My home made kit :-)

[stu brew]

Hi folks I would like some feed back of my kit so far

First found this down my mates so cleaned it up and fitted it out with 3kw heater and new out let

Iv also made a new mash tun

So if any one can let me know if I'm going wrong any were please let me know asp as I'm going to start using it next week the boiler is 55l and the mash tun is 40l
Time to drink I think ;-)

 

[Vossy1]

All looks good to me, you have been busy
I take it all the plastic is HDPE or food grade and it might be worth insulating the boiler as it might take a long time to get to a boil with 3kw, depending on batch size naturally :thumb:
Bet you can't wait to get it into use :party:

EDIT, that looks like a very wide mash tun, are you going to be able to get a good grain bed depth in it :hmm:

 

[stu brew]

Thanks for taking the time to have a look at this .Yes it hdpe food grade two I'm not sure about the tun as iv not tried it yet

And iv got some Lagin ready to fit. I'm also filling it from a hot feed from my combi boiler wich iv modified two give me 70c and yes I'm a gas man lol

 

[Vossy1]

Ticks all the boxes The reason for the query on the MT is that you need a 'certain' mash bed depth (several inches) to achieve filtration of the 'flour' in the malt. The MT looks deeper second time around, I'm sure you'll be fine, in any case it's a 'suck it and see' as always for the 1st few brews.

 

[stu brew]

It's about 10 1/2 inch deep so let's hope it works ok :-)

 

[Springer]

As V said try the mash tun to see how you get on, you need a bit of mixing and sparging water space, so off the 10 1/2 that equals :hmm: ...........go carefully and see

On a different note, if I am right you have a 3kw immersion with a 13amp plug ? I am not an electrical expert, in the old days you used to get 3kw fires etc, but I think the regs have changed. I would check this out :) Most seem to go for 2.2 kw elements or a different feed arrangement.
An expert may pop up.
This may help Have a study of this went right over my head without studying it, I didn't need to know cos on my static set up I have a separately wired feed from the distribution board to the usual immersion switch, with heat resist trailing leads to the element.
Happy Brewing
S

 

[stu brew]

Thanks for taking time to have a look for me lets hope the mash tun works if not it will make a good eer cooler Come summer as for the elec don't worry that was just to check there was no leak when it heated up it will be on 2.5mm flex with a 13 amp plug on a garage rcd beaker rated at 32 amp with no other appliances attach so should be ok :-)

 

[darrenwest1]

3 kw is 12.5 amps so be aware it may blow a fuse as it is very close to the limit of a fuse

3000 watts devide the 240 volts equals 12.5 amps
there are other alternatives to a 13 a plug but it will cost a little

i am a electrician if you need assistance pm me

 

[Vossy1]

A lot of folk use Commando plug/sockets...what other alternatives are we talking Darren just out of interest :hmm:

 

[darrenwest1]

you are pretty close there mate but
the problem is that the ring curcit is protected by a 32a breaker or fuse
which means that a 16a plug would burn out before the 32a breaker goes pop
you need to install a 16a breaker in to the ring or spur from the socket and install a 16a breaker you need to feed it using 2.5 t+e cable
then use the plug that you have shown


in a house the water heater is usually on its own circuit rated at 16a then switched by a 20a double pole switch

 

[darrenwest1]

http://www.electricalstock.com/webapp/w ... b-16a-ip55

somthing like this with a 16a socket mounted below it

 

[Vossy1]

Yep, with you on all that, thanks for posting :thumb:

 

[Springer]

:thumb:
Thanks for that info Darren, wiring has to be be right. Think I will be adding to my set up.

S

 

[stu brew]

Thanks for all you help . there been a change in my plans ie an hard wire set up . The sparke is going to install it on tuesday . But two questions isn't high temp 2.5 flex higher rated than standard 2.5 twin and earth ? and if I use a fix cooper pipe system what will be the best way to clean it or should I make all pipe work removable ? Ok that was three questions lol :-)

 

[Springer]

Your sparke will know, you could be right.

As for cleaning, remember its a boiler we are talking about, needs to be clean, but things going into it will be boiled. :?

S

 

[darrenwest1]

Thanks for all you help . there been a change in my plans ie an hard wire set up . The sparke is going to install it on tuesday . But two questions isn't high temp 2.5 flex higher rated than standard 2.5 twin and earth ? and if I use a fix cooper pipe system what will be the best way to clean it or should I make all pipe work removable ? Ok that was three questions lol :-)

No its still 2.5 cable the difference is the insulation on the copper not the cable its self
the only other difference is the earth in flex is the same size
but in t+e the earth is 1.5

where are you going to install the set up

 

[stu brew]

My garage mate going to clear it on Sunday and start the re make Tuesday

 

[Morgan]

I measured the current my 3kw element pulls as 11.9A Your result may vary, my mains voltage is 245v.

Just want to echo Darrens point, a 32a breaker will not protect your wiring if you have any over current fault, the cable will melt before the breaker (MCB) trips.

 

[stu brew]

Thanks for the info I'm leaving it all in the hands of my election as he has Oslo pull me up on my plans but it will all be done to the regs so no worries

 

[stu brew]

It alive all working well first mash 1049 :-)