Cover For Element In Peco Bucket Boiler.

[pob]

Be careful with those pizza separators. They are often aluminium and Al. is not recommended fo0r a boiler

Aluminum Pot Pros and Cons

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.

[armedcor]

Thank you. Some of these myths really need to die out.

[Archsnapper]

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.

[Greg2013]

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 

[Drum]

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.

[darren996]

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

[Greg2013]

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.

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

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.

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.

[Greg2013]

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.

[darren996]

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

[Greg2013]

Easiest is best for me,i will probably get the GEB as it is ready to drop in and use so no faffing about.

[darren996]

I hear ya, i picked up a pizza tray today that fits my bucket prfectly... job done

[Archsnapper]

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 !

[darren996]

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

[Archsnapper]

D'you know, I think I did stir. Not enough or deep enough perhaps.

[Archsnapper]

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.