Brew system pics

[one_dead_soul]

What's the black plastic thing hanging off the side of your kettle? Electric heater?

yeah.. its off a electric deep fryer. it does a good job at keeping it at a boil. the stove wont

[11amas]

Is that like the bucket heaters I have seen? I wonder about the wattages in comparison. They are very interesting...electric HLT you can cover and start hours prior to brewing on a controller; that would be nice.

[andy77]

Is that like the bucket heaters I have seen? I wonder about the wattages in comparison. They are very interesting...electric HLT you can cover and start hours prior to brewing on a controller; that would be nice.

That's what I'm thinking. Take this bad boy. http://www.amazon.com/Presto-05466-Stainless-Steel-Dual-Basket-Immersion-Element/dp/B000HEBAV2/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1258081091&sr=8-13 It's an 1800 watt heating element that's adjustable. That ought to be enough to heat 4 gallons of sparge water during setup and the mash. I'm sort of bad on the math to calculate that, though. Deal_soul, are you using the element to supplement your stove or in leiu of? If so, how long to 170?

Less than half the price on this item. 400 watt difference, but might be worth it if you're only using it for hot liquor, not boiling. http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/brewing-equipment/burners/electric-brew-heater-11.html

[Blowmax10]

That electric brew heater from Northern Brewer is nice but there is no way I could power it out in my garage

couldn't you just rig up a electric water heating element much cheaper?

[andy77]

Yes, but that requires wiring something I'd be getting wet. My wife made me promise not to kill myself in any brewing related activities. Pre-fab is the way to go for me.

[one_dead_soul]

it was basicly this. http://www.shopzilla.es/masterbuilt-etf ... 77441/shop not the same one but close enough. i believe it is 1500 watts and i use it with the stove to get it to temp and then i just use that. its just strong enough to keep 6, 6-1/2 gallons at a low boil. with the stove it takes between 30-45 minutes depending on water temp. sometime longer. ( in the winter my water can be in the low 40s). i got it for free off a guy i work with. he didn't use it anymore becouse the aluminam pot started getting a bunch of holes in it.

An electric water heater element is alot cheaper. i got one. just havn't put it in yet. i believe it was like $12 for a 1500watts at home depot. you can buy a stainless nut online that will screw on the end for the inside of the pot. it will be as easly to install as any weldless fitting. you can just wire that to a ranco controller and you would be on your way. i'm gonna put it on a timer as well so it start about an hour befor i get out of work ( i guess that depends on the amount of water im doing) so when i get home it will be set to go. that will cut i bunch of time off the day.

[andy77]

Thanks for the info. The timer is a good idea.

I guess the next step after that is to put all your grain and hops in automated hoppers, automate your valves, pump and burners, interface the whole thing with Promash and you could brew from work. Maybe that's the iPhone app Jamil's working on.

[Blowmax10]

Maybe that's the iPhone app Jamil's working on.

now that's funny!