My Electric Brewery - Part 2b, HLT construction continues

[chastuck]

Started on the second phase of the HLT build today. Apart from the leak testing, it is now nearly complete. I promised SWMBO that I would not do any more brewery work leading up to Christmas, so the boil kettle will have to wait until the New Year. I've used the same weldless tap technique to fit the water input valve, as shown below:

Here it is fitted to the HLT:

And here’s the external view

I thought I would fit a dial thermometer to imitate the Blichman Boilermaker pots and have used a 2 inch one from mrlard. The thermometer is superb, but I was not sure that the fittings supplied with it would be leak free, so I have made a weldless fitting of my own for it, as shown in the bottom of the picture below:

I mounted it about a third of the way up from the bottom, so that it will still record for smaller brews. This is how it looks from the outside of the pot:

The inside view shows the hole made for the element:

I have also added a sight glass, again using a similar weldless method to the taps. The sight glass has yet to be trimmed and calibrated:

Finally, I just managed to fit the 5500w element before the SWMBO made me pack up for the night. I used the weldless techniques for the element as shown on The Electric Brewery site:

The element will of course need wiring up, but everything has to stop now for Christmas. I also need to fit the temperature probe T piece. Once the holiday is over I will be working on the boil kettle and posting up my efforts..

 

[Jay7792]

Very impressive!!! Are the elements the ones sold by Spike Innovations as used on The Electric Brewery site?

Jay

 

[chastuck]

Very impressive!!! Are the elements the ones sold by Spike Innovations as used on The Electric Brewery site?

Jay

The elements I have bought are very similar to The Electric Brewery ones. I was a little concerned that their forum mentioned more than once that the mount of the Camco element was prone to rust as it was not stainless steel and not purpose made for brewing, having really been designed for water heaters. So I bought three elements (two for use and one spare) from here: http://brewmation.com/Heating_Elements.html. Their elements are identical, but the bases are stainless and do not rust.

 

[Jay7792]

Very impressive!!! Are the elements the ones sold by Spike Innovations as used on The Electric Brewery site?

Jay

The elements I have bought are very similar to The Electric Brewery ones. I was a little concerned that their forum mentioned more than once that the mount of the Camco element was prone to rust as it was not stainless steel and not purpose made for brewing, having really been designed for water heaters. So I bought three elements (two for use and one spare) from here: http://brewmation.com/Heating_Elements.html. Their elements are identical, but the bases are stainless and do not rust.

Brilliant, thanks for that:)

What was the postage cost to the UK, was you hit for import duty?

Jay

 

[chastuck]

Very impressive!!! Are the elements the ones sold by Spike Innovations as used on The Electric Brewery site?

Jay

The elements I have bought are very similar to The Electric Brewery ones. I was a little concerned that their forum mentioned more than once that the mount of the Camco element was prone to rust as it was not stainless steel and not purpose made for brewing, having really been designed for water heaters. So I bought three elements (two for use and one spare) from here: http://brewmation.com/Heating_Elements.html. Their elements are identical, but the bases are stainless and do not rust.

Brilliant, thanks for that:)

What was the postage cost to the UK, was you hit for import duty?

Jay

I paid $265 including delivery for the three. Import fees added £23.

 

[Jay7792]

The elements I have bought are very similar to The Electric Brewery ones. I was a little concerned that their forum mentioned more than once that the mount of the Camco element was prone to rust as it was not stainless steel and not purpose made for brewing, having really been designed for water heaters. So I bought three elements (two for use and one spare) from here: http://brewmation.com/Heating_Elements.html. Their elements are identical, but the bases are stainless and do not rust.[/quote]

Brilliant, thanks for that:)

What was the postage cost to the UK, was you hit for import duty?

Jay[/quote]
I paid $265 including delivery for the three. Import fees added £23.[/quote]

That's not bad for 3 elements, I was expecting more import duties to!

Jay

 

[chastuck]

SWMBO went out all day long to visit relatives, so took a chance and decided to finish the HLT pot before Christmas. Have now tested for leaks and fitted temperature probe T piece. Also wired up the 5500w element with the Nema L6-30P Twist Lock Male Electrical Plug. I also put a 3/8" BSP thread on top of the sight glass so that I can loosely screw on a cap to keep any dirt out. I must admit that I was a bit concerned as to whether The Electric Brewery site's way of fitting the elements would work, but try as I may I couldn't get it to leak, so all credit to their design. I've yet to calibrate the sight glass, but I'm reluctant to waste 18 gallons of water to do so - I will wait till the brew day so that the water is not wasted. Pictures are below of the inside and outside of the finished 100L HLT.

 

[Jay7792]

Looking really good mate, keep the pics coming:)

Jay

 

[chastuck]

Looking really good mate, keep the pics coming:)

Jay

Cheers! Hope your build is progressing ok. No more brewery work now until Christmas is out of the way. Will post pics when I start on boil kettle.

 

[AllTheHops]

Hi Chastuck,

Do the elements come with the junction box? I noticed on the EB site that it all comes as a complete built unit...but you sourced a stainless based version...did this come complete too? Or did it require extra bits and bobs stateside?

 

[Vossy1]

Nice job C :clap:

 

[chastuck]

Hi Chastuck,

Do the elements come with the junction box? I noticed on the EB site that it all comes as a complete built unit...but you sourced a stainless based version...did this come complete too? Or did it require extra bits and bobs stateside?

I sourced the junction boxes and elements separately and not from the Electric Brewery site. Just thought I could do a better job in this instance compared to what they were selling as a complete unit. Have a look at my Part 6b for information of how the elements are fitted and where I got the parts from (viewtopic.php?f=13&t=49243).

 

[NegFerret]

Did you place the silicone o ring on the outside, and tighten the nut on the inside without a metal washer? I'm having trouble getting mine watertight with the o-ring on the inside, but don't want to screw my pot up by tightening the inside nut without a washer :hmm:

 

[chastuck]

Did you place the silicone o ring on the outside, and tighten the nut on the inside without a metal washer? I'm having trouble getting mine watertight with the o-ring on the inside, but don't want to screw my pot up by tightening the inside nut without a washer :hmm:

You got it - 'O' ring on outside, tighten nut inside with no washer. Works perfect. Have a look here for how I did it on the boil kettle viewtopic.php?f=13&t=49243.

 

[NegFerret]

Thanks Chastuck, I'll give it a go!

Edit: I gave it a go, and it's worked a treat. No leaks!