New system: 30gal pots, toptier

[mthhurley]

I've got a Top Tier as well but only 2 burners...I still mash in a cooler but have been considering moving to mashing in a pot.

One question for you....I get the gravity feed from the HLT to the mash tun (left I assume)...and I think I get the recirc pump which I assume is recircing the mash and sparge water.

How do you get from the Mash pot to the BK?

(p.s. I agree with you about lighting the burners)

[pfooti]

I use the same pump when sparging as recircing. Just pump into the other pot instead of back around. I also use that pump to go through the chiller to the fermentors.

[Brewing_In_MKE]

I tried to keep my Top Tier simple, gravity feed all the way. Works like a charm. No electricity required. I batch sparge and use a cooler MLT.

[bobjohnson]

I'm not sure what you mean by the burner lighting being an issue. I have a top tier also... I open the needle valve all the way, adjust the damper to the middle and light the burners through the holes in the frame. Do you have the needle valve, spring, damper in that order? There is a video on the Blichmann site now about setting up and using the burners. Might want to check it out. http://blichmannengineering.com/brew_stand/brewstand_modular.html

I normally do 5 gal batches and love the top tier. Occasionally I try 10 gal batches and hate the extra time to heat to a boil. Most of my problem is I do 10 gal batches in Februrary in Chicago, so I am fighting an up hill battle due to the cold weather. How long does it tak you to get a boil going on your size batches??


System looks great!

[pfooti]

Yes, I have everything put together that way. What I find is that when I try to turn the valve from the Off position, instead of opening up the valve, I tend to twist the entire valve assembly. I might just be turning things too firmly off.

[noremorse1]

Time to order some stuff from Amazon, it seems.

This scale maxes out at 66 pounds. Should be enough for the entire grain bill on even the biggest 10 gallon batch.
http://www.amazon.com/WeighMax-66-Pound ... 272&sr=1-3


1/2" Variable Speed Reversible D-Handle Drill
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-i ... 47991.html


Those should solve both of those issues for you nicely.