I currently do boils in a 36 liter kettle on a normal electric hob, and it's a rather unpleasant experience. If anyone here is looking to sell an electric brew kettle with a thermostat (or even without if the price is right) I'd be interested. If you'd like, I could trade the 36 liter kettle (with ball valve) + some cash for it, depending on the specs.
I usually brew in a bag, thus the interest in a thermostat so I can do mashes in it as well.
Forgot to add, I'm in central Dublin.
What type of kettle is it? Could it be adapted to add 2 x tesco elements to it? Then treat it as same as heated by hob.
For (BIAB) mashing you just need to monitor the water as it heats up & turn off once mash-in temp is reached. You could use an STC to drive one of the elements if you wanted step mashes (remember only one element on the STC, as they tend to be only rated at 10A).
* The small print: Remember for all electrical issues, unless you are 100% confident & competent with it, get professional advice. The smallest mistake can have very serious consequences.
Good insulation around kettle (& underneath and lid) will hold mash temp steady over the 60 mins. A stir every 15 mins or so, with a heat boost if needed, works fine.
Then back to your usual routine for brewing then.
+1 on pob.
Fit out your Kettle, then get a custom Bag from Eoin at custombiab.com
He'll make sure the bag is not sitting on the elements.
+1 on custombiab build quality, they are the DB's and bulletproof.
If you use relays on each element you could use the STC to switch both relays/elements at the same time giving you full control.
Yeah Pob relays!! :'(;D
You can also buy a 30A STC
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/30A-220V-Digital-Temperature-Controller-Thermocouple-40-to-120-w-Sensor-UK-/141125965709?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item20dbc3578d
UK seller, cheaper ones from China
Only problem is you would need a fixed power connection like you have on your cooker. A standard 13A fuse aint going to cut it. Using the relays you can run one element off say near side of kitchen loop and the other off far side loop. (My kitchen supply on two different loops from fuse box)
Hindsight is wonderful with them STCs, it's a fancy looking digital thermometer now.
Quote from: Brew_for_Buttons on January 28, 2014, 10:51:41 PM
Only problem is you would need a fixed power connection like you have on your cooker.
Wot no dedicated 45A feed to the garage... :o
I wish, definitely on list of things to do but not for a while. Have to make what I have work for me at the moment.
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Quote from: bikerbrewer on January 28, 2014, 10:05:38 PM
I currently do boils in a 36 liter kettle on a normal electric hob, and it's a rather unpleasant experience. If anyone here is looking to sell an electric brew kettle with a thermostat (or even without if the price is right) I'd be interested. If you'd like, I could trade the 36 liter kettle (with ball valve) + some cash for it, depending on the specs.
I usually brew in a bag, thus the interest in a thermostat so I can do mashes in it as well.
Does your kettle have an internal element? a 2.5/2.7 Kw element + your electric hob would make your heating and boil a whole lot better.
You dont want a thermostatic cut out. Just get a temp probe with an alarm.
Thanks for the input everyone,
The kettle is just a large metal pot with a ball valve; similar to this: http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/3/image/800x600/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_645.jpg.
It's great for what it is, and if I were using gas it would be perfect, but an electric setup is looking a lot simpler these days...
I completely understand the importance of not fooling around with regards to wiring! Otherwise I'd be thinking about just making a heat stick, but it just seems too easy to kill yourself.
I really like the idea of a self-contained unit that doesn't monopolize the hob; something like this: http://www.hopandgrape.co.uk/public/detailv1.asp?itemcode=ELE20174643. As far as just unplugging at a certain temperature, that's not a terrible option, but it would be nice to just set a temp and leave it be for an hour instead of babysitting it. Of course, what would be ideal is a relay and thermometer attached to an Arduino so I could just program in step mashes, but that's more than I feel like dealing with for now.
I would *love* to have a heatstick! (would help as a brew day backup) A 2.5Kw element is sufficient for the amount of liquid you are boiling.
My 40L Buffalo only has a 2.5Kw element, and hits a good rolling boil, as long as I don't build up a lot of crud on the element (and the thermostat kicks in).
You dont need to replace your 36L vessel, but if you can get a 2.5Kw element, *and* use your hob, you will get great boils from it. Also lets you use your oven extractor fan for keeping the house missus friendly, and getting rid of DMS etc.