Robobrew owners question

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Bradbrewsbeer
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Robobrew owners question

Post by Bradbrewsbeer » Tue Dec 29, 2020 6:53 pm

When you rack your wort into the fermenter, do you use the pump or the valve ?
Kegged - Cold IPA, NEIPA, Fieldberry Wheat, Dark Abbey Ale, Apple Pear Cider, American Lager, American Stout, Belgian Wit

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by KB1138 » Tue Dec 29, 2020 7:18 pm

I use the pump myself. I recirc throught the pump during cooling and then transfer into the carboy
On tap: Hopped Mead, ESB, Schwazbier
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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by Bradbrewsbeer » Tue Dec 29, 2020 7:45 pm

I have been using the valve and leaving the rest in the kettle in fear of ending up with lots of trub in the fermenter.
Kegged - Cold IPA, NEIPA, Fieldberry Wheat, Dark Abbey Ale, Apple Pear Cider, American Lager, American Stout, Belgian Wit

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by Bradbrewsbeer » Tue Dec 29, 2020 7:46 pm

Good to know, that will give me a couple extra liters
Kegged - Cold IPA, NEIPA, Fieldberry Wheat, Dark Abbey Ale, Apple Pear Cider, American Lager, American Stout, Belgian Wit

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by CartoonCod » Wed Jan 20, 2021 12:58 pm

I also use the ball-lock valve.

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by PMackie » Wed Jan 20, 2021 3:14 pm

I use the valve and pour vigorously into the fermentor to get oxygen in.
Kegged: Maritime Fog (NEIPA), All Ryell'ed Up (Rye APA)
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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by LeafMan66_67 » Wed Jan 20, 2021 6:51 pm

Valve here as well, with a small piece of tubing and an aerator on the end of it to aid with a bit of oxygen.

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by Bradbrewsbeer » Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:07 pm

Sounds like that's the method I will stick with. I've watched lots of YouTube videos with people using the pump as well , just wanted to see what the brewnosers were doing. Thanks for all the input
Kegged - Cold IPA, NEIPA, Fieldberry Wheat, Dark Abbey Ale, Apple Pear Cider, American Lager, American Stout, Belgian Wit

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by CartoonCod » Thu Jan 21, 2021 9:25 am

Here is another question. Does anyone perform mash recirculation with the robobrew?

I haven't been lately after I ran into some sediment problems and clogging but I just realized if you don't at least a bit then the water under the malt pipe doesn't get exposed to grain. On my next brew I'm going to start at least a short mash recirculation.

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by LeafMan66_67 » Fri Jan 22, 2021 2:34 pm

CartoonCod wrote:Here is another question. Does anyone perform mash recirculation with the robobrew?

I haven't been lately after I ran into some sediment problems and clogging but I just realized if you don't at least a bit then the water under the malt pipe doesn't get exposed to grain. On my next brew I'm going to start at least a short mash recirculation.
I recirc for the full duration of the mash. I haven't had an issue to date.

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by Bradbrewsbeer » Fri Jan 22, 2021 6:00 pm

Same here
Kegged - Cold IPA, NEIPA, Fieldberry Wheat, Dark Abbey Ale, Apple Pear Cider, American Lager, American Stout, Belgian Wit

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by PMackie » Sun Jan 24, 2021 4:28 pm

I always recirc, sometimes I will slow the flow down though so it drains through the grains well and isn't using the overflow pipe.
Kegged: Maritime Fog (NEIPA), All Ryell'ed Up (Rye APA)
Fermenting: Seltzer Water
On deck: Something over the Holidays
In the hole: ...

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by RubberToe » Sat Feb 06, 2021 11:38 am

Is there anywhere local to buy a Brewzilla on site? I can't do 5 gallon batches on my system and would legit just go pick one of these up today if I could.
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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by TheBucker » Sat Feb 06, 2021 11:45 am

I think Noble Grape in Burnside has some.
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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by Swine » Sat Feb 06, 2021 11:54 am

Maritime Wine and Beer is likely the only spot you may find one.
Noble Grape is a Grain Father spot still right?

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by GAM » Sat Feb 06, 2021 11:58 am

MW&B had 1 ne in stock last week.

S

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by RubberToe » Sat Feb 06, 2021 12:15 pm

Thanks guys, MW&B doesn't have it anymore (can still get them) and NG has 1 left that I may go check out later today.
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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by CartoonCod » Mon Feb 15, 2021 9:09 am

...and my Robobrew just caught on fire in my kitchen. Lots of smoke and some black spots on my coffee table but no major damage. Now I have to decide if I'm going to fix it or just use it as a mash tun with a pump. This was the Robobrew v3.0 but I thought I had bought it after they had fixed the fire issue.

Any word if the Robobrew v3.1's (or are those called Brewzilla's now) have caught on fire? Those Grainfathers are looking pretty nice right now.

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by Tim Gregory » Mon Feb 15, 2021 9:15 am

Yikes!

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by BBrianBoogie » Mon Feb 15, 2021 9:37 am

Jesus :o

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by KB1138 » Mon Feb 15, 2021 10:17 am

What happened? Did the heating element blow out or the circuit board? I had my board fry about a year ago, loud, smoky, and horrible smelling. Was a pretty straight forward fix though.
On tap: Hopped Mead, ESB, Schwazbier
Coming up: Altbier
Fermenting: Maibock
Planned: NEIPA, NZ Pils, Oyster Stout

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by CartoonCod » Mon Feb 15, 2021 12:23 pm

The circuit board is fried, the element and pump look good. I'll take some pics later. The wires are a bit black but some should be salvageable. There were a few loud pops kind of like when you pour water on really hot stainless.

Did you just get a new circuit board and wire it in? I'm hoping I can fix it. Did you get any kind of vendor or manufacturer support when it happened? I bought it from Dave so I'm out of luck on that end. I'm thinking OBK or Kegland might help out.

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by KB1138 » Mon Feb 15, 2021 1:58 pm

Yeah, I bought the 3.1 board and screen from OBK. The 3.1 board isn't compatible with the 3.0 screen so both have to be replaced. Rewiring it is fairly straightforward, OBK has a diagram available. I found it a little confusing, but if you take before pics so you know which is which you should be fine. Pretty easy repair all around
On tap: Hopped Mead, ESB, Schwazbier
Coming up: Altbier
Fermenting: Maibock
Planned: NEIPA, NZ Pils, Oyster Stout

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by CartoonCod » Mon Feb 15, 2021 2:09 pm

Cool thanks! I've been doing some digging and it looks like lots of people have the same issue. Good to know the 3.1 upgrade works. I just hope my wiring is still ok, I might have to replace a few melted sections.

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Re: Robobrew owners question

Post by CartoonCod » Mon Feb 15, 2021 4:47 pm

Here are some pictures.
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