100 litre pots

[Dronfieldbrewer]

Eh up,

I have run with a 50l boiler for a good while now, but since I have more fermentation space and now taken delivery of a few king kegs now is the time to upgrade to 100litres space in the boiler.

My dilema is that I have used 2 tesco kettle elements to great effect for the 50 litre, using both elements to get initialy to the boil, then letting it roll with 1 element. Would 2 elements be enough for the bigger boiler or do I grasp the nettle and go for gas.

My thoughts are that if I insulate the boiler as much as possible, I might just get away with using both kettle elements

What are your thoughts??

 

[markp]

My boiler is a 70 litre (or is it 80 :wha: ) thermopot.
It is fitted with a 3.2kw pigtail element.......my usual brew length is 40 litres, so usually 50 litres thereabouts at the start of the boil.
It takes a while to get up to temperature sometimes, but manages a good rolling boil.

If I was using a 100 litre boiler, I'd want two pigtails in there and would switch one off when the wort came to the boil. That or gas.

The pigtail elements only require one small hole punching through for fitting as well.

Hope that is of some help to you.

 

[shocker]

As a (hopefully) humourous aside....I keep pigs and have had many breed - their tails are rarely very curly at all .But they do use them,along with their ears as an indication of mood ,much like a dog but more so....but without the wagging......

,,,back on planet earth,when you say "pigtail" do you mean the type of element found in those small ,wall mount instant hot water heaters ? Or an immersion heater type ? I am only now getting to follow all this stuff and would be grateful to know :pray:

 

[Shrek]

If they are only 2200W elements it is going to take a long time to get to the boil near on double what it takes for 50l and you are going to lose a lot in evaporation. If you can find some bigger elements or fit 2 more and run some more extension leads from the house just to get it boiling you should be ok. Not sure what the circuits in your house are like. The other option might be to use some immersion heaters like you would find in a hot water tank as these are a bit more powerful than kettle elements. Only problem might be attaching it to your boiler?

 

[Aleman]

Insulation is your friend

 

[46.philh]

Thinking of moving up Rob....

Just got for the beast...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220873962441#ht_805wt_1185

I take it with 3.2kw you would need a dedicated supply ?

 

[graysalchemy]

Pity they don't do 100l themo pots. I know they do 80l but I don't think they do 100l.

 

[shocker]

Ohms law puts you just over the 13 ,as I read it,at 240v you are 13.3rec A.

So a dedicated spur would be best if you can do it .

 

[Dronfieldbrewer]

Thinking of moving up Rob....

Just got for the beast...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220873962441#ht_805wt_1185

I take it with 3.2kw you would need a dedicated supply ?

Cough cough!! http://www.tanksandvessels.com/product/578.aspx on santas list!!!

 

[Dronfieldbrewer]

Joking asside,

thanks for your help, I just don't want to Qmax cutter a new 100l pot to find that I would be better off shoving a burner underneath.

Also I am a bit reluctant to use gas in the garage, lots of stuff to burn!! or I could boil outside but its getting cold

I just wondered if anyone else was using kettle elements on a big nasty 100litre pot.

The pot will be here soon anyway so will make the decision when it gets here

 

[Dronfieldbrewer]

Insulation is your friend

Isn't it just..Wow what a difference. Usually I insulate the Mashtun with a few extra blankets, after you said that this was my friend I thought what happens if I insulate the boiler??

Wrapped a couple of blankets, doing a 30 litre brew length, both elements on. The wort went into the boiler at 60 degrees ish. 15 mins later I have got 38 litres bouncing around and the boiler is rocking with it.

even with 1 element the boil is violent, 1 blanket off and rolling boil.

I thank you oh great one for that comment. I am putting 2 elements into the 100 litre boiler when it arrives and insulating the thing to buggery.

This is going to save loads of time waiting to get it to the boil and more importantly save a few pennies