Electrical Help

[Mossy]

Hi, I managed to set up my keggle over the weekend for it's first test boil. For the most part it went well, boiled up OK and only a small leak that I'm not too worried about.
I used a regulator (picture attached) but after letting it run for about the 20 minutes the regulator and the plug in the wall got extremely hot.
No fuses blew or anything but I'd be wary about turning it on again. I know absolutely nothing about electrics so if anyone has any advice I'd be vary grateful cos there a good chance I'll zap myself.
I'm using a Camco 240v 5500w Element and a standard plug and lead from the hardware store. The regulator is a '4000W AC110V 220V SCR Silicon Controlled Electronic Volt Regulator' that I got from Amazon.
Cheers.

[delzep]

5.5kW draws a load of about 25 amps and your circuit is probably rated at 13 amps so it's way overloaded

[Shanna]

Hi, I managed to set up my keggle over the weekend for it's first test boil. For the most part it went well, boiled up OK and only a small leak that I'm not too worried about.
I used a regulator (picture attached) but after letting it run for about the 20 minutes the regulator and the plug in the wall got extremely hot.
No fuses blew or anything but I'd be wary about turning it on again. I know absolutely nothing about electrics so if anyone has any advice I'd be vary grateful cos there a good chance I'll zap myself.
I'm using a Camco 240v 5500w Element and a standard plug and lead from the hardware store. The regulator is a '4000W AC110V 220V SCR Silicon Controlled Electronic Volt Regulator' that I got from Amazon.
Cheers.

Your going to overload the electrics and likely cause a fire. The cabling & fuses your using need to be thick enough & rated high enough to deal with the load. The regulator your using is not rated high enough for your 5.5kw heating element as it 5.5kw = 5500 w > 4000 w.

I have one of those camco heating element in my Hlt & my brother (electrician) installed a dedicated 26amp fuse with a specialised commando type socket & lead. Your standard 13amp fuse , socket & cabling won't cut it. In short I would advise you to get an electrician to wire something proper up for you.

Shanna

[Mossy]

Thanks Delzep and Shanna, something to work off. Think it's time I opened the yellow pages and just get someone else to do it.

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

At just about every level this is wrong, the socket and plug top are rated at best for 3000w, the cable is probably rated at 1500w, the regulator is rated at 4000w and the element is rated at 5500w. Put simply since the element is 5500w everything else must be rated at least at the same rating, and ideally should be rated higher, you will need to replace everything or use a lower wattage heater. Plus the exposed electrical connections are extremely dangerous you could kill anyone who comes into contact with them. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

[Will_D]

A big plus one on what the Sorcerer said!

To all newcomers who are not sure what you are doing:

Please Ask First!

Homebrewing uses a few dangerous things that may kill you or blow up the house:

Electricity
Propane/Butane Gas
Kegs and Gas bottles
And not to forget the chemicals that some people use

There is enough good knowledge on this site to keep us all safe

So stay safe, ask first (will probably save you money as well)

[Mossy]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I may have bitten off more than I can chew.
I'll take a step back, have a beer and get someone else who knows what they're doing to have a look.
I've taken everything apart now, one step forward and two steps back but I'd much rather it was done properly.

I better get some delicious beer at the end of this.

[johnrm]

Hey Mossy, I echo what Will says, but you have knowledge enough to put your kit together without a big bang, so good on you!

[Shanna]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I may have bitten off more than I can chew.
I'll take a step back, have a beer and get someone else who knows what they're doing to have a look.
I've taken everything apart now, one step forward and two steps back but I'd much rather it was done properly.

I better get some delicious beer at the end of this.

Glad to hear your going to get an electrician to sort this out. Just as an aside not sure whether or not you have a three vessel system or not? If you don't I would consider getting a 2nd one of those regulators and get a pair of them wired up side by side to control a pair of lower wattage heating elements (2.5kw rather than the 5.5KW camco). Rather than trying to use a 5.5KW heating element in your boiler I would advise that you instead use this element for a HLT. This element can get about 50 litres of cold water up to up to strike temperature in about an hour. Two smaller 2.5kw elements could then be used in conjunction with a pair of regulators to give you greater control in your boil kettle. This is how I have my own system designed and in the main it works well.

Shanna

[molc]

I popped a second 2.5kw element in my boiler and haven't looked back. Use use the two of them to boost to the boil, then turn off one to keep the boil rolling after hot break. On the domestic power circuit it's about as far as I think I can push things

[johnrm]

If possible you can lighten the load on your domestic wiring by running them through different circuits.

[molc]

If possible you can lighten the load on your domestic wiring by running them through different circuits.

Yeah, right now I'm using two different sockets but I think they're on the same circuit as it's the same room. I'll look at the breaker box again and see is there a separate plug circuit that I can run a extension lead from for one of the elements.

It's the spare kitchen (don't ask), so there's a 30A circuit in the room as well. Thinking I might wire in two heavy duty plugs to that circuit or even a second 30A circuit to run it off long term.