Copper Immersion chiller

[Daveg]

I'm just in the middle of moving my all-grain gear into my shed. I've got everything in place pretty much and now I'm just planning my plumbing.
Up to now I've been putting my immersion chiller into my boiler 15-20 minutes before the end of the boil as you do, but would there be any problems leaving it in for the full 90 minutes? My shed isn't massive so It's bit tight for space and the less messing about the better.
I've read about copper being poison in large amounts and the yeast utilising the copper dissolved in the wort but I take it that's just for the 25 minutes or so that it's sterilizing and cooling. Would 90 minutes be pushing it a bit?

 

[PD]

might cut down the space the hops have to circulate, and effect the boil...dont know is the answer from me, never tried it

 

[bobsbeer]

I don't know scientifically, but as they used to boil in 'coppers' and as far as I know no one died from copper poisoning, I would say you will be fine putting the chiller in for the 90 mins.

 

[NickW]

A lot of people, including me, have copper hop strainers in both the boiler and mashtun... I've got No problems :thumb:

 

[Daveg]

I never thought about the hops, I use a hop spider contraption with a nylon bag so the chiller would get in the way of that I suppose. I usually take the hops out as I put the chiller in. My chiller is a double coil so there's quite a bit of copper in the wort. Perhaps I could come up with some way of raising and lowering the chiller thus utilising the space better. All good fun. Thanks for the replies.

 

[jonnymorris]

...but as they used to boil in 'coppers'...

Sounds like a reasonable argument for leaving your chiller in your boiler to me.

 

[dennisking]

The copper might get very hot, mine gets fairly warm after 15mins.

 

[Daveg]

That's a good point. I'm going to put my idea to rest I think and carry on as I was.