my control panel

[crozdog]

As i mentioned in the shed thread, I spent the weekend re-wiring / upgrading my control panel.

Big thanks to Swede for the PWM info. I can now control each outlet via PID control, PWM (it allows me to vary each outlet's output from 5-95%) or 100%.

I wired in a contactor for the EPO and modified a server power supply for the 12vdc feed.

Bought the bcbinet of evilbay (it came out of the old mitsubishi plant in Adelaide & had the din rails, some circuit breakers, switches & wiring in place), bought the contractor, PWM modules, 20 & 32A outlets and 3 way switches were also sourced off evilbay. The PID's, SSR's and heatsinks are from Auber Instruments. The terminal blocks were from the local electrical wholesaler

Really happy with how it turned out. I'll be using this to control my herms too - but thats another project :-D

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small2012-08-19 15.08.45.jpg

i'll see if I can dig out a wiring diagram so you can see how it all connects up.

crozdog

[punchy21]

That looks schmick :clap: You must have a decent power supply at your joint!

[crozdog]

cheers. got an 80A feed to the shed :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[stilly_bugger]

Looks mint.

[caveman]

Top setup there croz thats a fancy bit of kit ya got there :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Cane Toad]

Fukin sweet :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[crozdog]

this is the herms i'll run off it

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before soldering the nut for the temp probe onto the end cap. you can see my 200l mash tun in the background

small2012-06-24 12.24.49.jpg

the coil doesn't touch the element - it just looks that way in this pic.

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It also has an end cap on the bottom of the PVC pipe (not shown)

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had to squeeze the elements to get em into these holes as the flat spot on the bottom of the keg was narrower than the normal spacing of the elements. I used some hand cut silicon washers on the inside

[Brigand]

Awesome :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Is that a gryphon brewing coil?

Cheers

[crozdog]

No. its a titanium unit i got from a guy on ah about 2 years ago. finally got it together.

[Cooperville]

Excuse my ignorance but how does it all work the panel looks awesome but what are you going to control with it?

And how will it make things easier?

What is your master plan??? Crozdog!! :think:

I would like to semi automate one day, is this the future of the hobby :?:

[crozdog]

hi cooperville.

the build allows me to control the amount of power going to 2 outlets in a couple of ways.

First up is 100% - no explanation needed - its on.
secondly is PWM - this is handy to manually adjust the output between 5 & 95%.
thridly is PID control. This is a special case to maintain strict control based on a temperature input - i.e. it has a feedback loop built in.

There are a couple of switches to turn stuff on & off, but most of the control is done via 2 x 3 way switches which select which control option to use.

So how will the options be used???
100% power will be used to heat up
PWM will be used to turn the heat down once the boiler contents get to the desired temp
PID will be used for my brewing. It will be used as part of a Heat exchange reticulating mash system (HERMS) to adjust and maintain mash temperatures. I can program a mash temp, the wort will be pumped through the heat exchanger (the coil in the pics); a temp sensor tells the pid what the wort temp is, based on its programming and the temp, the pid will react accordingly. This will also be used to ramp the mash up to a higher temp and maintain that for a period before raising it again..... the idea behind it is to not only get more out of your grain (efficiency) but also to obtain consistency. when you're makin 150+l of beer at a time both count.

how will it make life easier - it won't in 1 way, but it also means i don't need double element in boilers (+ associated fittings & cables) as I can just turn the power down to the desired level.

No master plan - just like to research stuff and make shit :ugeek:

Dunno about the future of the hobby - everyone has their own interest / goals. That said, there are a lot of guys automating their home brewery these days using audrino etc - but i'm not a coder so leave that for others. Plus i like to get involved on bee/still day as that's part of the fun - not just pushing a button and waiting for "product x" to be made.. where is the art/craft in that?

[Modernity]

Nice, really nice (a tradesman's job I would say). :clap: :clap: :clap:
A schematic would only be fair now that you have shown us the goods. :think: :think: :think:

[home_brewer]

Wicked setup mate

[Cooperville]

Ok that explains a lot about your new toy makes sense to me now
Look like its going work out really well.
I will eventually set up berms for for my beers also but will have to
Stop spending for a bit and just get some product up.

Great job thanks for the explanation.
You will be having a lot of fun wih that.

[Swede]

I like it Croz, nice and clean.

That herms in a corny keg is a new concept, I'm betting it's not doing double duty as a HLT though, huh?

[Gas on]

nice work going on there croz. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
i dont know anything about herms but
That looks like Quality! very nice :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[crozdog]

I like it Croz, nice and clean.

That herms in a corny keg is a new concept, I'm betting it's not doing double duty as a HLT though, huh?

first up- its an asahi keg - need my cornies to put beer in!

re using it as a HLT - no. a couple of reasons, firstly is response time and secondly, if used as a hlt, the contents of this 19l keg wouldn't go far in my 200l mash tun :))

[crozdog]

as promised, here are the wiring diagrams.

first up is how i originally had it with just PID control

brewery control panel wiring pid control.jpg

this is how it is now with 3 way control and emergency power off

brewery control panel wiring 3 way control.jpg