Home Made Stir Plate
Moderator: Officers
Home Made Stir Plate
There was no way I was going to bay $150+ for a stir plate, so built one for less then 20$.
Parts:
RadioShack
Toggle Switch,PN 275-322
1 1/4" Hexagonal Control Knobs, PN 274-407
25-Ohm Rheostat, PN 271-0265
Size K Coaxial DC Power Jack, PN 274-1565
Small black project box
22 g wire, black and red (Home Depot)
Old computer Fan
Round Magnets (Hobby Lobby), pack of 4
Hot Glue
Old cell phone AC charger or Printer power supply, 5-12 V, 3-5 amp DC output
2 holes were drilled in the front for the on/off switch and the rheostat. One hole was driller in the back for the power plug-in. I cut the top out so I could get the magnetts as close as possible to the stir bar.
Computer fan was mounted on some bolts
Magnets were hot glued to the top of the computer fan.
Power plug was added and glued in place
Switch and rheostat were wired
Old printer power supply was plugged in and the system was tested.
Final Product
Jason
Parts:
RadioShack
Toggle Switch,PN 275-322
1 1/4" Hexagonal Control Knobs, PN 274-407
25-Ohm Rheostat, PN 271-0265
Size K Coaxial DC Power Jack, PN 274-1565
Small black project box
22 g wire, black and red (Home Depot)
Old computer Fan
Round Magnets (Hobby Lobby), pack of 4
Hot Glue
Old cell phone AC charger or Printer power supply, 5-12 V, 3-5 amp DC output
2 holes were drilled in the front for the on/off switch and the rheostat. One hole was driller in the back for the power plug-in. I cut the top out so I could get the magnetts as close as possible to the stir bar.
Computer fan was mounted on some bolts
Magnets were hot glued to the top of the computer fan.
Power plug was added and glued in place
Switch and rheostat were wired
Old printer power supply was plugged in and the system was tested.
Final Product
Jason
BEFORE THERE WAS MATHEMATICS, RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY OR CULTURE...THERE WAS BEER.
In Primary:............. None (how sad is that?)
In Secondary:..........None...see above
On Tap: ..........Barley Wine from 2006, BGSA from 2006...
In Primary:............. None (how sad is that?)
In Secondary:..........None...see above
On Tap: ..........Barley Wine from 2006, BGSA from 2006...
Re: Home Made Stir Plate
That is going to come in handy for growing your yeast with less wort.
Excellent.
Excellent.
Have Fun!
Chris
Chris
Re: Home Made Stir Plate
If you need a project box, a cigar box works very well also. In Lawrence, there's Centro Cigars on 15th and Wakarusa. They usually have boxes.
Re: Home Made Stir Plate
Nice - looks awfully familiar. I used the same box. Glued the fan to the top of the box - some sort of goo stuff the wife gave me. Used old hard drive magnets. Just tied a knot in the wire on both sides of the box (no jack). And had a LED laying around - so why not. It's nice getting about half again the amount of yeast. I forgot to buy the knob though - never bothered with it...
What size stirbar are you using? I bought a couple from vwrlabshop.com. Two is nice because one ends up in the fermenter more often than not.......
What size stirbar are you using? I bought a couple from vwrlabshop.com. Two is nice because one ends up in the fermenter more often than not.......
Re: Home Made Stir Plate
I just wanted to mention that I really appreciate the knowledge and experience that has been shared recently on the site! (i.e stir plate, yeast, rig build, etc.)
It is one of the main reasons I joined the club and continue to stay in it.
Thanks!
Andrew C.
It is one of the main reasons I joined the club and continue to stay in it.
Thanks!
Andrew C.
Re: Home Made Stir Plate
I use a 1/2 and 1/4 inch stir bar. the 1 inch just does not do as well a job on my system.
Jason
Jason
BEFORE THERE WAS MATHEMATICS, RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY OR CULTURE...THERE WAS BEER.
In Primary:............. None (how sad is that?)
In Secondary:..........None...see above
On Tap: ..........Barley Wine from 2006, BGSA from 2006...
In Primary:............. None (how sad is that?)
In Secondary:..........None...see above
On Tap: ..........Barley Wine from 2006, BGSA from 2006...
- Rob Martin
- Uberbrewer
- Posts: 1494
- Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:14 pm
- Location: Lawrence
Re: Home Made Stir Plate
I purchased a used lab stir plate off of ebay between $15-$20.
Re: Home Made Stir Plate
JDL973,
Do you every wonder what is in a $150 stir plate other than margin?
Do you every wonder what is in a $150 stir plate other than margin?
Re: Home Made Stir Plate
Jason has done an excellent job with his many stir plates and will serve him well.
An industrial lab stir plate will have a heavier motor with ball bearings at least on the outboard side, a stronger magnet, real speed control versus dropping the voltage through a potentiometer thus wasting energy through heat, a heavier casting and a chemical resistant top. Some may even come with a heater.
For the home brewers, Jason's will last a long time and leave extra money for craft brew. You just may not be able to spin the big liquid stirrer or stir at low speeds.
For most, the home built stir plate will do a great job.
An industrial lab stir plate will have a heavier motor with ball bearings at least on the outboard side, a stronger magnet, real speed control versus dropping the voltage through a potentiometer thus wasting energy through heat, a heavier casting and a chemical resistant top. Some may even come with a heater.
For the home brewers, Jason's will last a long time and leave extra money for craft brew. You just may not be able to spin the big liquid stirrer or stir at low speeds.
For most, the home built stir plate will do a great job.
Have Fun!
Chris
Chris
Re: Home Made Stir Plate
My home made stir plate works like a champ, going strong for over two years. I used the LM317 voltage regulator with heatsink to dissipate thermal energy at low speeds. I can easily spin a vortex in a gallon starter without issue.
The usefulness of opinion is itself matter of opinion.
Primum Brewery
Primum Brewery