Recent content by bzomerlei

Rice hulls are your friend. I generally use 1/2# of hulls for 10# of grain, more if using rye or wheat. Very rare for me to get a stuck mash now using my RIMS system.

Any other comments about the longevity of the Cereal Killer? My Barley Crusher is over 5 years old and it is having trouble gripping the grain, I have to open the gap to get the grain to flow, but then my efficiency drops. Posts in this thread indicate the rollers on the Cereal Killer may be...

Like the previous poster, I loosen up the screws on the pump head so every bit of water will drain out. I suffered a couple of frozen impellers before doing this. Now it is just part of my routine, even in the warmer months so water does not collect in the housing after cleaning.

If the temp probe is right after the RIMS element, and that probe regulates the element, your temps should be very stable. Additionally, you need enough flow through the tube to get the mash quickly from the element to the temp probe, but not so fast that you compact the grain bed. In my...

You will want to be able to throttle the output from the pump, usually with a valve. But I do not think that you want to put the RIMS element before the valve. The way I do it is run the mash output to the pump, then the pump to the RIMS tube, and then back to the top of the mash. This way...

P-J, thanks! As usual, your reply is very helpful. Your insight and participation on this forum is very appreciated. Brent

Our LHBS sponsors a big brew day on a public plaza in downtown Grand Rapids. I'd like take my electric rig to this event next spring, however, I doubt that the 240V, 50A circuit I could use is protected by GFCI. When I examined the socket at the event, it looks like a NEMA 14-50 socket, and...

Did you progress any further? Just ran across this thread, I just picked up a 20x20 panel super cheap and could incorporate something like this.

I have purchased 1/2" to garden hose brass connectors at common big box retail hardware stores.

I have done only three or four decoctions and I thoroughly enjoy the process. As mentioned above, I'm not certain it adds a lot to the final result, but I love the process as much as the final result. As far as a suggestion to the OP, I'd give the decoction process a try and see if you like it.

Very nice idea using the Camlock A directly on the chiller. I put a Tee on the output, then a Camlock F on the Tee. Yours is a better solution, I'll be switching mine to match. The nice thing about the Camlocks is that it makes back flushing trivial.

I built a hood using 1" thick, 4'x8' sheet of foam insulation I picked up from a big box store. I glued it together with the appropriate foam panel glue and some 3" deck screws to secure it. Very light weight, easy to hang, and resistant to mold growth. I used a 6" inline fan off eBay...

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