I recently acquired the contraption below and i would like to use it to mash in as well as boil,to that end i will be getting a Pid setup,however i need to cover the exposed element with something so the hop strainer does not get crushed and the grain bag does not touch the element during mashing. I can't find a SS collander locally so just wondering if anyone knows of something handy online i could get ? ;D
https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/peco-beermakers-professional-boiler-32lt-includes-hop-strainer-p-2211.html
I didn't like the hop strainer for my peco so I recently got this false bottom from geterbrewed and its the bees knees
http://www.geterbrewed.ie/stainless-steel-false-bottom-for-peco-boiler/
it fits perfectly in mine and sits above the element and the grain bag rests nicely on it
Quote from: danger_zone on July 25, 2015, 09:43:23 PM
I didn't like the hop strainer for my peco so I recently got this false bottom from geterbrewed and its the bees knees
http://www.geterbrewed.ie/stainless-steel-false-bottom-for-peco-boiler/
it fits perfectly in mine and sits above the element and the grain bag rests nicely on it
Just it just stick in there or is there legs under it holding it in place ? ;D
From the picture it looks like theres a support in the centre of the filter. Is that right danger zone?
Also, how fine is the mesh? Will it filter loose hop pellets?
Sorry for all the questions DZ, just I haven't spotted that false bottom before and it could be just what i need to reduce loss of wort to hop debris
I use a cheap grill tray, just €3 from Dunnes. I just bent it in to a wide U shape that sits over the elements. It's not doing any filtering but it keeps my brew bag safe from melting.
There's a little handle in the middle to make it easier to get it out. The mesh is very fine, the hop pellets just sit on top. I get very little hop debris from using it
If there is a handle, it looks remarkably like the €3.50 (also stainless)
http://m.ikea.com/ie/en/catalog/products/art/10112530/
I've used it as a hop screen on the kettle, it prefers leaf to pellet. The pellets tend to clog it with US Ale quantities.
Quote from: pob on July 26, 2015, 02:03:35 PM
If there is a handle, it looks remarkably like the €3.50 (also stainless)
http://m.ikea.com/ie/en/catalog/products/art/10112530/
I've used it as a hop screen on the kettle, it prefers leaf to pellet. The pellets tend to clog it with US Ale quantities.
Thats exactly what it looks like....and 9 euro cheaper too. Bargain
Quote from: pob on July 26, 2015, 02:03:35 PM
If there is a handle, it looks remarkably like the €3.50 (also stainless)
http://m.ikea.com/ie/en/catalog/products/art/10112530/
I've used it as a hop screen on the kettle, it prefers leaf to pellet. The pellets tend to clog it with US Ale quantities.
Nice find there,unfortunately living down south not an option,awful pity Ikea don't do online sales. ;D
However that other one from GEB looks like what i need. ;D
Quote from: Greg2013 on July 26, 2015, 04:02:30 PM
Nice find there,unfortunately living down south not an option,awful pity Ikea don't do online sales. ;D
http://www.adverts.ie/transport-removal/man-with-a-van-waterford/7482336
Quote from: Garry on July 28, 2015, 12:11:09 PM
Quote from: Greg2013 on July 26, 2015, 04:02:30 PM
Nice find there,unfortunately living down south not an option,awful pity Ikea don't do online sales. ;D
http://www.adverts.ie/transport-removal/man-with-a-van-waterford/7482336
leave it to the Corkman :P
Funnily enough, I was out shopping for the same kind of item today ( i.e. false bottom for Peco boiler ). I felt sure my local Tesco would have a colander, but no. However, they did have 33cm pizza non-stick metal plates with holes! Not being sure about the diameter of my Peco, I didn't buy, but, lo and behold, that is the exact diameter of the base. Which means that the the pizza thingummy should be neatly upheld by the element fitting and the tap fitting ( I think ). So I'm off back to Tesco tomorrow.
Quote from: Archsnapper on July 28, 2015, 05:38:26 PM
Funnily enough, I was out shopping for the same kind of item today ( i.e. false bottom for Peco boiler ). I felt sure my local Tesco would have a colander, but no. However, they did have 33cm pizza non-stick metal plates with holes! Not being sure about the diameter of my Peco, I didn't buy, but, lo and behold, that is the exact diameter of the base. Which means that the the pizza thingummy should be neatly upheld by the element fitting and the tap fitting ( I think ). So I'm off back to Tesco tomorrow.
The only thing there that would concern me is that if you are using the element fitting and tap fitting to rest that plate on then the weight of the grain bag on top of that will pull down on those fittings possibly causing leaks ? ???
Be careful with those pizza separators. They are often aluminium and Al. is not recommended fo0r a boiler
I thought the whole stainless vs aluminium thing had been done to death. Loads of people use aluminum boilers?
Quote from: Will_D on July 29, 2015, 09:20:21 AM
Be careful with those pizza separators. They are often aluminium and Al. is not recommended fo0r a boiler
Aluminum Pot Pros and Cons (http://beersmith.com/blog/2010/08/17/aluminum-vs-stainless-best-beer-brewing-pots/)Aluminum pots are widely available and inexpensive because aluminum cookware is widely used for preparing foods. Inexpensive Turkey pots in the 36 quart range can be found at your local Walmart, particularly right after Thanksgiving at great prices. Aluminum pots cost considerably less than stainless steel – often half as much.
Aluminum is a better conductor of heat than steel, so your pot will come to a boil faster and also cool down faster after you are done boiling.
The only major disadvantage of aluminum is that it will oxidize, so
you can't use oxygen-based or caustic cleaners such as Oxyclean. This is the major reason why professional brewing equipment is made of stainless steel and not aluminum – the stainless steel is easier to clean with caustic cleaning agents. Also, over time aluminum will get an oxide layer over it which can discolor the aluminum and give it a grey tone. This is not a cause for concern – the layer of aluminum oxide actually protects the pot, but it is not as pretty as stainless steel.
I feel it is important to address a number of myths about aluminum. First,
aluminum pots are not linked to Alzheimer's disease. A number of medical studies since the 1970's have found zero link between Alzheimer's and the use of aluminum. Keep in mind that every day you drink soda from aluminum cans (though most are lined) and eat food prepared in aluminum cookware – it is safe.
A second myth is that
aluminum will react with acidic content of the wort and either add off flavors or eat away at your pot. This is also untrue – water has a pH of7.0, your wort has a pH of around 5.2, while spaghetti sauce can run as low as 4.6 and the most acidic diet sodas you drink run as low as 2.5. For comparison, battery acid has a pH of 1.0. Your wort is simply not acidic enough to react with your aluminum pot.
Thank you. Some of these myths really need to die out.
It is aluminium, but teflon coated. Besides, it will only be in the boiler during the mash process - it will be removed for the boil.
It fits perfectly. It's slightly larger than the boiler's base diameter and can thus be gently jammed aginst the wall above the element. For those of a nervous disposition, a couple of carefully place ramikins should reassure. Here are some photos. The shoelace is for situating and then removing.
Ok bit of puzzler here now. I just put the Peco boiler together as per instructions,the tap is not leaking but water is dripping out through the black plastic element pin housing ???
Quote from: Greg2013 on August 02, 2015, 09:29:38 PM
Ok bit of puzzler here now. I just put the Peco boiler together as per instructions,the tap is not leaking but water is dripping out through the black plastic element pin housing ???
Gonna state the obvious here but DO NOT PLUG IT IN. If its new send it back and give out feckin stink.
Quote from: Greg2013 on August 02, 2015, 09:29:38 PM
Ok bit of puzzler here now. I just put the Peco boiler together as per instructions,the tap is not leaking but water is dripping out through the black plastic element pin housing ???
I bought two peco elements recently directly from peco services and had the same issue with both i.e. water leaking through the back plate... they replaced them no problem and the new ones are perfect.. could be a bad batch
I should have stated the seal for the element is working perfectly,there is no leak from anywhere around where the nut clamps against the outside of the bucket itself.It is actually where the top right pin comes through the water is coming out in fairly heavy drip,and that was with aprox 27 litres cold water in. ;D
Quote from: darren996 on August 02, 2015, 11:32:27 PM
Quote from: Greg2013 on August 02, 2015, 09:29:38 PM
Ok bit of puzzler here now. I just put the Peco boiler together as per instructions,the tap is not leaking but water is dripping out through the black plastic element pin housing ???
I bought two peco elements recently directly from peco services and had the same issue with both i.e. water leaking through the back plate... they replaced them no problem and the new ones are perfect.. could be a bad batch
Quote from: Drum on August 02, 2015, 11:18:09 PM
Quote from: Greg2013 on August 02, 2015, 09:29:38 PM
Ok bit of puzzler here now. I just put the Peco boiler together as per instructions,the tap is not leaking but water is dripping out through the black plastic element pin housing ???
Gonna state the obvious here but DO NOT PLUG IT IN. If its new send it back and give out feckin stink.
I emptied it out completely and did not chance plugging it in. It was received from a HBS here so i will be contacting them during the week to try to sort this out. ;D
However i do have a spare Charlie Shiels element that has never been used,just to confirm that the issue is with the Peco Element backplate i may swap it out with the CS element and see if that seals ok. ;D
Just swapped in my spare keg element(Charlie Shiels) and perfect seal first time with 27 litres cold tap water,so i reckon the backplate on the original element is porous and it will be going back. ;D
IF keeping the bag off the element is what you are aiming for perhaps a sheet of steel mesh could be used to box the element in
This caught my eye, i reckon you could make something handy enough out of this.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Stainless-Steel-Woven-Wire-Mesh-filter-grading-sheet-Metal-Silk-to-Heavy-Gauze-/111485649556?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=410481215038&hash=item19f5100294
Easiest is best for me,i will probably get the GEB as it is ready to drop in and use so no faffing about. ;D
I hear ya, i picked up a pizza tray today that fits my bucket prfectly... job done
I've just used the pizza plate for the first time and it's not as good a solution as I thought.
During the mash I wanted to up the temperature a little, and switched on again. But it seemed to be taking a long time to rise, and when I finally switched off it continued to rise - above the required range. I reckon that the plate trapped too much hot water under it and inhibited normal convection. Finally the heat spread to the mash and was too high.
I found an old colander at the back of a kitchen cupboard - I think I might go with that !
Did you stir while re-heating? I would say it was a combination of the grain bed and pizza tray. I brewed yesterday and it was fine with the tray in, but i am recirulating with a pump so wouldnt have that problem. Next brew try and stir the grain when you put the element back on
D'you know, I think I did stir. Not enough or deep enough perhaps.
What I did do is drill more holes in the pizza plate - about double what was there. I'll try that . Didn't like the fact that my colander would be in contact with the element.
Those extra holes did the trick. No trouble at all with managing the heat.
Good stuff. I am gonna drill a good few extra 6mm holes in mine as well, as the last brew i did i had an air lock and scortched my element. Thank god for bar keepers friend