HERMS setup size?

[barneey]

Hi All,

I am thinking about building a temporary, easily removable HERMS system, the current set up is 80/60/80 (or 80/60/100 dependant on final boil quants). I have various pids relays,burco style element and 15mm ss pipework for the build.

The only thing I am missing is a suitable pot, I was looking at either a 6 or 12 ltr "MARMITE THERMOS" ebay.fr pot, anyone recommend what size pot would be most suitable?

Cheers

[beer taster]

Hi Clive
I'd go with a 6L thermobox as the smaller the volume the quicker you can heat the water. I currently use a 2.8L pot with a coil made from 10mm copper, works well for me, although i do need to modify the output to house the PT100 probe properly. Mine is connected via silicone hose so easily removed if not required.
Mark

[barneey]

Thanks for the reply Mark, I`ll go for the 6 ltr pot, smallest size they do + the burco element will just about fit in. I was planning on making the coil for the pot out of thin stainless pipe, how long was the pipe used on your build?

You also mention about the placement of the probe how / what were you thinking of doing?

Cheers

Clive

[beer taster]

Hi Clive
Below is the a picture of the inside of my HE. The copper coil was my original IC that I bought from hop and grape, I believe it is approx 10m long but I'm not 100% sure. As with most of my brewery bits the idea was pinch from this man



As you can see from the picture below my PT100 sensor has been "bodged" into the 90 degree JG fitting. My plan is to fit a proper "T" piece and a compression fitting to house the probe, but that has been on the to do list for quite some time

[barneey]

Mark, Thanks for the pics and the link (nearly 4 years old but still upto date ) exactly what I wanted from a set up.

BTW do you use yours much?

Cheers

[beer taster]

BTW do you use yours much?Cheers

I use mine all the time, but I'm just a gadget man its great for maintaining the mash temp and I've just started increasing the temp for mash out. The HE works well but I'm keen to change the coil to stainless. Are you planning to make the SS coil yourself? Your stainless IC looks superb

[barneey]

BTW do you use yours much?Cheers

I use mine all the time, but I'm just a gadget man its great for maintaining the mash temp and I've just started increasing the temp for mash out. The HE works well but I'm keen to change the coil to stainless. Are you planning to make the SS coil yourself? Your stainless IC looks superb

My other IC was shop bought from ebay.com.

For the Herms setup I was planning on making a coil of sorts from some SS tube from BES either in 3/8 20 gauge or 15mm x 1mm thick tube ( I have the 15mm in the shed). The 15mm can only really be bent with a standard pipe bender, judging on my other IC the 3/8 stuff should be ok with a forming devise + bender for any tight bends.

Really hoping that a 3m length of pipe would be sufficent for the build, bearing in mind that copper is a better conductor of heat. If not the existing IC might have to be altered to suit and I`ll buy a plate chiller to cool with.

EDIT just remembered I do have this 15m coil I bought ages ago might work (might be a bugger to clean though)



Cheers

[beer taster]

Hi Clive
you can get custom coils made from this guy. Vossy had one made for his HE, can't remember where in Europe he is located.

Mark

[barneey]

Hi Clive
you can get custom coils made from this guy. Vossy had one made for his HE, can't remember where in Europe he is located.

Mark

Mark,

Thanks again for the link, according to the web site its Vietnam. Now to make my mind up!!!

[barneey]

Well just ordered my 6ltr thermo pot this afternoon so will let you know how I get on when the build is complete.

Cheers

[barneey]

Well I had a go at making a ss coil using 15mm (1mm thick pipe) this afternoon, it was far from a success so will give up on a homemade effort and buy one instead!

[barneey]

Well my iccle thermo pot arrived today and I`m glad to say the burco element I have will just about fit in the bottom, I`m either going to have another go at making my own coil or will adapt the other SS coil I have to suit the build ie cut out the middle section and use that (will leave me with a spare outter coil, for a rainy day).

The plan

The iccle pot and its big brother 80ltr (size comparison), will be using the herms with a 50 or 60ltr in practice

[Kev888]

Close fit there!

Looks like yet another quality job on the way

Cheers
Kev

[barneey]

The majority of the build is now complete just need to work out how to mount the sensor, then it should be all systems go for a test run.

The element



The Outside



The guts

[charliefarley]

Very nice Barneey.

I like the low level of the burco element in this. This would be perfect for sous vide cooking - I'm going to have to make one!

Did you manage to bend the SS coil yourself? I saw your other thread about this...