HLT/Mash Tun temp discrepancy

Fatbaldingoldgit · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 9:08 pm Post subject:

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perogi · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:17 pm Post subject:

v-twin · Joined: 27 May 2012 Posts: 7 Location: Livermore, Ca

I stumbled across the product offering here in the US that might do the same thing... Sorry not trying to steal anyone's thunder.. Just thought I'd share. I think I might be ordering myself one here in the near future.

LINK: http://www.brewhardware.com/fittings/125-probecompression

Happy Brewing!!!

julian81 · Joined: 08 May 2011 Posts: 39 Location: United States

I'm experiencing a similar issue right now with my brew. Brewing a Baltic Porter. 28.25LB of grist. I'm noticing that the MLT temp lags behind the HLT by exactly 3 degrees. The PIDs are each reporting the correct values (verified with a Thermapen, and HLT differential/offset updated to get a consistent reading). But the MLT just will not equalize to the temp of the HLT. It's about 75F outside in Seattle today. I'm relatively in the shade (garage), and I have the EXACT same setup as Kal.

Any suggestions?

kellzey · Joined: 04 Aug 2011 Posts: 580 Location: Orlando, FL

Nope... I just run my 2-3 degrees hotter than the desired MLT temp.

julian81 · Joined: 08 May 2011 Posts: 39 Location: United States

Cool...I guess that's what I'll be doing from now on too.

**kal** · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 1:22 pm Post subject:

skelley · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 1:48 pm Post subject:

I experience the same thing with my mtn which usually lags 1 to 2 degrees. I simply adjust it by running hlt hotter.

perogi · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 2:11 pm Post subject:

Same thing here - although, if I mash for an extended period, it *eventually* catches up.

Next time I will wrap the MLT in insulation and see if that makes a difference.

huaco · Joined: 05 Apr 2012 Posts: 1506 Location: Burleson Texas

I did my first brew Saturday. I experienced a 2*F variance from the HLT to the MLT. Temps were measured with a floating Brewer's Thermometer that has proven to be accurate. The controllers were matching the thermometer, so it is not a problem with calibration. I simply raised the HLT 2 degrees and the mash temp quickly came up to where it was supposed to be. I am running 1/8" wall tube and keggles.

foomench · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 4:27 pm Post subject:

kellzey · Joined: 04 Aug 2011 Posts: 580 Location: Orlando, FL

Lots of things can contribute, Kal.

#1 - My brew room is air conditioned and around 70 degrees, and you lose some heat just from regular heat transfer to the environment. My garage is also quite large and never really experiences heat build up during the brew day.

#2 - The extra thick silicone hose could actually help a bit with heat lost since Silicone is an insulator. My hoses are warm.

#3 - +/- 1 degree accuracy in the PIDs or RTS sensors can add up...

#4 - Heat gnomes could be sucking the heat out!

huaco · Joined: 05 Apr 2012 Posts: 1506 Location: Burleson Texas

huaco · Joined: 05 Apr 2012 Posts: 1506 Location: Burleson Texas

kellzey · Joined: 04 Aug 2011 Posts: 580 Location: Orlando, FL

huaco · Joined: 05 Apr 2012 Posts: 1506 Location: Burleson Texas

I am renting my house... I may go with a window unit in the window of the garage. Saturday was BRUTAL! But come mid-late October we should break to somewhat better temps! Just have to tough it out 'till then. UGH.......

**kal** · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 1:08 pm Post subject:

mnoltimier · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 5:11 am Post subject:

For what's it worth I have an exact clone of Kal's setup and I did calibrate my PID's and I also have to run the HLT 2 degrees hotter for the mash tun. (also double checked with a Thermapen) The only difference in our setup is I don't have the thick silicone hosing... so that is probably where it's coming from.

pstratton · Joined: 23 Sep 2014 Posts: 1 Location: Nebraska

I also have a 3 degree discrepancy. I autotuned the PID's, have the thicker hoses, but I have a 10 gallon system and my heat exchanging coil gets out of the water some when I add the mash water to the MLT. I've thought about adding more water to the HLT after this and waiting for it to heat back up and see if that corrects it. May also be good to do this because I find that I barely have enough water in the HLT to finish a sparge at this scale. Brewed the blonde ale recipe last Sunday and used every drop of water from the HLT and the MLT to get my boil volume. Starting to wish I had gone the 20 gallon route...

bigtex52 · Joined: 21 Oct 2013 Posts: 7 Location: Carrollton, TX

I did my first test run using water on Saturday and noticed the same phenomenon, MLT stopped 3 degrees short of the HLT setting. PID was cycling the HLT fairly regularly and holding steady at 154. Bumped it up to 158 and the MLT came right up to 154. The ambient temp was in the mid 60's and I am using non-insulated keggles so I am sure they were losing some heat there. I had a thought afterward that if i ran the temp cable for the HLT to the MLT sensor once it starts to stall out, that might work better since it calls for more heat in the HLT if needed to keep the mash temp up. Any thoughts? Loving this thing BTW Kal!