM controller this was possibly 6 years ago. New controllers can be bought from BM but your probably looking at a few hundred pound. The Aussie ones also had different connections so they would all need to changed over.

[barneey]

I have found the thread from when I made my BM with the Aussie controller, only 27 pages long

Due to photobucket messing around all the photos have now disappeared, but there are still quite a few useful links in the the thread.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=62803&hilit=bm50&start=360

[wally]

I have a BM20 with the original controller (which is fabulous).

Speidel do not / will not supply these as a replacement in the event of failure. Just a pretty flashing led, Internet connected, unreliable piece of junk that I really don't fancy.

Has anyone got any ideas if there are any 3rd party controllers (with pump control) that might work?

Mashbag,

Have a look at the SmartPID https://smartpid.com/store/#!/SmartPID- ... y=32120508

I have a couple of their BBQ controllers and I'm pretty happy with them.

I will consider one of their brewing controllers when either of my Speidel controllers quits working. If I was to go this route I would consider mounting the controller remotely.

Cheers,

Wally

[MashBag]

Thanks chaps.. Just a little bedtime reading

Had anyone considered a grainfather controller? Not sure I fancy coding & building from scratch.

[aamcle]

I have a blank circuit board for the Ausi controller if it's any good to you.
The BM clone I bilt used a simple cycle time for the pump, 8 0n 2 off IIRC, and a PID for temperature if I were to do it again I'd build using CraftBeerPi which would cost very little and you could put it into a IP66 enclosure.

ATB. aamcle

[barneey]

Thinking cap on, the old grey matter isnt what it used to be.

I am trying to remember how the old BM controller worked on the pump side of things from memory they would operate the pump and everyso often do a pump break during the mash recirc to let things settle. (much in the same way the new controllers do). Its been quite a few years since I used an original BM controller.

The old GF controllers are more of a simple on /off switch for both heating and the pump. The older GF also had a simple switch on the side to control the amount of power to the element. So operating a BM with a GF controller might be possible if somewhat of a manual affair + you would still need to make adaptors for all the plugs + see if the temp probes were compatible.

FWIW a few years ago I replaced the Aussie knock off one I had on the Breadmaker with a "used" new controller (this controller I was gifted from a fellow brewer after it had suffered from a little internal fire and needed a rewire).

The smartpid controllers are pretty decent I had one of the originals in the distant past but believe they have been updated somewhat.

Bottom line, like most things BM, the product is good but when things go wrong they either deny its there fault (controllers misting up being a classic example) or parts are very expensive.

Good luck

[MashBag]

Beginning to think the smartpid might be the way. Better have another read.

[aamcle]

A smart pid will do the temperature but will it cycle the pump through its on/off cycle during the mash?

Aamcle

[LeeH]

A simple on/off switch will do the job for the pump.

Ensure the controller will except the probe type. (What ever it is)

[MashBag]

A smart pid will do the temperature but will it cycle the pump through its on/off cycle during the mash?

Aamcle

Yup.

https://smartpid.com/smart-homebrewing/

Main features available on top of common SmartPID features:

🧶Electric or gas fired heating mode
🧶Control of mash tun and HLT with two independent channels
🧶Precise PID/PWM control algorithm or ON/OFF algorithm
🧶Direct recirculating pump or wort stirrer control
🧶Dual operation mode :manual or full process automation
🧶Complete recipe management (step mash, boil, hop addition)
🧶Delayed program start
🧶Power control during boil phase
🧶Whirlpool and cooling.


Sounds like it could be better than the original

The complicated bit seems to be actually buying one!

[IPA]

You could of course do away with the contoller and make it all manual, like the original BM. Just switches and a thermostat plus an alarm clock. This guy started his brewery with one of them.
https://www.roscha-bier.ch/
He was amazed when he saw my first programmable model.

[aamcle]

That looks good

aamcle

Update. I've read through I think it would need an extra module to house a SSR capable of switching 13A so you can use a 3KW heating element.

[f00b4r]

https://github.com/avollkopf/cbpi-Braumeister-Steps

[MashBag]

Good find