Can't Get Peco Boiler To A Rolling Boil.

[Greg2013]

How long a lead was it on?

Probably 10-12 feet from socket to element at most,i see where you are heading with that thought but i should point out first that a single 2KW element in my SS keggle has no problems boiling 25 litres. Also i did think of that and tried the setup in my kitchen with just the lead that came with it plugged into a wall socket,no extension,still could not get above 96.5C and nowhere near a boil.

[Leann ull]

we had this problem when a couple of us were drawing off house line on a mini brewday, try a different socket

[johnrm]

Assuming your electricity isn't 'different' then maybe the element is dodge.
As the big fella says, try another socket, or in a mates house.

[Leann ull]

Big fella! qui moi? Steady on there Kermit

[Greg2013]

I hear ye guys and i will try all the sockets in the kitchen but i am the only one here,there is nobody else drawing electric here but me on any given day,and tbh the sockets i used to test this Peco boiler are the same sockets i use to run my keg HLT and kettle,never had an issue with them.

The thing i find curious is that when i used the CS 2kw element to test the boiler while i was waiting for a replacement original,well the CS 2kw was every bit as effective as the 2.4kw peco element,it still did not boil the 25 litres but the 2.4kw peco was no better and it should have been with an extra 0.4kw i would have thought.

I love the idea of the peco setup,so much easier for me to handle atm,i love the idea of a single vessel biab setup going forward,i got tired of the 3v big heavy keg setup and this was going to be my way of staying brewing but smaller and easier to handle,but feck me if i can't get it to boil 25 litres of water i am screwed.

[Greg2013]

The only thing that did occur to me is would the boil be more effective with actual wort than water given the higher viscosity of the wort ?

[Frequent Sequence]

The viscosity has very little impact and in fact wort boils at a higher temp than h2o. The exact temp depends on the gravity.
While coming up to a boil I leave the lid on. I take it off when I come to a boil.
I insulate my boiler as needed while boiling, including underneath. I also boil inside. Could the cold wind be evaporating enough to drop your temps?

[Greg2013]

The viscosity has very little impact and in fact wort boils at a higher temp than h2o. The exact temp depends on the gravity.
While coming up to a boil I leave the lid on. I take it off when I come to a boil.
I insulate my boiler as needed while boiling, including underneath. I also boil inside. Could the cold wind be evaporating enough to drop your temps?

That is a possibility with the wind yes except the Peco also has the same issue in my kitchen so in this case the wind is not causing the drop in temp,and to be quite honest unless it was blowing a gale with only 25 litres of water in there it should have no issue reaching a rolling boil. As to the viscosity of the wort i wasn't referring to the boiling point,the more viscous the liquid the easier and longer it retains heat,so if heat dissipation was an issue would the more viscous wort retain the heat better ?  

Also you shouldn't leave your lid on at any stage of boiling,however i did try that but as soon as i removed it the Peco boiler went off th boil again,besides that defeats the whole purpose of it being an "out of the box" boiler for wort.

[johnrm]

I think you should have a word with your supplier.

[Garry]

Get yourself a bucket heater to supplement the other element to the boil. Once boiling, one element will be fine.

[Bazza]

No harm Greg but I had a peco boiler and it was a pile of shite. First element cut out at 80 degrees. The replacement element cut out over 90. Hopeless. In the end I stuck a cheapo Tesco kettle element in the thing and No probs after that. The hbc I bought if off subsequently advertised it to be used as a hlt only.

- Barry

[armedcor]

Sounds like a series of bad luck. I bought one and it worked perfectly. As have others.

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Greg I'd check the resistance of the element if you have access to a multi-meter?
A 2.4 kW element should have a resistance around 22 ohms , and a 2kw element should have a resistance of around 27 ohms,
Sometimes elements are rated at 240 volts (UK Voltage) ie 2.4 kW @ 240v which will give out less power at our 230v

[Greg2013]

I think you should have a word with your supplier.

Oh they are already aware,waiting on a few more tests to see what the story is but not a happy camper as of now

No harm Greg but I had a peco boiler and it was a pile of shite. First element cut out at 80 degrees. The replacement element cut out over 90. Hopeless. In the end I stuck a cheapo Tesco kettle element in the thing and No probs after that. The hbc I bought if off subsequently advertised it to be used as a hlt only.

- Barry

Bazzza right now it looks like i am heading the same direction as you which pisses me off as i should not have to go messing around with it at all.


"The boiler has a 32 litre capacity, and is fitted with a 2.4Kw element in the base.  A tap is fitted to ease the emptying and sparging processes. Boiler lead is included. Perfect for the all grain and extract brewer. Keeps a constant boil. Comes with hop strainer."

Kinda defeats the whole purpose if i have to go faffing around insulating and changing or adding elemenets with this yoke to get it to boil,the whole idea was to get a simpler more mobile single vessel setup. Ye can see the highlighted section above am i wrong to expect it to do what it says it can ?

Get yourself a bucket heater to supplement the other element to the boil. Once boiling, one element will be fine.

I hear you Garry but why should i have to ? It's supposed to do the job as is after all.


Guys i appreciate all the suggestions but if it doesn't work after the next couple tests it is going back and i will just wait until i build my own similar setup that i know will work,and here was me thinking jaysus this will be handy.

[johnrm]

Have it replaced by your supplier.