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Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 12:20 pm
by KB1138
Jthulu wrote:
Thu Jan 10, 2019 3:15 pm
Has anyone distilled in their Robobrew yet?
Fermenting my first corn wash as we speak

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 9:54 am
by Naboo
PMackie wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 1:28 pm
McGruff wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:10 am
A robobrew user on the facebook page had a fire in his and is sending it back for a store credit. He is done and moving on to something else. For this reason I do not use the sleep timer to wake up to strike temp water. I realize this is one unit of thousands sold, but not worth your house burning down.
Yeah I seen that actually, I am not sure he is telling the whole truth though. Regardless I only have mine on and plugged in while I am around. I had one board burn up and the new one provided has been great.
I'm thinking he probably was telling the truth. My Robobrew circuit board melted last weekend while I was trying to brew for the Boxing Rock comp. Smoke was billowing from the bottom and if I wasn't right there I'm pretty sure there would have been a fire. Luckily I was brewing outside as I don't have water hooked up in my basement yet for chilling, etc as the smell of burning plastic from the wiring was horrible.

I'm waiting on a replacement circuit board now but they are on back order so no idea how long that will take. Luckily I didn't sell my old gear so I can still brew. I'm hoping it will be the upgraded board if it is being made new.
Robobrew wiring meltdonw.jpg

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 1:40 pm
by PMackie
Naboo wrote:
Thu Mar 21, 2019 9:54 am
PMackie wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 1:28 pm
McGruff wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:10 am
A robobrew user on the facebook page had a fire in his and is sending it back for a store credit. He is done and moving on to something else. For this reason I do not use the sleep timer to wake up to strike temp water. I realize this is one unit of thousands sold, but not worth your house burning down.
Yeah I seen that actually, I am not sure he is telling the whole truth though. Regardless I only have mine on and plugged in while I am around. I had one board burn up and the new one provided has been great.
I'm thinking he probably was telling the truth. My Robobrew circuit board melted last weekend while I was trying to brew for the Boxing Rock comp. Smoke was billowing from the bottom and if I wasn't right there I'm pretty sure there would have been a fire. Luckily I was brewing outside as I don't have water hooked up in my basement yet for chilling, etc as the smell of burning plastic from the wiring was horrible.

I'm waiting on a replacement circuit board now but they are on back order so no idea how long that will take. Luckily I didn't sell my old gear so I can still brew. I'm hoping it will be the upgraded board if it is being made new.

Robobrew wiring meltdonw.jpg
I brewed my Boxing Rock beer on the newer circuit board on the weekend without issues. Once you get the new one you should be good to go. It just sucks that they were released this way in the first place. Funny thing is, when mine burnt up, I was brewing for the Big Spruce one!

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 2:36 pm
by jason.loxton
I don't understand how they haven't done a full scale product recall. These aren't rare events. Think about how many of us in just this little forum have had issues, including a couple of near fires.

Yikes!

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 7:39 am
by McGruff
My replacement Robobrew has been working fine. It is not the new board, though as it was last fall. I have a kitchen extinguisher somewhere so I think I will find it and keep it close when I brew. I agree, a total recall should be in order.

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:19 am
by elreplica
Scary shit indeed...and us Grainfather users can’t be too smug either as early controller iterations had melting issues. I was concerned as I was the first in Canada (so I was told) to get the Connect. Ed at NG assured me I was okay thankfully. Hope you RB brothers are able to get the manufacturer to make things right as I would’ve considered the RB as a second brewer...or the 65 liter Brewzilla. I am immensely enjoying RB parts on my GF...ie false bottom...and am looking at the camlock RB arm...I likely will have a GrainFrankenBrew soon...

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:49 am
by danlatimer
I was considering the robobrew jacket for my GF. The GF version costs 3x as much... :rolls_eyes:

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 6:51 pm
by elreplica
Well...the price point can it be argued...they’ll sort it im sure...Dave is standing which helps...wondering how long before OBK bails...

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:55 pm
by elreplica
danlatimer wrote:
Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:49 am
I was considering the robobrew jacket for my GF. The GF version costs 3x as much... :rolls_eyes:
Ali Baba a fraction...and they sell Robobrew and parts...Grainfather protected for a few years...money does talk...my Robobrew false bottom a fraction of what a replacement GF bottom is...check out David Heath on YouTube...he is great...a Brit out of Norway....

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 8:11 am
by McGruff
I am definitely not selling my old sanke keg electric system. You never know when you will need it.

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 9:00 am
by GAM
danlatimer wrote:
Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:49 am
I was considering the robobrew jacket for my GF. The GF version costs 3x as much... :rolls_eyes:
I used 2 layers of reflectex (sp) bubble wrap. I had it so it was free.

S

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 7:48 am
by McGruff
Does it stick to the sides?

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:56 am
by GAM
Velcro tabs.

S

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 7:45 am
by McGruff
No, I mean stick, as in won't come off. I have read that some yoga mats or similar won't come off. But your material may be different.

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 3:01 pm
by GAM
Oh I see what your talking about. This is foil backed insulation. It does not stick.

S

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 9:28 am
by Swine
Anyone else have issue with the immersion chiller that comes with the Robobrew?
I find that the top 2-3 turns are out of the wort when it is in the Robobrew for chilling.
I am a bit hesitant to try to bend the 90-deg ends so it would sit down further, as it is stainless steel and I stand a chance of crimping it.
I don't really want to build a new chiller out of copper, just because I don't want to spend the money on it.
I'll try to remember to take a picture next brew day of it.

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 12:08 pm
by CartoonCod
Swine wrote:
Wed Apr 17, 2019 9:28 am
Anyone else have issue with the immersion chiller that comes with the Robobrew?
I use a copper imersion chiller that I have which has more surface area and sits in deeper. I'm not a fan of the supplied robobrew chiller.

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 12:12 pm
by CartoonCod
Has anybody upgraded a robobrew v3 to a 3.1 electronics board? I see you can buy the v3.1 electronics and screen. Looks like the wiring is different, but with the provided pin-out seems pretty straightforward. I've been thinking of upgrading before my v3 burns out.

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2019 7:54 am
by McGruff
I haven't upgraded yet. My v3 is out of warranty now. Working good so far.

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2019 8:48 am
by ackes
McGruff wrote:I haven't upgraded yet. My v3 is out of warranty now. Working good so far.
Same here.


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Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2019 4:34 pm
by Naboo
CartoonCod wrote:
Mon Oct 14, 2019 12:12 pm
Has anybody upgraded a robobrew v3 to a 3.1 electronics board? I see you can buy the v3.1 electronics and screen. Looks like the wiring is different, but with the provided pin-out seems pretty straightforward. I've been thinking of upgrading before my v3 burns out.
After mine had a meltdown (see picture earlier in this thread) Dave at Everwood took it in and replaced the board even though I hadn't bought it from him! It is still a v.3 but he said the problems with the meltdown had been solved in this model of the board so it will be fine. He also promised to look after me if it did have a problem again as he is the rep for Robobrew in NS. It could be you already have the board that is less likely to burn out, depending on when you bought it. Either way I won't leave mine alone for long and definitely would not set the timer for an auto-start just in case.

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 7:03 am
by McGruff
Me too. I decided a few months ago not to set it to come on an hour or so before brew day.

Re: Robobrew V3

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 9:15 pm
by CartoonCod
Thanks for the responses folks! It's good to know that the v3 models have been fixed.

Robobrew V3

Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 12:56 pm
by Swine
I cut the elbows off the chiller and put silicone hoses. Now the entire chiller sits in the wort when cooling. Not sure how much of a difference it has made, but I am at more peace with it!