Brewing and industrial actuator parts extend the Configurator's actuator library beyond basic relays and smart plugs. These parts are designed for multi-stage process automation — beer brewing, food production, chemical processing, and any application involving heating elements, cooling systems, motorized mixers, and liquid level detection.
All parts in this category are relay-driven (controlled via Sequent Microsystems relay HAT channels or GPIO relays) and are software-only in the Configurator — no additional wiring configuration beyond the relay channel assignment.
Heater Actuator
Relay-driven immersion or element heater for boil kettles, mash tuns, fermentation wraps, and hot water systems. Category: actuator-heater.
Configuration
Relay Channel — Which relay channel on your Sequent HAT (or GPIO relay) controls the heater. Selected from available channels.
Max Power — Heater wattage for documentation purposes. Does not affect control — the relay is binary on/off.
Signals
Input: boolean (true = heater on, false = heater off). Typically driven by a PID controller via a PWM Duty Cycle Adapter, or directly by a hysteresis controller.
Safety Considerations
- Never run a heating element dry. Always pair with a level sensor or float switch interlock.
- Size the relay for the load. A 2500W immersion heater draws ~10A at 240V. Verify your relay HAT's per-channel rating.
- Use a contactor for high-current loads. The relay HAT switches the contactor coil; the contactor handles the heater current.
Wiring Patterns
PID-controlled heater: Temperature sensor → PID Controller → PWM Duty Cycle Adapter → Heater Actuator. Provides proportional heating with relay pulsing.
Bang-bang heater: Temperature sensor → Hysteresis Controller → Heater Actuator. Simple on/off at setpoint boundaries.
Glycol Chiller
Relay-driven glycol pump and/or compressor for fermentation cooling, cold crash, and process chilling. Category: actuator-cooler.
Configuration
Relay Channel — Relay controlling the glycol pump or chiller compressor.
Chiller Type — Pump only (external glycol reservoir), or integrated unit (pump + compressor on one relay).
Signals
Input: boolean (true = chiller on, false = off).
Safety Considerations
- If controlling a compressor, use the HVAC Hysteresis Controller with minimum run time protection. Never use a standard hysteresis or PID controller for compressor-based chillers.
- Glycol pump-only systems can safely use standard hysteresis or PID + PWM duty cycle.
Mixer / Agitator
Relay-driven motor for stirring, mixing, or agitating. Used in mash tuns (grain stirring), fermentation tanks, chemical mixing, and food production.
Configuration
Relay Channel — Relay controlling the mixer motor.
Motor Type — Continuous (runs constantly when on) or intermittent (designed for duty cycles).
Signals
Input: boolean (true = motor on, false = off). Can be driven by a timer (Interval Timer for periodic stirring) or a controller.
Use Case: Mash Tun Stirring
During the mash step, the agitator stirs grain and hot water to ensure even temperature and enzyme activity. Wire an Interval Timer (60-second interval) through a Countdown Timer (30-second duration) to the mixer. Result: the mixer runs for 30 seconds every 60 seconds.
Linear Actuator
PWM or relay-controlled linear actuator for extending and retracting mechanisms. Used for hop droppers, damper positioning, valve actuation, and mechanical automation.
Configuration
Control Type — Relay (extend/retract via two relay channels) or PWM (proportional positioning via PWM signal).
Extend Channel — Relay channel for extend direction (relay mode).
Retract Channel — Relay channel for retract direction (relay mode).
Travel Time — Full stroke time in seconds. Used to estimate position without a position sensor.
Signals
Input: boolean (true = extend, false = retract) for relay mode. Number (0–100 position %) for PWM mode.
Use Case: Hop Dropper
In a brewing chiller stage, a linear actuator extends to drop hops into the wort at a scheduled time. Wire a Cron Scheduler (fires at the programmed hop addition time) to the linear actuator. The actuator extends, drops the hops, then retracts after a countdown timer expires.
Capacitive Level Sensor
Non-contact capacitive liquid level sensor for water, wort, and chemical tanks. Provides continuous level measurement (0–100%) rather than the binary high/low of a float switch.
Configuration
Interface — Analog (ADC channel) or I2C (for digital capacitive sensors).
Tank Height — Height of the tank in centimeters. Used to calculate volume.
Calibration — Empty and full reference values for accurate percentage calculation.
Signals
Output: number (0–100, representing fill percentage).
Use Case: Boil Kettle Auto-Fill
A capacitive level sensor monitors the boil kettle water level. When the level drops below 80%, a hysteresis controller opens a solenoid valve to add water. When the level reaches 95%, the valve closes. This automates strike water filling without overflow risk.
Brewing System Example: 4-Stage Automation
A complete beer brewing system uses these parts across four rooms:
Boil Kettle Room: Level sensor → Hysteresis → Water valve (fill). RTD temp sensor → PID → PWM Adapter → Heater (boil). Timer → Dump valve (transfer to mash).
Mash Tun Room: RTD temp sensor → Hysteresis → Heater (maintain mash temp). Interval Timer → Countdown → Mixer (periodic stirring). Countdown Timer → Drain valve (mash complete).
Chiller Room: RTD temp sensor → HVAC Hysteresis → Glycol chiller. Cron Scheduler → Linear actuator (hop dropper). Timer → Dump valve (transfer to fermenter).
Fermenter Room: iSpindel hydrometer → Dashboard (gravity/ABV% monitoring).
This system uses a single Sequent 16-relay HAT, mapping ~8 relay channels across all stages.
Troubleshooting
Relay clicks but actuator does not respond
The relay is switching but the load is not powered. Check: (1) The load is connected to the relay's COM and NO terminals, not COM and NC. (2) The external power supply for the load is connected and turned on. (3) The relay's current rating is sufficient for the load.
Heater element trips the breaker on startup
Inrush current exceeds the breaker rating. Use the staggered start pattern: wire the PID output through multiple Delay Timers with offset durations to stagger element activation.
Level sensor reads 0% when tank is full
Calibration values are inverted. Swap the empty and full reference values in the configuration. Alternatively, verify the sensor is mounted on the outside of the tank (capacitive sensors are non-contact) and the tank material is compatible.
Related Documentation
For relay and smart plug actuators, see Actuators.
For PID duty-cycle control of relay heaters, see PWM Duty Cycle Adapter.
For timer parts used in multi-stage brewing, see Timers & Scheduling.
For fermentation hydrometer monitoring, see WiFi Devices & Fermentation Hydrometers.