McGster's DIY Electric Brewery Controller Build

[mcgster]

I'm looking to update my admittedly ghetto electric brewing controller with a build similar to the electric brewery build with a few modifications. I'm going to build it for a single element system and instead of using a PID and a timer, i'm going to use a PID and PWM controller switched with a 3 position switch (PID OFF PWN). Sadly using a small wiring box i don't have the option to rebuild my own panel and will have to build from the ground up.

I'm going to salvage what i can from my "spa panel" build, but i will likely have to buy many new parts.

Has anyone attempted a build on one of these, if so, any input?

I'm thinking:

40A heat sink
40A SSR
PWM Auber DSP 01 Boil Controller
PID Auber SYL-2352
Alarm
Key Power
Pump Switch
DIN mounting blocks and wiring.

The prebuilt 30A panel is 1500 USD, i figure i can probably build it for a third of that or less.

[RubberToe]

Why a PWM? The SYL-2352 has a manual mode (time sliced output).

[mcgster]

A couple reasons, it is a more suitable tool for regulating boil control and has a linear accuracy of about 1%. The Auber SYL-2352, and most other PID's i have looked at do not adjust the power based on a true % rather an approximation based on the cycle time and the algorithm used to cycle. The other is that it is much easier to regulate the % with the rotary knob vs the PID interface. For 30$, i feel that it is well worth it. I may build in the capacity to control a second element for down the road and if that were the case i would use one for the boil and one for the mash.

[sleepyjamie]

Where do you guys source your parts? I want to build one as well but the CDN/US dollar exchange is crazy right now.

[mcgster]

I just pulled the trigger on the parts from Auber, i had bought cheap parts before from amazon.ca, and ebay.ca for my last panel and was very disappointed with the quality.

[mcgster]

Working on my layout now, i won't have time to wire it up for awhile but at least i'll have this part done.

Screen Shot 2016-02-04 at 5.22.18 PM.jpg

[RubberToe]

Where do you guys source your parts? I want to build one as well but the CDN/US dollar exchange is crazy right now.

For me it was only a few things from China but mostly from the US when the exchange rate wasn't so bad. I like Auber's stuff quite a bit and would like to get more but the exchange rate is killer.

[mcgster]

And shipping to Canada as well, i'm having my parts shipped to the border and hoping a buddy who is passing through can grab them for me. Shipping to NL was 88$ US.

[RubberToe]

Mark, where did you get the panel?

[mcgster]

I have been debating picking up one of the scratch / dent 12x10x8 here:

http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_ ... x&cPath=52" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hard to beat the price,

[mcgster]

Lots of fun things:

Screen Shot 2016-02-04 at 6.14.13 PM.jpg

I debated adding another temp probe and connector set in but they are pretty pricey and i have one i can salvage off my old unit as well as a SSR.

I'm going to move from the stove plug that i have on my current panel to the Leviton locking flanged inlet. Its a bit more than i wanted to spend on it but if i want to upgrade my panel to add another outlet the large stove plug won't work.

[RubberToe]

I got my PID (and my smoker PID), switches (illuminated push button and selector), contactors, and deluxe probe from Auber. I love the probe and I want to get another for my chiller output. Someday I want to add a HERMS heat exchanger to my system so I want another probe for that as well as the other stuff to add onto my panel or build another.

[mcgster]

Would you change anything on yours if you had to do it over again from the ground up?

[RubberToe]

For what it is I wouldn't change a whole lot.

What I'd like to improve... a stainless steel table, and fix my venting problem. By fan is dripping a lot of water since I changed the orientation.

There are things that I'd like to improve though. While I'm still a huge fan of BIAB I would like to change my system around. I'd like a nice bottom drain mash tun (Stout Tanks kind) with enough capacity to do full volume (or close) mashes. A "small" HERMS style heat exchanger. With a smaller water volume than your typical 3 vessel HLT you can get much faster ramp times. It might not even need to have a 240V element but I'd probably have one and use an A-off-B selector switch on my panel to go from that and my BK element. This would technically make my system 3 vessel.

I want this for multiple reasons but mostly for step mashes and less trub in the fermenters. Trub only bothers me because of the space it takes up.

That's all really.

[mcgster]

I have been thinking the same thing, that is why i like having the DSP and the PID, if i get a small HERMS setup down the road i'll just have to add in one more selector switch to replace the 3 position maintained one i'll have in the middle.
I have an old 5 gal sanke keg i was debating using with a 2000W element.
I picked up a stainless mesh basket and i'm hoping i can set the grain bed with that to get rid of the trub problem with BIAB.

[John G]

Re the PWM vs PID on % mode: I like using a PWM for the boil. It's intuitive and fast. No buttons to press, just the dial. One thing I wish I did when I made my control panel was to put the outlets for the burners on the sides instead of the bottom. Since I mounted the panel low on a brewing frame on wheels, it's hard to connect the element plugs.

Mark, would you be able to send out a pic of your ventilation system sometime? I'm still curious how you have yours set up. I want to boil indoors and I have a bathroom fan roughed in already in my unfinished basement so I'm trying to work out how I can just direct the steam into it without too much equipment - I don't want to install a vent hood permanently.

[mcgster]

Mark, would you be able to send out a pic of your ventilation system sometime? I'm still curious how you have yours set up. I want to boil indoors and I have a bathroom fan roughed in already in my unfinished basement so I'm trying to work out how I can just direct the steam into it without too much equipment - I don't want to install a vent hood permanently.

Definitely, i'm home from the rock next weekend and i'll snap a pic when i'm home. I'm re-doing my ventilation system because i'm moving my brewery to the other side of the room but i'll snap one before any major changes.

Do either of you have a current shot of your panels, i always like to see what other people have done.

[RubberToe]

This and the post below it for the inside: http://www.brewnosers.org/forums/viewto ... =50#p27741" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My latest vent hood is DIY from pink foam board and aluminum tape. Everything is great about it besides the way my fan is pointed... I don't think it's meant to go vertical and I get a ton of moisture trapped inside, something that never happened when it was horizontal.

[RubberToe]

Here's the front of my panel.

IMG_20160131_133949.jpg

Sent from the brew timer.

[mcgster]

This is what happens when your flight gets cancelled and you are stuck in an airport:

Screen Shot 2016-02-05 at 10.48.47 AM.jpg

[RubberToe]

Do you use a timer & buzzer in your existing system?

What about a volt metre? I never saw the use for one of those. Just higher cost and more parts to clutter the space.

I ordered some Chinese SSRs, heat sync, and pt100 this morning.

[mcgster]

Do you use a timer & buzzer in your existing system?

What about a volt metre? I never saw the use for one of those. Just higher cost and more parts to clutter the space.

I ordered some Chinese SSRs, heat sync, and pt100 this morning.

Funny story - i wired a buzzer into my current system but i didn't wire it to a reset switch and once i figured out my mistake i was too lazy to take it apart and fix it properly.

I have a voltmeter on my current system and it looks cool but i don't have too much use for it. I may add it into this system at a later date but for the initial build i'm going to try to keep it as simple as possible.

I have never used the DIN components before so that is a whole new world for me, on the last build i used terminal blocks.

[RubberToe]

Yeah I'm looking forward to seeing the DIN rails.

[mcgster]

What did you use to make the cut outs in your panel, last time i used a jig saw and it was ok.. not laser precision by any means.

[RubberToe]

What did you use to make the cut outs in your panel, last time i used a jig saw and it was ok.. not laser precision by any means.

For the squares a jigsaw worked great for me. The holes were drilled then punched.