![]() To the right you see my current brewing setup. After mashing, the grains are sparged into a lauter grant which only comfortably holds about 3 gallons.
Considering about 12 gallons of liquid are collected that means reaching over and turning the pump on and off at least four times.
Assuming one doesn't walk away and have an overflow...
Obviously a little homebrewing of the electronic sort is in order.
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![]() After a lengthy search and considerations of a mechanical float switch to turn the pump on and off, I found this liquid level control board from National Controls with some help from Kent Fletcher of the Maltose Falcons.
At $30 it's a little pricey, but with no mechanical parts to clean and its compact size it seemed like a good choice.
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![]() The board needs 120 volts ac input and output as well as three sensors for high/low and common.
I mounted the ns127 in this aluminum project box and cut holes for a standard outlet, banana plugs and an IEC receptacle.
A water-proof cover for the outlet would probably be a good idea since this will be mounted under the HLT.
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![]() The common lead simply clips on the conductive vessel at any point to provide a completed microcurrent circuit.
The high and low probes are replacement multi-meter leads pushed through grommets inserted in the pot wall.
When I called Dan at Listermann about the grommets he said, "You're worried about the flavor and color affects of a grommet that small in your wort? You've got better things to do with your life."
He's got a point.
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![]() Here is a view of the high and low probes from inside the pot.
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![]() The complete system.
When the wort touches the high sensor a relay trips and powers the outlet and the therein plugged pump. When the wort level drops below the low sensor the relay shuts off.
Initial tests work perfectly.
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What is the benefit of the lauter grant? How is it different than a MLT?
Lou
It means I do not have to pump out of my MLT and can allow the sparge to run off as slowly as I want. Then I can pump like a Mo-fo out of the grant to the kettle.
Cool. I have been thinking about using a pump for my system. This would work great.
What is the difference between adjusting the output of the pump during sparge and adjusting the gravity drain into the grant? Either way you have to adjust the flow with a valve right? The only benefit I see is not having the noise of the pump for the full 60 minute sparge.
Let me know if I am missing something.
Linc