National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Equipment & Chemicals => Topic started by: darren996 on September 02, 2015, 11:08:56 AM

Title: Bendy Elements
Post by: darren996 on September 02, 2015, 11:08:56 AM
Hi folks

I am looking to purchase a 2.5kw bendy rod element approx 8ft long.  I see a few members here are using them.  The only place I can find them is from cateringparts in the uk, but the shipping on them is 34 euro, so I am looking at nearly a 100 bucks with element + postage + sealing glands.

Anyone know of any other sources

Thanks

Darren
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: Jacob on September 02, 2015, 11:21:50 AM
(http://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/64306373.jpg)

:P
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: darren996 on September 02, 2015, 11:44:43 AM
Cheers Jacob

These are 8ft long elements, so not sure how parcel motel will handle something like this.
I am not sure how they are packaged.

Can anyone comment on how they received theirs, what the package size was ?

I contact cateringparts and see how these are shipped out.
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: Jacob on September 02, 2015, 11:58:18 AM
Missed '8ft' part, but think that u can still use them.
In case of 'oversized' parcels, you'll probably have to collect it from their depot in Finglas and will pay bit more.
Ask retailer about parcel size and then check the price with PM.
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: Garry on September 02, 2015, 12:08:30 PM
The delivery is expensive. I just paid it but I got 2 elements. In fairness to them, it was delivered the following day by Fedex in a cardboard tube.

You could set-up a mini group buy to share the delivery? You'd fit a good few elements into the tube.

Don't forget to order the compression fittings too (2 required per element). They don't come as standard.
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: darren996 on September 02, 2015, 01:05:20 PM
Thanks lads.. so they come in a tube, pmotel is out so.

@Garry - how are your elements fairing? Are they hard to keep clean. Would you recommend them?
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: Garry on September 02, 2015, 01:29:42 PM
I've had mine a few years now and can't fault them.

The water here is very hard so I get limescale on the elements. A soak in W5 Oxi at the end of brewday usually does the job. If it doesn't,  a soak in citric acid and boiling water shifts it (about 2 to 3 teaspoons per litre). No scrubbing necessary.
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: darren996 on September 02, 2015, 01:56:29 PM
Thanks Garry
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: Will_D on September 03, 2015, 10:35:08 PM
I bought mine from Radionics ( ie Radio Spares in Dublin ): 3 off 8' 6" elements ( 3 kw or so ) for €80 ish and delivery was only €5

Check them out

Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: darren996 on September 06, 2015, 01:58:10 PM
Thanks Will I give them a shot
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: Eoin on September 06, 2015, 02:39:02 PM
Parcel motel will charge you for volumetric weight, it could get very expensive for an 8 foot tube.
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: Will_D on September 06, 2015, 07:00:01 PM
Quote from: Eoin on September 06, 2015, 02:39:02 PM
Parcel motel will charge you for volumetric weight, it could get very expensive for an 8 foot tube.
Indeed they will so just buy them from Dublin South (Radionics)
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: darren996 on September 06, 2015, 07:08:42 PM
Quote from: Will_D on September 03, 2015, 10:35:08 PM
I bought mine from Radionics ( ie Radio Spares in Dublin ): 3 off 8' 6" elements ( 3 kw or so ) for €80 ish and delivery was only €5

Check them out

So, I had a quick look there on radionics, they are 30 sterling for a pack of 3 on the uk site, but for the same item number (72400210) on the Irish site they are 218 euro. I will give them a bell to during the week about them see why there is such a huge difference in the price.

@Will_D, do you use yours in a boil kettle, how do they fair with wort and cleaning ?
Title: Bendy Elements
Post by: pob on September 06, 2015, 07:24:02 PM
If you put them into the Cart, the price is £92.67 for a pack of 3; £30.89ea, packed in 3s.

I would have bought some if they were at the £30 price.

I'd say the .ie price has the usual markup (on every conversion, VAT & duty rate we can think of) from UK to Irish sites.
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: Will_D on September 06, 2015, 07:28:10 PM
Quote from: darren996 on September 06, 2015, 07:08:42 PM
@Will_D, do you use yours in a boil kettle, how do they fair with wort and cleaning ?

Never used them yet! Mr Dempsey used one as an external heat source on a keggle.

As they are low desnity elements and they should not scorch wort anything like a domestic kettle element. They are even safe for "no liquid contact" type applications.

They do seem to have shot up in price tho'
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: darren996 on September 06, 2015, 07:46:34 PM
Yeah they would be a good buy at 30 pound mark but at the ie price they are off the cards for me..
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: armedcor on September 06, 2015, 07:48:06 PM
Would you go for something like the brewpi element.
https://store.brewpi.com/mashing/heating-elements/stainless-steel-foldback-heating-element-2800w-27cm

Stainless steel probably super easy to clean/maintain
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: darren996 on September 06, 2015, 10:40:58 PM
Yeah they look the biz but i want to keep the power to 2.5kw and its going into a thermopot. The bendys require two small holes and give me options to mess around with my setup
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: darren996 on September 07, 2015, 01:56:38 PM
was having a look around and came across these guys on amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silver-Thread-Electric-Heating-Heater/dp/B00E0KHJRI/ref=sr_1_38?s=kitchen-appliances&ie=UTF8&qid=1441629630&sr=1-38&keywords=stainless+steel+2.5kw+element

Looks like they will do the job and have the sealing glands and they are stainless.  Only thing is that the terminals will have to go through the bottom instead of the side of the pot like the braumeister,but the thermo pot I am putting it into has lip on the end so I should be able to box it in.
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: PCBrewer on December 10, 2015, 12:01:22 PM
I am thinking of ordering the 3kw version of these (actually cheaper than the 2.5kw)

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/tank-heaters/2001285/ (http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/tank-heaters/2001285/)

What fittings do I need to install these in a keggle? Or has anyone ever used these and can provide some advice on installation?

Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: Garry on December 10, 2015, 12:34:10 PM
That's a good price. These (http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/brass-copper-compression-fittings/2314806/) fittings should do the trick.
Title: Re: Bendy Elements
Post by: PCBrewer on December 10, 2015, 12:48:42 PM
Are these elements the best job for a keggle build or can anyone advice anything better?

I would like to build both a HLT and boil kettle using similar elements.

What sort of kW should I be looking at to give a reasonable quick heating time and provide a good rolling boil?