I built this one controller(cheaper more operator involvement) full electric with a lot of help from the people on this site. After many brews I want to review it for you thinking about building one.
The mash tun was purchased from Midwest and it works great maintaining temp(pre heat). The middle (HLT) is just that a hot water tank controlled with a PID allowing exact temps to the mash. The boil is on the right also controlled with the same PID. I just run the cheaper elements a 5500 in the Hlt and 4500 in the boil with no problems with wort burning even with a high gravity barley wine batch. I use a paint strainer for hops in the BK to keep them out of the plate chiller.
What would I change on the HLT the placement of the sight glass and temp probe to other side, quick connects on hoses, spend money and have all welded no o-rings for bungs. not bad for the first time and 250 plus gallons only problem dry fired once and lost a element. I love the electric but it limits me to brewing at home so looking at building a dual heat system still having PIDs and pumps for the future.
The mash tun was purchased from Midwest and it works great maintaining temp(pre heat). The middle (HLT) is just that a hot water tank controlled with a PID allowing exact temps to the mash. The boil is on the right also controlled with the same PID. I just run the cheaper elements a 5500 in the Hlt and 4500 in the boil with no problems with wort burning even with a high gravity barley wine batch. I use a paint strainer for hops in the BK to keep them out of the plate chiller.
What would I change on the HLT the placement of the sight glass and temp probe to other side, quick connects on hoses, spend money and have all welded no o-rings for bungs. not bad for the first time and 250 plus gallons only problem dry fired once and lost a element. I love the electric but it limits me to brewing at home so looking at building a dual heat system still having PIDs and pumps for the future.
