Non Auber temp control - Geek style

[Garbageman]

So I have been a avid homebrewer for 20 years. A few years ago I went all electric with a BCS controller to run it. Sort of like having 4 PIDS and graphical interface. It allowed me to dial in the brews and get consistency. Even start and run brews from work remotely.

So after a couple of smokes on my SI#1 I decided I wanted better control on the temps. I used the http://smokinitforums.com/index.php?topic=1594.0instructions for the permanent probe. Also running 2 additional probes for two separate internal meat temps. 

What does this get me? I can dial in a temp with no more then 2 degrees of swing and have the unit shutoff once the internal meat temp is reached. I can also control everything on my computer and monitor my smokes anywhere I have internet access. Even from my Iphone I can check the meat temps, change the smoke temp or even kill power if needed.

Overkill - yep! But that's the geek in me. The programming and and changes to the brewery are complete. Had to run 20' extensions for power and temp sensors out of the BCS enclosure to reach out the garage door. Still waiting on temp sensors to arrive this week.

More to come.....

Brewery Controller - BCS-460

Current Brewery Setup

Brewery Interface - For Smoker

9# Butt from Saturday

Original pics here: https://picasaweb.google.com/115446924633055354996/BackyardBrews

 

[DivotMaker]

Nice!!  Nothing wrong with overkill, as long as it works!   Glad to have you with us, garbageman!  When you get a chance, head over to the Intro section and tell us about yourself.  A first name and town in your signature line is nice, too!  Nice to know our new friends!

We have a few avid home brewers around here, so you'll be a welcome addition!  Looks like a great setup you have there.

Looking forward to more details on the controller!

 

[Pork Belly]

Wow, that is some impressive engineering. In the future you might find higher is better for meat placement in the smoker, even with a PID.

 

[BedouinBob]

Gman, I brew wine but dude you have an awesome setup there! Maybe we need to open a brewing section. 

 

[Garbageman]

Thanks, still learning about the SI#1. Am very impressed and have felt like a salesman for it as I show it to friends. The rest of my sensors and wiring will be here Friday so more pics and a shake down run  soon.

Nice feature is it will graph my session onto a chart and show the smoke box temp and internal meat temp for the full smoke session. It samples every 30 seconds so I can look back exactly what the meat did in response to the temp and when it hits the stall and powers through. 

 

[BedouinBob]

The graph will be way cool. I will definitely be interested in seeing that.

 

[DivotMaker]

+1 on Brian's suggestion of "meat up high."  The heat is more stable toward the top, and will cook much more evenly.  I was so blinded by the technology, I didn't even notice this in the pic! :-[ 

 

[old sarge]

Beer and Butts. Two important members of the food group.  And your set-up looks terrific.

 

[wasitim]

Hey Garbageman,
Nice use of the BCS and you're electric brew setup. I've got a similar 1/2bbl Stout Kettles setup and use the BCS to control temps on three 15 gal plastic conicals with stainless coils in them and the window AC hack.

So when it's time to smoke, what do you do, just unplug the probes for the brew side and plug in the probes to the smoker?

 

[tnlyne]

This is very similar to my HeaterMeter PID project. Here's a picture of my live graph of a 24 brisket smoke:

 

[DivotMaker]

No harm in reviving an old post, guys, but we haven't heard from Garbageman since he posted this.  Maybe he'll give us an update! :-\

 

[tnlyne]

Gotta get excited when a beer system is revived on a smoking forum. Regardless of the post age.

 

[DivotMaker]

Gotta get excited when a beer system is revived on a smoking forum. Regardless of the post age.

Hehe...yeah!

 

[Garbageman]

Sorry for dropping the ball on posting.

My problem has been inconsistent probes. So I have been modifying my brewing probes by "sharpening" the tip from blunt end to slightly pointed to get them to penetrate. I can't find pointed probes that match my BCS.

The software once tweaked runs good. I have one program for brewing, and one for smoking. Just change the probes and plug the #1 in. The controller is built for switching 230v on and off with heavy duty relays so no issues there.

I've got about 10 smokes on it and love that I can monitor it from anywhere and if 30 miles away, kill it if it reaches IT.

- Daniel

 

[old sarge]

Welcome back Daniel!  Hope all is well.

 

[DivotMaker]

Good to see you again, Daniel!  Not often a "long lost" member shows back up.  Hope you spend more time with us; I know you have lots of good info to add! 8)