Pilot Brewery

fakr · November 07, 2012, 07:15:37 PM

the electric brewery website said they are expecting to have prebuilt 50A control panels available this fall.

If you got the kit, I'd definitely do the assembly for you. Your neighbour could too, but that might be asking to much from a non brewer....hehe!

sdixon · November 08, 2012, 10:37:59 PM

Damn... I'm struggling here. I see the argument for the 50A panel... it is going to save me 42 min. per brew day. But it is twice the cost (assuming I get a kit and Faqr helps me assemble it) compared to the EBC III. I like that the EBC III comes with infinite temperature control, particularly for the BK. I have burnt wort with too much heat before.

Based on the price for the pre-built 30A panel, it's a deal breaker, the 50A would be that much more. Either I get help to built it from a kit or it's an easy no go decision.

PS - Why do you suppose the - 50A Control Panel for 30+ gallons (KIT) - is $1775 and the - 50A Control Panel for back to back batches (KIT) - is $1575 ($200 less)?

Tough decision! Still have not decided.

Kyle · November 09, 2012, 12:51:08 AM

If you already have an agreement with Fakr for assemby, why not consider building a panel specifically to meet your needs? I built a single PID one with relatively few bells and whistles, using mainly parts from Auber for a fraction of the cost of the High Gravity panel. Also, I don't really see the need to go 50 amps; just set the timer to heat the strike water before you start brewing. On a 30 amp (10 Gauge SOOW) wire, you can easily have a pump and a 5500 watt element running.

sdixon · November 09, 2012, 08:10:50 AM

Joe - What was the name of the controller you are going to build again?

Were you thinking of building it to hadle 9000W / pot?

fakr · November 09, 2012, 09:21:29 AM

The controller is a BCS-460 or 462.
http://wiki.embeddedcc.com/index.php?title=Main_Page

Above is a wiki link for the controller. The thing can do A LOT. it could be used to run your brewery from filling your HTL to fermentation.

You could even use one to automate your house...turn on and off lights, run your furnace, etc.

The controller can be built anyway you'd want it, but I think 9000-10000W would be a max. I don't see anyone having a 60A breaker in their houses specifically for an electric brewery! I don't know if you've seen a heavy gauge welding cable, but the diameter is pretty cose to an inch, and that's the size wiring you'd need from your breaker panel to your controller to handle that much amperage.

After thinking about the BCS controller plans, I would be very hard pressed to build one in your timeframe Steve. I just hit a big project at work that will consume a lot of my evenings and weekends from here to Christmas, and I'd really hate to delay your brewery. I'd really rather take my time building the first one, and could build something quicker, with a build template, after the first.

You might want to consider the EBC-3 or another affordable controller for the short-medium term. Use it for a while and figure out what's lacking. Then, if you still wanted to go with something like the BCS-460 or 462, I could build you one at that time. I'm sure you wouldn't have a problem selling it.

sdixon · November 09, 2012, 09:57:44 AM

I appreciate you being candid with me and I think that's good advice... start with the EBC 3 and upgrade later if necessary. Another thought I had was to just buy a second EBC 3 controller if I wanted to double the elements. I would still be at or below the cost of the Electric Brewery 50A panel.

Thanks for the ideas and discussion! :ugeek:

fakr · November 09, 2012, 10:08:04 AM

no problem!

JohnQ · November 09, 2012, 01:54:33 PM

Quote from: "sdixon"I appreciate you being candid with me and I think that's good advice... start with the EBC 3 and upgrade later if necessary. Another thought I had was to just buy a second EBC 3 controller if I wanted to double the elements. I would still be at or below the cost of the Electric Brewery 50A panel.

Thanks for the ideas and discussion! :ugeek:

Or an EBC 2 as the second element controller.

JQ

Kyle · November 09, 2012, 02:33:46 PM

EBC 2 & 3 in conjunction would work very nicely. Maybe you can gey HG to put it all in one box too.

chrismccull · December 31, 2012, 05:19:57 PM

I'd like to see this at some point, let me know if you are going to demo it in the future.

sdixon · December 31, 2012, 06:34:48 PM

QuoteI'd like to see this at some point, let me know if you are going to demo it in the future.

You are welcome to stop by anytime, but if you want to see it in operation, I can let you know next brewday. I am still working out small little details, but all is good.

I'll be around tomorrow if you want to stop by.

chrismccull · February 15, 2013, 08:55:26 PM

Are you around on Sunday Steve?

sdixon · February 24, 2013, 03:40:06 PM

Sorry I missed this Chris. I haven't been on much lately (obviously).

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