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Ferment controller kickstarter

Started by JohnQ, July 06, 2013, 07:25:38 AM

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JohnQ

Charter Member
I'm on the 12 step program...
I'm on Step 1 - I've admitted I have a problem...and if you're reading this, so do you!

On Tap: 1. MT; 2. PartiGyle Barley Wine; 3. MT; 4. MT; 5. Obiwan Kanobe 6. Pollen Angels TM Base; 7. MT  8. MT
Visiting Taps:
Travelling: Vienna Pale @ RB's; NB55 @ Fakr's
Recent Visitors: CMC Graham Cracker Brown, Fakr's Warrior AGDTDiPA; Brew's SNPA; Brew's C^3, Fakr's Stout
In the BH's: 1. Empty 2. WW, STILL! 3. Empty
Aging: Lots and Lots of Mead for Samples

Chris Craig


JohnQ

Yeah,
I'm definitely talk to fakr about programming that functionality into our new brewery control system.
The biggest issue I see is that all the programming is time based, when it really needs to be gravity based, so more like a bunch of individual programs that you can trigger when you test to a gravity. No point in having a program that is set to do each of the steps at a specific day/time combo when what you really want to see is your yeast performing at a certain level, then trigger the step, so I guess all it needs is an electronic gravity reader interfaced with it!  :drink:

JQ
Charter Member
I'm on the 12 step program...
I'm on Step 1 - I've admitted I have a problem...and if you're reading this, so do you!

On Tap: 1. MT; 2. PartiGyle Barley Wine; 3. MT; 4. MT; 5. Obiwan Kanobe 6. Pollen Angels TM Base; 7. MT  8. MT
Visiting Taps:
Travelling: Vienna Pale @ RB's; NB55 @ Fakr's
Recent Visitors: CMC Graham Cracker Brown, Fakr's Warrior AGDTDiPA; Brew's SNPA; Brew's C^3, Fakr's Stout
In the BH's: 1. Empty 2. WW, STILL! 3. Empty
Aging: Lots and Lots of Mead for Samples

fakr

LOL! you're funny Senior!  I'll get right on that!   :rolling:
"If God had intended for us to drink beer, He would have given us stomachs."

fakr

I do see a major need for a 2 stage fermentation controller for my fermentation chamber.  Now that I'm using a big 20GAL fermenter, it takes quite some time to lower the liquid temp by 1-2 degrees...and the temp fluctuates by a degree below and a degree above.

I bet the air temp is -10C when the liquid temp is trying to drop by 3 degrees...so I need a dual stage controller...the cold stage taking the temp of the liquid, and the warm stage taking the air temp.  the warm stage can be set so the chamber doesn't go all the way down 0C and overshoot my temp drop.  (ex. liquid was at 20C, I set controller to 16C, freezer shuts off at 16C, but overshoots and I get 13C)

I think the new controllers will do this for us Senior.
"If God had intended for us to drink beer, He would have given us stomachs."

jdueck

Primary #1 - Empty
Primary #2 - Empty
Primary #3 - Empty
Primary #4 - Empty

Secondary #1- Wheat  (Tangerine and coriander)
Secondary #2 - Dry cider
Secondary #3 - Cream ale fermented with M27
Secondary #4 - Cream ale fermented with M07
Secondary #5 - Merlot

fakr

That's very interesting jduek, thanks, I'll check it out...if the thing really worked, I'd definitely be interested.
"If God had intended for us to drink beer, He would have given us stomachs."

Chris Craig

Awesome idea!  Beer nerds stop at nothing!!

jdueck

 http://www.thebeerbug.com/

Pre-Orders  Mar. 3. 2014  With our KickStarter order fulfilled we are now taking new pre-orders.  Deliveries being end of March.  Pre-Order your's here.


:rock:
Primary #1 - Empty
Primary #2 - Empty
Primary #3 - Empty
Primary #4 - Empty

Secondary #1- Wheat  (Tangerine and coriander)
Secondary #2 - Dry cider
Secondary #3 - Cream ale fermented with M27
Secondary #4 - Cream ale fermented with M07
Secondary #5 - Merlot

Bellick

BrewPi( http://www.brewpi.com/ ) seems like a better choice than this guys solution, But you do have to do some of the work yourself. Does everything his does for less cost and has a web interface for settings and data logs.

brew

Yes as always, opensource and some assembly (and soldering) required is a bit cheaper. I would be interesting to look at these two together and see what the differences are. I suspect though, wifi and closed system are likely easier to use and the rasp pi version is nicer to play with but more work.... if anyone in the club has the extra couple hundred to drop on either of these, it would be great of them to give us a look!
NBCBA Treasurer
Planned: Drink beer later, Primary: Drink beer soon, Secondary: Drink beer shortly, Kegged: Drinking beer now

DeMerch

I like this one, mostly because it looks nice but I'm sure someone could come up with a better reason. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lyonslabs/brewnanny-home-brew-monitor
@DeMerch 2 - @Two Wheeler 1

Two Wheeler

#12
That one is neat, but pricey. It's too bad it doesn't work in conjunction with a temp controller.

*Edit - I guess the more expensive version does have temp control. Makes the BrewPi seem like a bargain, and a fun DIY
Jordan Harris
BIAB'er

DeMerch

Quote from: Two Wheeler on June 25, 2014, 09:57:40 AM
That one is neat, but pricey. It's too bad it doesn't work in conjunction with a temp controller.

*Edit - I guess the more expensive version does have temp control. Makes the BrewPi seem like a bargain, and a fun DIY

You only say that to preemptively dissuade me from buying one. You know me too well. Thanks buddy :cheers:
@DeMerch 2 - @Two Wheeler 1