Experienced Brewers Advice Please

[richieh]

I use this in my kettle http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HE4830-4ft-3000-watt-3-Kilowatt-DRY-ROD-HEATING-ELEMENT-/130404428907?pt=UK_BOI_Restaurant_RL&hash=item1e5cb5ac6b

I simply coiled it in to shape, it works very well. It's more than enough for a very vigorous 45L boil. There are lower wattage elements if you are planning a smaller boiler. A benefit (especially if you're converting a keg) is that you only have to drill a 3/8 inch (or so) hole, rather than the large hole like for an argos kettle element. I know the lads are worried about an element blowing, but I've been using my boiler heavily for years and I've had no issue at all.

Anyway there you go, no one ever mentions these elements but they're awesome.

[Dr Jacoby]

Anyway there you go, no one ever mentions these elements but they're awesome.

I mention them! And I also think they're awesome. Another aspect of their awesomeness is their ability to handle massive beers in the 1.085+ range.

[Ciderhead]

Will D and Dempsey also mention them...a lot
You would probably need to regulate the voltage though as 3 kw would be too much for a rolling boil how do you get around that Richie?

[Shane Phelan]

If those elements can be run dry is there anything stopping me putting one directly into a mash, say 8' of 2500W for example?

[Ciderhead]

why are you decocting?
Dempsey has his on the underside of his boiler in direct contact with the base.

[Dr Jacoby]

You'd run the risk of scorching the starchy wort. Even if you had a false bottom this would be a danger. You'd probably need to circulate the mash liquor using a pump

[Shane Phelan]

My original idea was for temperature regulation but I could heat the strike water in there too if I had enough power.

There must be some sort of power density below which it wont scorch. Say I got two 8' 1000W elements although there probably wouldn't be any room left for grain after that.....

[Dr Jacoby]

You would probably need to regulate the voltage though as 3 kw would be too much for a rolling boil

Not on my set-up. 3kw is perfect. In fact I sometimes wish I had more juice towards the end of the boil when I put in the wort chiller to sanitise it. It normaly takes a few minutes to return to a decent rolling boil.

[Dr Jacoby]

My original idea was for temperature regulation but I could heat the strike water in there too if I had enough power.

There must be some sort of power density below which it wont scorch. Say I got two 8' 1000W elements although there probably wouldn't be any room left for grain after that.....

I'm sure you're right about the power density issue but I've no idea at what point it's safe to directly heat mash liquor. The main reason I was looking into the steam injection system for step mashing was that it doesn't risk scorching the grain.

A HERMS system would also do the trick, but it's a little more involved, but not much.

[Jon.Martin]

[/quote]

Not on my set-up. 3kw is perfect. In fact I sometimes wish I had more juice towards the end of the boil when I put in the wort chiller to sanitise it. It normaly takes a few minutes to return to a decent rolling boil.
[/quote]

Heating up the wort chiller first will reduce the thermal shock of inserting a cold lump of copper into the boil. Rolling boil will come back to you a bit quicker imo