Boiler min capacity

[Ciaran12s]

I've tried searching all ways and can't get much of a conclusion. Most search results end with Americans worried that they're huge big cheap boilers are too large!!!!!

I'm currently putting a three vessel all grain setup together. I have a 33 litre fermenting vessel for converting to a boiler. What's the maximum volume of wort I should try to boil in this?
I'm looking at 23 litre brews "cos that's the norm" and I'm happy enough with that size. It's working out ok for me currently in regards to building a stock

With regards to boil over and losses etc I'm clueless currently. Say for example I'm recommended a 25 litre maximum boil resulting in a 20litre wort, is it cool to then top up with tap water to 23 litres resulting in the correct IBU/OG.

Or is say 29 litres with a 6 litre loss fine to do in a 33 litre Boiler?

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[Spapro]

I've tried searching all ways and can't get much of a conclusion. Most search results end with Americans worried that they're huge big cheap boilers are too large!!!!!

I'm currently putting a three vessel all grain setup together. I have a 33 litre fermenting vessel for converting to a boiler. What's the maximum volume of wort I should try to boil in this?
I'm looking at 23 litre brews "cos that's the norm" and I'm happy enough with that size. It's working out ok for me currently in regards to building a stock

With regards to boil over and losses etc I'm clueless currently. Say for example I'm recommended a 25 litre maximum boil resulting in a 20litre wort, is it cool to then top up with tap water to 23 litres resulting in the correct IBU/OG.

Or is say 29 litres with a 6 litre loss fine to do in a 33 litre Boiler?

Thanks in advance for your help

I had a Peco boiler, which I think was 33l capacity to brim, and was ok for doing 23l brewlengths (BIAB) but I did use a spare FV for sparged wort and adding that to the boiler as the boil progressed and some original mashed wort was boiled off.

The max wort you can have boiling in a 33l capacity boiler is around 27-28l safely to avoid boilovers.

Since upgraded to a 50l stainless pot from maltmiller and its much easier and safer for 23l brewlengths as you can start with your 32-34litres of wort and boiloff to 26-27litres or whatever (to get 23l in your FV allowing for hop debris/trub) without messing with seperate sparged wort vessels.

Plenty on here use 30litre boilers for 23l brewlengths so it definately can be done - easier with a bigger pot though for sure.

 

[Ciaran12s]

Thanks for the advice!

If I go with the 33l I'll need to replace it anyway so maybe better spending the extra tenner just now for the 60. That way there's no worrying about it and I can expand down the line if needs be.

 

[simon12]

You can hold some wort back and add it half way through the boil as it boils off.

 

[Ciaran12s]

I wasn't sure if that'd be ok or if the entire wort required the full boil time