video of the system
New system is on the way so finally ready to get this one sold. This set up is turn key with roughly $1,500-2,000 in extras over their standard set up. It's lined out for easy brew days as I've fixed all the short comings the system comes with. If you want something...
For hop spiders arbor and Duda diesel will both make custom ones. You can just ask them to make one with some feet on it to keep it off the bottom of the kettle. Should work well, pretty cool mod for the steam. I saw the brew boss one a couple weeks ago, great job on the diy.
Mash will probably be sticky but I don't see any issues with it. I ran 32-34# in my 20 all the time. My RIS was close to what you're aiming for. It was a sticky mash but really not bad at all.
What is your crush? Are you stirring during the mash? Dropping your crush will up efficiency but there's definitely a fine line, stirring every 20 minutes will also help.
For those interested in the touch screen aspect I walk through some things here. Don't mind the fumbling I can't read so...
I run it through the filters during the mash so if I do drop some grain it won't plug up the mash manifold (I had a basket spill over on the first brew and no plugging) and I filter before it goes in the plate chiller to catch the hop debris.
Some 90ish degree tri clover elbows. Someone needs to send China some squares for Christ sakes, Stevie wonder could build better 90's than some of these.
We had to roll with what I had on hand or throw the towel in on 40 gallons of wort. I need a better way of tracking my bulk hops. But the chugger max pumps did ok, they definitely weren't having fun but they never shut off and still look new inside.
Haha no, the video is probably a disaster too. Long day spent plumbing and finished wiring everything up to brew, started brewing already tired at 5:30pm.
When it came time for hops I found out I didn't have any hops... Needed centennial and the only thing close I had was whole leaf...
Tell them you don't want their pump and order a chugger or chugger max. You can have him add a Whirlpool port when you order, my original system has one, I think it was like $100 extra or something.
Ordered 2 of these for the new setup, going to ditch my hop spider in the first brew and see how it goes. I'm going to probably lose a half gallon of beer in the piping but I'll be able to plan for it...