The Automatic Mill
I'm using the Automatic mill. I had an old piece
of 4" PVC laying around so I added a chute just for fun... . The
pipe swivels out of the way when not in use.
Adding The Hopper
I cut a piece of 3/4" plywood the same size as the
hopper. Cut both ends at a 45º angle to make the slop of the
hopper. Drilled the hole for the carboy with a 2-1/8" hole
saw. This gave it a tight fit and I didn't even have to glue
it.
Hot Liquor Tank (HLT)
The HLT is used to heat water for the mash and sparging (rinsing the sugars
out of the grain).
Adding The Element
I used a 5500 watt 220 VAC element. Drilled a 2"
hole through the outer plastic layer and insulation. Then a 1.25"
hole through the inside. The angle I took the picture at makes it appear
off center but both holes were centered. The outer space gives room for the
element connections.
I applied high temp silicone to both sides of the element and mounted it
with a 1" brass faucet packing nut . Then used a Drimel rotary tool to grind out
the inside lip of
the nut to make room for the element.
10 Gallon Cooler cost $43, digital thermometer $10, brass valve and
fittings $10, 5500 watt element $11.50, brass nut $2.
Adding Sight Glass
The sight glass was made from a couple of PVC couplings with male
threads on one end and female on the other. To attach it to the cooler I
used a small piece of PVC pipe as a bushing because the nut wouldn't snug up
without it. I used a threaded coupler cut in half for the nut. A 1/2" 90º barbed fitting screwed into the outside and
then tubing added.
Sight glass parts $4.
Adding The Heat Exchanger & Stirrer
I used an old IC chiller for the Heat Exchanger. This is used to
raise the temperature of the mash. Wort is pumped from the Mash Tun through
this coil. Since the HLT is usually at 175º-180º the wort is
heated.
I found the first gallon or so of water under the heating element could run
as much as 40º colder than the water above where the thermometer is
mounted. I added the stirrer to even out the temperature
throughout the HLT.
Picked up the 12-48VDC motor at a local electronics store. I run it at
12VDC and while submerged gives me about 60 RPM. Plenty of speed to keep the
water temp even.
The quick disconnects were installed after purchasing a pump.
Heat exchanger coil $10, 4 - 90º couplings $8, 4 quick disconnects $20,
motor $3.50, shaft $3, blades free.
