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Best idea for HLT control
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 6:19 pm
by tarheels
Well the BCS is in and all the parts are being ordered. My dad is helping me on this project. He does automation for a living so this is right up his alley. I need a little help on the HLT control. The hlt is propane fired. What kind of valve do i need and can this be controlled with the BCS or do a need another controller. My process which i'm still working on the states for, will be 4 tanks, seperate pot for herms coil with heating element, propane fired HLT and Boil kettle. Boil kettle will only be temp monitoring with the BCS. Trying to work out the Hlt control now, but i'm sure plenty of questions to follow.
Re: Best idea for HLT control
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:34 am
by missing_link
For questions regarding valves and such - try
www.homebrewtalk.com your likely to get many more replies to your question there.
I am using electric for my HLT and MLT so I can't help you with the propane valve question
Linc
Re: Best idea for HLT control
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:02 am
by tarheels
can the red asco valves be controlled with the BCS
Re: Best idea for HLT control
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:17 am
by bsfixit
with a solid state relay .. yes it can control a red hat valve
Re: Best idea for HLT control
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:52 am
by ECC
Most of the valves are rated at 120VAC, and some for 12 or 24VDC. In either case you'll need some type of relay. The output of the BCS is 5V, upto 20mA. Even if you could find a valve with a 5VDC coil, it would likely need too much current to operate.
As for specific valves, I'm an electric brewer as well. But there are plenty of people here who use gas/propane. gbrewer gives some part numbers in this thread towards the end:
http://forum.embeddedcontrolconcepts.co ... p?f=4&t=54
Re: Best idea for HLT control
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:14 pm
by Zulu
I have a Honeywell valve , good for Nat Gas as well as propane. Still not under control as other priorities for now including my hops farm, but have programmed the BCS dry to be able to do what I need it to..and the program seems to work so far....by switching LEDS markers on cue....
.. prefill HLT night before - light pilot light and go to bed, at 6am heat to strike temp and dump into mash by underletting, switch on mash stirrer for 10 minutes , and then start RIMS and pumps, and finally raise to Mashout temp at end ------ by then I will have had breakfast and be in the brewery.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/4E190
also need the pilot light and a thermocouple too.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/pr ... ubmit.y=12