What to do when your mash won't hold its temp, why not herms it!

[molc]

So Im always having issues losing temp in a mash. I'd bought a solar pump during the week so while watching my temps drop, I decided to Jerry rig a simple herms system to see would it help. Viola:

Basically. I just connected the outlet from the mash tun to the pump, through a cleaned immersion cooler which I plonked in the boil kettle. Then looped the other end of the cooler through to the mash tun and threw it on top of some tinfoil to spread the liquid. Seems to be holding temp like a charm now

A bit fiddly but lots of fun

[Leann ull]

looks basic but good 
Pretty similar to how I did my first herms.
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie/forum/index.php/topic,3741.0.html happier simpler days
When you doing another one try using less water in your bucket as it can respond quicker and less likely to overshoot or take ages to come up.
Also if you place your temp probe sitting on top of the grainbed thats the temp you want rather than temp at the hottest point in the bucket.

[Shanna]

in the process of building a PID controlled version of this once I figure out the wiring. In two minds whether to use the solar pump or the chugger. CH demonstrated his own herms using a chugger & I got the impression that high flow rate with the chugger was causing too much compaction in the grain bed, (even though it was the rye malt/flour that caused the stuck sparge . Will have to experiment with it once I get it set up. With respect to your own mashtun loosing heat I would assume it's due to lack of insulation. As far as I can tell your using a picnic cooler. I would consider wrapping in a layer of something like this to retain as much heat as possible.

http://www.bubblefoilinsulation.ie/

I use this on both my kettles & it reduces boil time no end. Don't use it on my mash tun as it has 10cm of external wall insulation

Shanna

[molc]

Yup after 2 mins I rubbed some brain cells together and put the probe on the top. Setting the stc to +2 target temp seemed to get the temperature spot on. Even managed to do a mash oit.

Then like an edjit, I pushed the water in from the bottom for my soarge and it just floated the grain bed, so had to restir and wait before draining off.

I'll do it again but I really need to get a bunch of disconnects. Trying to change the connections otherwise is a real pain.

Shanna, the solar pump seemed to flow perfectly for the mash. It's a nice 4l/min, which doesn't seem too aggressive. Also the mash tun is an igloo cooler. It should be good but looses too much for my liking. Have to say, the herms really takes the pain out of it though, once you get it setup.

[Shanna]

Yup after 2 mins I rubbed some brain cells together and put the probe on the top. Setting the stc to +2 target temp seemed to get the temperature spot on. Even managed to do a mash oit.

Then like an edjit, I pushed the water in from the bottom for my soarge and it just floated the grain bed, so had to restir and wait before draining off.

I'll do it again but I really need to get a bunch of disconnects. Trying to change the connections otherwise is a real pain.

Shanna, the solar pump seemed to flow perfectly for the mash. It's a nice 4l/min, which doesn't seem too aggressive. Also the mash tun is an igloo cooler. It should be good but looses too much for my liking. Have to say, the herms really takes the pain out of it though, once you get it setup.

Remember to run the pump for about 20 minutes in 60 C water to flush out the wort from the pump housing. Otherwise it will stick.

Shanna

[Leann ull]

Shanna you forgot to say that you used 50% rye and no oat husks or rice huls, how did that porridge turn out?

[molc]

Remember to run the pump for about 20 minutes in 60 C water to flush out the wort from the pump housing. Otherwise it will stick.

Shanna

Yup, did that with the water from the cooler.

[Shanna]

Shanna you forgot to say that you used 50% rye and no oat husks or rice huls, how did that porridge turn out?

Just for clarity it was 20% rye but your right it was also sans oat husks Real problem using rye without the oat hulls. Now that I know your reading any chance you would post the photo of the wiring of your own herms as promised?

Shanna

[Leann ull]

If memory serves you had your socks off and were pressing it like grapes to get the wort out
i'm not reading i'm not here, its in the shed its cold out there, up to my hits with comp this week but promise you and HB pics at some point its dead easy.

[Shanna]

If memory serves you had your socks off and were pressing it like grapes to get the wort out
i'm not reading i'm not here, its in the shed its cold out there, up to my hits with comp this week but promise you and HB pics at some point its dead easy.

More like baling with a saucepan and sieve . No hurry with the photo, hope the comp goes well.

Shanna

[armedcor]

That cooler looses all its heat through the lid. Some lads spray foam insulation into it and it holds like a champ then.

[molc]

That cooler looses all its heat through the lid. Some lads spray foam insulation into it and it holds like a champ then.

Cool, I'll look into doing that. OR more HERMS. Mmm, decisions decisions

[Shanna]

That cooler looses all its heat through the lid. Some lads spray foam insulation into it and it holds like a champ then.

Cool, I'll look into doing that. OR more HERMS. Mmm, decisions decisions

If you can get a big lump of expanded polystyrene or some other type of insulation material I would add it on to the top. I would do it irrespective of whether you have use a herms as it will make your system more efficient.

Shanna

[molc]

Yeah I'll pick up some of that reflective bubble wrap and I have a can of expanding foam lying around as well that I can pump the lid. Hmm, thinking about it, I could even make an insert from by putting down some tinfoil and filling with the expanding foam...

Gotta love the DIY in homebrewing

[Damien M]

Yeah I'll pick up some of that reflective bubble wrap and I have a can of expanding foam lying around as well that I can pump the lid. Hmm, thinking about it, I could even make an insert from by putting down some tinfoil and filling with the expanding foam...

Gotta love the DIY in homebrewing

I've been using the reflective bubble wrap on my HLT and it is still warm to the touch with 4 layers..... I am planing to change it to something more insulative. If you haven't bought it yet.... think long and hard.... or plan for a lot more layers!