Insulation for gas BIAB pot?

[CarafeKid]

Hi folks,

I've been reading up on stepping up to BIAB AG for what seems like a lifetime, but haven't seen any mention of permanently mounted insulation for a BIAB pot. I see many people wrapping the pot up during the mash using sleeping bags, etc, but the only pots that seem to have fixed insulation are electric ones.

Is there a reason for that? Are there any types of insulation that are heat-safe (I.e. won't burn)?

Thanks.

 

[RobWalker]

i think this is what's widely used...

http://www.diy.com/nav/build/insulation ... Id=9283481

 

[CarafeKid]

Thanks, but are you sure it won't melt when the burner's lit?

 

[RobWalker]

i'm not, as i've never used it before - but for mashing, you can just slide 'em on.

might need to be a little bigger, mind...

 

[LeithR]

You most certainly should not be thinking in terms of insulation where open flames are concerned, there is no way to insulate a pot which is going to sit above a lit gas ring.

Electric boilers are different in that there is no associated open flame and the insulation is only needed when the heating is off during the early BIAB stage. The point is that you get the wart up to temp (approx 66Deg C) with the bag of grain in situ then turn the heat off, insulate the vessel while monitoring the temp for the 90 mins of the mashing period. You can't insulate to closely if you are using gas as you may want to turn on the heat during that time but it would be ok to turn on the heat on an electric boiler in the same circumstances.

 

[CarafeKid]

You most certainly should not be thinking in terms of insulation where open flames are concerned, there is no way to insulate a pot which is going to sit above a lit gas ring.

Electric boilers are different in that there is no associated open flame and the insulation is only needed when the heating is off during the early BIAB stage. The point is that you get the wart up to temp (approx 66Deg C) with the bag of grain in situ then turn the heat off, insulate the vessel while monitoring the temp for the 90 mins of the mashing period. You can't insulate to closely if you are using gas as you may want to turn on the heat during that time but it would be ok to turn on the heat on an electric boiler in the same circumstances.

OK. Thanks. Now I understand why electric seems to be the preferred option. Sadly I only have a 1.2kw supply to my home, so it looks like I'm stuck dressing and stripping my pot over a gas burner.