Trystan Casey
Building an electric HERMS brewing system is a rewarding project for homebrewers, offering greater control over temperature, efficiency, and consistency. The system uses a pump to circulate wort outside the mash, with the heating source maintaining the temperature as the wort passes through. Electric brewing offers a safer, more comfortable, and efficient alternative to traditional propane systems, eliminating the need for open flames and allowing for indoor brewing. While building an electric HERMS system requires electrical knowledge, many guides and resources are available to help homebrewers learn the necessary skills and design a customized setup. With dedication and research, it is possible to create a professional-looking and functional electric HERMS brewing system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Parts required | Mash tun, kettles, NPT fittings, 3-way valves, pumps, counterflow chiller, tubing, control panel, heating elements, etc. |
| Skills required | Drilling, silver soldering, electrical wiring, plumbing |
| Benefits | Indoor brewing, climate control, increased efficiency, improved safety, sanitary, ease of removal for cleaning |
| Costs | Control panel: $500; Complete brewery: $2000; Small panel: fraction of the cost of a big one |
| Guides | The Electric Brewery's free online walkthrough, Mike Skril's $8 guide, DIY AIO system tutorial, Electric Brew Supply's free downloadable book, SkrilNetz's guide |
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What You'll Learn
Parts needed for an electric HERMS setup
Building an electric HERMS setup requires a range of parts, some of which can be purchased ready-made, while others can be built or assembled yourself. Here is a list of the components you will need:
- A control panel to regulate the system. This can be purchased ready-made, or you can build your own using guides available online. The control panel is essential for safety and accuracy, allowing you to set and control the temperature.
- A pump to circulate the wort. There are different types of pumps available, such as the PMP500KegLand MKII Magnetic Drive Pump or the Chugger pump.
- Heating elements, such as electric water heater elements or ULWD (ultra-low watt density) elements. These can be installed inside the hot liquor tank (HLT) and the boil kettle.
- Stainless steel vessels, such as kettles or pots, to hold the liquids. These can be purchased or you can use existing containers that meet the requirements.
- Tubing or piping to connect the different components and transfer liquids. This needs to be food-grade and heat-resistant.
- Valves and fittings to control the flow of liquids and connect different components. These can include tri-clover fittings and stainless steel bulkheads.
- A mash tun to hold the mash and a recirculation valve to prevent heat stratification in the HLT.
- Temperature sensors or probes to monitor the temperature of the liquids.
- A power source, such as a standard electrical outlet or a dedicated circuit, depending on your setup's power requirements.
It is important to note that building an electric HERMS setup requires electrical knowledge and skills such as drilling, soldering, and wiring. It is recommended to seek guidance from professionals or experienced homebrewers and to follow safety precautions, especially when working with electricity and liquids.
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How to build a HERMS lid
Building a HERMS lid gives brewers more control over temperature, efficiency, and the consistency of homebrews. The process involves several steps, from preparing the mash tun and heating up the mash water to installing valves and coils. Here is a detailed guide on how to build a HERMS lid:
First, start by filling the mash tun with the required water volume and heating up the mash water by cycling it through the HERMS coil built into the lid. This coil is essential for maintaining the desired mash temperature. Turn on the heat to the HLT and continuously cycle the mash until you achieve a clear wort that can be transferred to the brew kettle.
Next, prepare the lid by drilling holes to accommodate the compression fittings and valves. The number and placement of holes will depend on your specific setup, but typically, you'll need holes for the valves and fittings that connect to the coil. Ensure you have the correct drill bit size to create holes that align with your copper tubing or compression fittings.
After drilling the holes, install the valves into the lid. In a typical setup, there are three valves: the left valve is for the output from the HERMS coil to the sparge arm in the mash tun, the centre valve is the input from the mash tun to the HERMS coil, and the right-hand valve is the input from the HLT. These valves control the flow of liquid and maintain the desired temperatures in the system.
Now, it's time to install the coil. Create a copper coil that fits snugly around your corny keg by using a tubing bender. Secure the coil with 14-gauge copper wire, ensuring it holds its shape. Insert the coil into the compression fittings installed in the lid. This coil is crucial for heating and cooling the liquid during the brewing process.
Finally, finish the setup by flushing out the coil with sparge water and performing a fly sparge. Ensure that all connections are secure and that the system functions as intended. You may also need to add an auto vent to the lid to bleed the air out, ensuring the system works optimally.
Building a HERMS lid can be a rewarding project, providing enhanced control over your brewing process. Remember to refer to detailed guides and seek advice from experienced homebrewers when tackling this project to ensure a safe and successful build.
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Differences between HERMS and RIMS systems
Both HERMS and RIMS systems are recirculating mash brewing systems that use a pump to move the wort, which is heated while outside of the mash. However, there are some key differences between the two systems.
In a RIMS (Recirculating Infusion Mash System) system, the pump constantly moves the wort, and the heating source cycles to control the temperature. The heating source can be either electric or gas and directly heats the pipe that the wort is flowing through. RIMS systems may be a little more effective for step mashing as the temperature can be changed a little faster. However, they carry the risk of scorching the grain if the pump slows down or stops completely due to a stuck mash or pump failure.
On the other hand, a HERMS (Heat Exchanged Recirculating Mash System) system uses a hot liquor tank (HLT) with a coil inside that has an outlet and an inlet. The water in the HLT is heated, and the wort passes through the heated water to maintain the temperature. The pump is turned on and off to control the temperature, drawing heat from a fixed source such as the HLT. HERMS systems provide more control over temperature, efficiency, and the consistency of homebrews.
In terms of setup, a RIMS system may be slightly easier to work with as it does not require an additional HLT. However, HERMS systems are relatively easy to build with parts that most grain brewers may already have on hand, such as a mash tun, pump, immersion chiller, and temperature controller.
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Electric brewery setup costs
The cost of building an electric HERMS brewing system can vary depending on the features and options chosen, such as brands and kettle sizes. For example, opting for larger, premium kettles and including additional features will increase the overall cost.
The Electric Brewery setup, a popular choice for homebrewers, provides a price breakdown for their system, with costs ranging from $3000 to $5000. This setup is designed with quality and performance in mind, rather than minimising costs. However, it is a one-time investment that promises long-term serviceability.
Building a HERMS system from scratch can be more affordable, with some users reporting costs of around $1000 or even less. This approach may take longer and require learning new skills like drilling, silver soldering, and electrical wiring. Additionally, one can save costs by purchasing second-hand parts from sites like eBay or buying parts individually from power shops.
The cost of electricity to run the system should also be considered. While electricity is generally cheaper than propane or natural gas, the exact costs depend on local rates and time-of-day billing structures.
Overall, the cost of building an electric HERMS brewing system can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the chosen setup, features, and electricity costs.
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How to build a brewing control panel
Building a brewing control panel for an electric HERMS brewing system requires some electrical knowledge and confidence. It is important to understand what you are doing, and if you don't, seek advice or guidance.
The control panel will be controlling a high current/voltage brewing system, so safety is paramount. A GFCI-protected source is mandatory for safety. You can use a GFCI breaker in your main electric panel, but a SPA panel with a GFCI breaker will likely be cheaper. Respect the mentioned wire gauges for the control panel and wires going to the heating elements. Your kettles must be correctly grounded.
There are various guides, ebooks, and online resources available to help you build a control panel. Some recommend specific parts and setups, while others offer general advice and safety instructions. It is worth researching these before you begin.
One guide suggests that to simplify construction and SSR/heat sink mounting, you can sandwich the SSR and heat sinks around the panel. This allows heat to flow from the SSR through the panel wall and into the heat sink. Another guide suggests using software like CraftBeerPi on an RPI to control your elements. This can be controlled from a phone or tablet.
There are also pre-built control panels available to purchase, which can be a good option if you are not confident in building your own.
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Frequently asked questions
Electric brewing systems allow for greater control over temperature, efficiency, and consistency. They also enable brewers to work indoors, in a climate-controlled environment, without the noise of a propane burner.
Most all-grain brewers already own many of the parts required for a HERMS system, including a mash tun, pump, immersion chiller, and temperature controller. Aside from these, you will need tubing and kettles.
Chugger pumps are a popular choice for homebrewers.
You will need a hot liquor tank (HLT) and a boil kettle. Both should have 240v 4500w ULWD (ultra-low-watt-density) water heater elements installed inside as the heat source.
A brewing control panel is required to control a high-current/voltage brewing system. You can purchase a pre-made control panel or build your own if you have electrical knowledge.
