Which Controller should I Buy?
“Which controller should I buy?” is the most common question we’ve heard over the years. And the right answer is “It depends on your goals!”
The best answer for me to give on line is to do a rundown of all of our controllers from the least to most capable so that you can make an informed decision. Regardless of the name, all of our controllers can be used in a variety of home brewery setups.
Our boil / still controllers
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We offer 120V and 220/240V boil controllers. 120V controllers work well for 3 – 5 gallon batches but if you plan to boil over 5 – 6 gallons, consider a 240V boil controller instead. The highest watt 120V water heater element available will not bring 6 gallons of water to a full boil without some help. One exception would be to use in conjunction with a stove top eye. Some of our customers use a 120V controller along with a 1650 Watt element mounted in their brew pots. They put their boil pot on their electric stove eye and then plug the controller into a nearby wall outlet and use both together to heat a 10 gallon batch. |
The most common uses for our 120V boil / still controllers are to:
| Run a small table top still Boil 3 – 5 gallon batches of beer Control a 120V BoilCoil – our 20 Amp twist lock option is required to run a BoilCoil. Combine with a stove top element to boil up to 10 gallons |
The most common uses for our 220/240V boil / still controllers are to:
| Run a electric still Control a 240V BoilCoil – up to 30 Gallons. Boil up to 30 gallon batches of beer |
Our Mash Tun / RIMS Tube controllers
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Our Mash Tun / RIMS Tube Controllers are available in 120V and 220/240V configurations. Most of our controllers are sold for use with RIMS tubes but they also work well with a mash tun and even a HERMS tank. The most common purchase for a RIMS tube is our 120V controller and this is all you will need for a RIMS tube plumbed to a small GOTT cooler. Because of the water volume in the HERMS tank plus your mash volume, you will need a 220/240V controller for a HERMS tank.
Our Mash Tun / RIMS Controllers are the most popular controllers we sell.
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The most common uses for our 120V mash tun / RIMS tube controllers are to:
| Control a 5 gallon batch RIMS tube Control a 120V RIMS-Rocket – our 20 Amp twist lock option is required to run a RIMS-Rocket. Control a 5 gallon batch mash tun |
The most common uses for our 220/240V mash tun / RIMS tube controllers are to:
| Control a 10 gallon batch or larger RIMS tube Control a 240V RIMS-Rocket Control a 10 gallon batch or larger mash tun Run a HERMS tank |
Our BIAB controllers
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Our BIAB controller is a switch controlled 120V pump outlet, a boil controller and mash controller all in one housing. The boil controller and mash controller feed one common 220/240V outlet. The boil controller and mash controller can’t be on at the same time, making this controller safe to use with a 30 Amp dryer circuit.
Our BIAB Controllers are available in 220/240V configuration only. These controllers are designed for larger BIAB (Brew In A Bag) type systems where everything – mash, sparge and boil – is done on one pot.
Because of their relatively low cost, many homebrewers buy this system to use as a full brewery controller. They plug their mash tun into the controller to do their mash. Then they unplug their mash tun and plug in their brew kettle for boil. |
The most common uses for our BIAB controllers are to:
| Set up a full BIAB system Use as a conventional brewery controller by plugging on your mash tun and boil pot as needed. |
Our Full HERMS controllers
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Our full HERMS controller is two switched 120V pump outlets, a boil controller and mash controller all in one housing. The boil controller and mash controller feed separate outlets. The boil controller and mash controller can’t be on at the same time, making this controller safe to use with a 30 Amp dryer circuit.
Our full HERMS Controllers are available in 220/240V configuration only. These controllers are designed to manage the mash cycle of your HERMS tank as well as your boil. Two pump circuits are included, one for HERMS circulation and the other for transfer. The 120V pumps are independent of the PID (mash) controller and boil controller.
Homebrewers also use these controllers for conventional (non-HERMS) breweries. In this configuration the Mash outlet would power your mash tun or RIMS tube while the boil outlet would still power your brew pot. |
The most common uses for our full HERMS controllers are to:
| Set up a full HERMS system Use as a conventional brewery controller. |
Our Full Electric Home Brewery controllers
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Our full Brewery controller is two switched 120V pump outlets, a boil controller, a HLT controller and a mash controller all in one housing. The boil controller, HLT controller and mash controller feed separate outlets. The boil controller, HLT controller and mash controller can’t be on at the same time, making this controller safe to use with a 30 Amp dryer circuit.
Our full Brewery Controllers are available in 220/240V configuration only. These controllers are designed to manage your entire home brewery process from heating your strike water, heating your sparge water, managing your mash, and boil. Plus this controller allows you to heat sparge water while mashing, all on a 30 Amp dryer type circuit. We do this by incorporating some smart interlock circuitry that keeps your sparge heater off when your mash tun is drawing power. Two pump circuits are included. The 120V pumps are independent of the PID (mash) controllers and boil controller. |
The most common uses for our full Brewery controllers are to:
| Use as a full brewery controller – managing strike water for dough-in, sparge water, mash and full boil. |