My brew system has been in a state of construction for some time but it is finally finished. Well, at least complete. I love to tinker and I doubt it will ever be finished. This is my fist post but I have gotten a lot of inspiration from these forums and have learned so much from the BN that I doubt I would have ever tackled the project with you all.
A little better that a year ago I decided I was going to build an electric brewery that had temperature control and pumps. I spent a lot of time looking over theelectricbrewery.com and drew up a wiring diagram, came up with a parts list and was ready to get started when I saw an ad at my LHBS for a class about brewing automation. It turns out the owner of my LHBS also runs a panel shop that makes control panels for all kinds of industrial applications. He offered me the use of a work bench and the tools at his shop for which I am quite grateful, Thanks JB! He also talked me out of using PIDs for control and using a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) instead. The PLC provides temperature control, can integrate timers into the control and understand commands like or, and, when etc. The PLC is not plug and play though and learning how to program it took a lot of time, and since computers hate me, frustration.
The cart was TIG welded by me. I also welded some of the fittings on the keggels, the others were silver soldered with a MAPP torch. All in all it took a lot of work as well as learning new things like programming the PLC. I didn't keep track of the total cost but I am sure I came in well under what the commercial single tier stands cost. That said all the parts add up quickly and it was still more expensive than I originally thought it would be.
Here are some pics.
Inside HLT
Inside Mash Tun
Inside Boil Kettle
