Got a shiny new GF30 Conical Fermenter and GC4 Glycol Chiller set up and ready to go? Nice one. This guide walks you through getting everything powered up and your GF30 controller talking to the Grainfather App over Wi-Fi, so you can keep an eye on your ferment from wherever you are.
Before you start, you'll need:
- Your GF30 controller plugged in and powered on
- Your phone with the latest version of the Grainfather App, signed in to your account
- Your home Wi-Fi network name and password (the GF30 connects to 2.4 GHz networks, so check your router if you have a dual-band setup)
- A few minutes standing near your fermenter, as you'll be tapping between the controller and your phone
My GC4 lights up, then switches off. Is it broken?
Nope, that's completely normal. When you first plug your GC4 Glycol Chiller into the wall, it runs through a quick start-up check: the lights come on for a moment, then it powers down and waits for you.
To get it running:
- Plug the GC4 into power and let it finish its start-up sequence.
- Press the On button on the chiller.
- That's it. It'll now stay on and start chilling.
If it still switches itself off after you've pressed the On button, grab a quick video of what's happening on your phone and send it through to our support team. It saves a lot of back and forth, and we can usually spot what's going on straight away.
Connecting your GF30 controller to Wi-Fi
Here's the thing that trips a lot of brewers up: adding your fermenter in the app isn't the same as connecting it. You add it first, then link the controller so it can join your Wi-Fi. If you've added your GF30 but it's not showing as online, you've likely done the first half. Let's finish the job.
If you have more than one GF30, repeat these steps for each controller.
Step 1: Get the controller ready
- Turn on your GF30. The connection setup screen should pop up on its own.
- If it doesn't, press Set and go to Network Config > Add New Network.
- Leave the controller on that screen. The app will connect to it from here.
Step 2: Add the fermenter in the Grainfather App
- Open the app and go to the Equipment screen.
- Tap the + at the bottom right.
- Choose Fermentation tracking equipment, then GF30 Fermenter.
- Give your fermenter a name ("Big Bertha" works, so does "Fermenter 1") and save it.
Step 3: Link the controller
- On your new fermenter's equipment page, tap Link controller.
- On the device setup screen, pick the colour that matches your controller's screen (white or black), then tap Ready.
- Accept the permission requests your phone shows. The app needs these to find the controller.
- Connect to the controller:
- Android: pick your controller from the list.
- iPhone: follow the on-screen prompts to join your phone to the controller. When the notification pops up, tap Allow.
Step 4: Join your Wi-Fi
- Choose your Wi-Fi network from the list.
- Enter your password and tap Connect.
Once it's connected, your GF30 is online, and you'll see it live in the app. Time to brew.
Not connecting? Try these
Wi-Fi can be a fussy beast. If your GF30 won't come online, run through these before you reach out:
- Check the controller is still on the setup screen. If it's timed out or gone back to the main menu, head back to Set > Network Config > Add New Network and start Step 3 again.
- Double-check your Wi-Fi password. It's case-sensitive, and it's the easiest thing to get wrong (we've all done it).
- Move closer to your router, or the router closer to your brewery. Garages and sheds are notorious for weak signal.
- Make sure the app is up to date and that you accepted all the permission requests in Step 3.
- Restart and retry. Turn the controller off and on, close and reopen the app, then go again.
Still stuck? Get in touch with our support team through the Grainfather Customer Support. Let us know which step you got to, what your phone shows, and if you can, include a photo or video of the controller screen. We're brewers too, and we'll get you sorted.