GF Sparge Water Heater As BIAB Mash Kettle

[KiaOraBrew]

Does anyone use Grainfather Sparge Water Heater as an electric mash kettle for BIAB/Partial Mash brewing? Any down sides to this? I know it only holds 18L which is a bit of a downer but has anyone else used one like this?

 

[KiaOraBrew]

ScrewFix also do this heater which only hits a max of 98 degrees C which I guess wouldn't hit a solid rolling boil but decent for £85??

https://www.screwfix.com/p/cygnet-444440352-manual-fill-water-boiler-20ltr/983fh

 

[Gerryjo]

Check out Ebay for the 30L version though will boil 28L as I use one myself and the fact that you can actually regulate your mash and mine has yet to cut out on the boil.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Burco-Cy...-Catering-Boiler-Stainless-Steel/162151160078

 

[KiaOraBrew]

Check out Ebay for the 30L version though will boil 28L as I use one myself and the fact that you can actually regulate your mash and mine has yet to cut out on the boil.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Burco-Cy...-Catering-Boiler-Stainless-Steel/162151160078

Sounds like a plan. Might chuck a weldless ball valve on it and ditch the tap

 

[Bigcol49]

Sounds like a plan. Might chuck a weldless ball valve on it and ditch the tap

Hi!
Have a look at this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35-Litre...trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&redirect=mobile
I use it as a HLT - I added a ball valve.

 

[KiaOraBrew]

Hi!
Have a look at this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35-Litre...trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&redirect=mobile
I use it as a HLT - I added a ball valve.

Is it difficult to add a ball valve or does it just sit in the tap hole nicely?

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi!
The hole will not be large enough (or it may be a different shape).
The 20 litre tea urn had a built-in sight glass that meant it was impossible to remove the tap, so I simply cut a new hole in a different position.
On the Buffalo boiler that I recently acquired I removed the tap and enlarged the hole to take a ball valve.
I used a Q-Max cutter which proved remarkably straightforward to use; you drill a pilot hole and the Q-Max punches out a perfect, neat circular hole.
I bought a drill bit that could cut through stainless steel to make the pilot hole.
There's a video clip here - this chap is enlarging an existing hole.

 

[KiaOraBrew]

Hi!
The hole will not be large enough (or it may be a different shape).
The 20 litre tea urn had a built-in sight glass that meant it was impossible to remove the tap, so I simply cut a new hole in a different position.
On the Buffalo boiler that I recently acquired I removed the tap and enlarged the hole to take a ball valve.
I used a Q-Max cutter which proved remarkably straightforward to use; you drill a pilot hole and the Q-Max punches out a perfect, neat circular hole.
I bought a drill bit that could cut through stainless steel to make the pilot hole.
There's a video clip here - this chap is enlarging an existing hole.

I read in the reviews for the Burco Sygnet boiler that a ball valve fits the hole perfectly without needing to cut anything

 

[Bigcol49]

I read in the reviews for the Burco Sygnet boiler that a ball valve fits the hole perfectly without needing to cut anything

Hi!
This is a still from a You Tube video about fitting a ball valve to a Cygnet boiler.
As you can see, the hole is not circular.

The full video is here:

 

[BeerCat]

Hi!
This is a still from a You Tube video about fitting a ball valve to a Cygnet boiler.
As you can see, the hole is not circular.
View attachment 16524
The full video is here:

I used a sandstone drill bit to enlarge mine. Took a few seconds.

 

[Bigcol49]

I used a sandstone drill bit to enlarge mine

Ooooh! Matron!

Seriously, that seems the simpler option.

 

[KiaOraBrew]

Has anyone fit an aftermarket thermostat to one of these pots and ditched the dial? Like an Inkbird?

 

[Bigcol49]

Has anyone fit an aftermarket thermostat to one of these pots and ditched the dia? Like an Inkbird?

Hi!
I cut a hole with Q-Max and added a temperature probe, linked to a PID, but, of course, this could be linked to an Inkbird.
I didn't bother removing the thermostat - I simply keep the dial turned up to maximum. I only use it as an HLT.

 

[Saisonator]

The benefit of buying a Burco or Buffalo is spare parts are widely available and they are easy to work on.

 

[-Bezza-]

I read in the reviews for the Burco Sygnet boiler that a ball valve fits the hole perfectly without needing to cut anything

The tap I got fit through the hole (despite its odd shape) without cutting. I've then got silicone washers either side which effectively plug the gap. Pretty much as per the video BigCol linked.

 

[xozzx]

Has anyone fit an aftermarket thermostat to one of these pots and ditched the dial? Like an Inkbird?

I bought a SS brewtech brewbucket thermowell and drilled a hole in the side of the sparge water heater and use an inkbird controller. Works great as Im pretty sure the dial is way off.

I used one of these to drill the hole https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13mm-100...var=512501362278&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 was very easy and made a nice clean hole, I didnt even need to file it down afterwards.

 

[KiaOraBrew]

The tap I got fit through the hole (despite its odd shape) without cutting. I've then got silicone washers either side which effectively plug the gap. Pretty much as per the video BigCol linked.

This is what I'm planning on doing I think. Cheers

 

[KiaOraBrew]

I bought a SS brewtech brewbucket thermowell and drilled a hole in the side of the sparge water heater and use an inkbird controller. Works great as Im pretty sure the dial is way off.

I used one of these to drill the hole https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13mm-100mm-Carbide-Tip-TCT-Drill-Bit-Hole-Saw-For-Stainless-Steel-Metal-Alloy-UK/323440051238?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&var=512501362278&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 was very easy and made a nice clean hole, I didnt even need to file it down afterwards.

Do you just set the dial to max and let the Inkbird control the temperature/power cut off?

 

[Gerryjo]

Has anyone fit an aftermarket thermostat to one of these pots and ditched the dial? Like an Inkbird?

Just step in 1/2 turn increments and read with a calibrated thermometer and mark on the dial.
Burco do list temperature readings for their stat.

 

[-Bezza-]

Has anyone fit an aftermarket thermostat to one of these pots and ditched the dial? Like an Inkbird?

There's no need to ditch the dial - just crank it up to max and use the external controller to deal with the temperature.

I used a non-PID inkbird controller on a brew and it was wildly inaccurate. You can see a plot of the temps here:

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/bezzas-brewdays.78208/#post-781976

That said, I have beer and it tastes ok.