As requested in the main conical thread, I'm creating a thread for the fermenters I'm building.
The gist of it is that this is (going to be) a BCS-460 controlled set of 3 15 gallon plastic fermenters. Heated via flexwatt heat tape and cooled via glycol. Why three fermenters? The BCS-460 only supports 4 temp probes and I need one for the glycol. So, max size of 3 fermenters. The Air conditioner I'm using should support more than that though.
The glycol system I'm building is completely hacked together based on an old BYO article. I uses a re-purposed window air conditioner to chill the glycol and then a submersible pump to circulate the glycol.
When a fermenter needs to be chilled, the BCS will turn on the pump to start circulating the glycol and then turn on a motorized ball valve to send the glycol to the specific fermenter.
As of writing this, I've tested the air conditioner, but haven't wired up the BCS. So, there may be some changes to the design as things get further along.
The main holdup at this point is that stainless brewing is out of 1/2" stainless tubing. So, I have to wait until that gets back in stock. But, in the mean time I'm working on the stand:
It's (obviously) made from 2x4, joined via pocket screws and lag bolts. The counter top was the most expensive piece and is a 6ft butcher block counter from ikea.
Right now I've cut the remainder of the holes for the other two fermenters, have stained it, and am waiting for the first coat of waterlox to dry.
The gist of it is that this is (going to be) a BCS-460 controlled set of 3 15 gallon plastic fermenters. Heated via flexwatt heat tape and cooled via glycol. Why three fermenters? The BCS-460 only supports 4 temp probes and I need one for the glycol. So, max size of 3 fermenters. The Air conditioner I'm using should support more than that though.
The glycol system I'm building is completely hacked together based on an old BYO article. I uses a re-purposed window air conditioner to chill the glycol and then a submersible pump to circulate the glycol.
When a fermenter needs to be chilled, the BCS will turn on the pump to start circulating the glycol and then turn on a motorized ball valve to send the glycol to the specific fermenter.
As of writing this, I've tested the air conditioner, but haven't wired up the BCS. So, there may be some changes to the design as things get further along.
The main holdup at this point is that stainless brewing is out of 1/2" stainless tubing. So, I have to wait until that gets back in stock. But, in the mean time I'm working on the stand:
It's (obviously) made from 2x4, joined via pocket screws and lag bolts. The counter top was the most expensive piece and is a 6ft butcher block counter from ikea.
Right now I've cut the remainder of the holes for the other two fermenters, have stained it, and am waiting for the first coat of waterlox to dry.