Spec me an element.

[r-evans]

Just bought a 15 gallon SS Brewtech kettle, bigger than I was going to go but it was a good price and gives me room for bigger batches in the future.

I want to fit it with an electric element, but have never used one before. Would I be better buying two elements so I can use just one for smaller batches and two for larger batches in the future?

Any recommendations on a good, reliable element?

Cheers

 

[Cyberjip]

This is what I use.

https://www.angelhomebrew.co.uk/en/...ampaign=gmcamp&utm_source=gmc&utm_medium=shop
Can't fault them. They may not be the prettiest but they are powerfully enough to get my 56L pots to a rolling boil and cheap and easy enough to fit. Also not protruding to far into the kettle means a can mix it up better and have a large area I can put my chiller in that isn't resting on an element.

I have 1 on my HLT as that can heat up slowly. I did fit a second to my kettle for 2 reasons, firstly to get to the boil faster and shorten my brew day as I brew in the evening when the kids have gone to bed.
Secondly if one element fails I can still do my boil and not have to waste the time effort and ingredients I have already invested (Not so much of a problem in the HLT).

Hope this is helpful.

 

[Cyberjip]

Just to add. After I get to the boil I switch one element off ad I can easily keep a rolling boil with only one. Saves electric and prolongs the life of my element.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Any recommendations on a good, reliable element?

Potassium maybe

 

[r-evans]

This is what I use.

https://www.angelhomebrew.co.uk/en/...ampaign=gmcamp&utm_source=gmc&utm_medium=shop
Can't fault them. They may not be the prettiest but they are powerfully enough to get my 56L pots to a rolling boil and cheap and easy enough to fit. Also not protruding to far into the kettle means a can mix it up better and have a large area I can put my chiller in that isn't resting on an element.

I have 1 on my HLT as that can heat up slowly. I did fit a second to my kettle for 2 reasons, firstly to get to the boil faster and shorten my brew day as I brew in the evening when the kids have gone to bed.
Secondly if one element fails I can still do my boil and not have to waste the time effort and ingredients I have already invested (Not so much of a problem in the HLT).

Hope this is helpful.

Thanks for the info. That's a decent price.

Does it sit far off the bottom of the kettle as I plan to use a grain basket with it.

 

[Cyberjip]

The second one I mounted is close enough to the bottom that I struggle to get underneath it to clean it. The top of the element Probably sits about 5cm off the bottom, can't really get it any lower due to the size of the hole you need to fit it.

 

[r-evans]

The second one I mounted is close enough to the bottom that I struggle to get underneath it to clean it. The top of the element Probably sits about 5cm off the bottom, can't really get it any lower due to the size of the hole you need to fit it.

Perfect thanks, that should work for me. What size hole does it require? Can't see that on the site.

 

[Gerryjo]

Make sure your electrical wiring is up to spec before running these as combined they run 4.8kw and would assume that you will be running them from a standard UK socket outlet which is either wired on a ring to a 30a fuse or 32a MCB.
These pull a hell of a lot of current and have tendency to over heat burning connections and scorching socket outlets.
If it was me I would be looking at a dedicated supply to carry the load.

 

[Cyberjip]

Perfect thanks, that should work for me. What size hole does it require? Can't see that on the site.

They need a 40mm hole, make a small pilot hole then step it up to about 10mm then I use one of these

https://www.rapidonline.com/Q-Max-Q...vP_4TLaJq4RFR4DIKZuqQ4XG5o4enRthoC1CkQAvD_BwE

 

[Cyberjip]

@Gerryjo makes a good point.
I am lucky that I had my electrics put in to meet my brewing needs. As I later added another element I do briefly (10-15 mins) run two elements off the same ring. However I am getting another ring put in, it's just taking a while due to lockdown.

 

[r-evans]

Make sure your electrical wiring is up to spec before running these as combined they run 4.8kw and would assume that you will be running them from a standard UK socket outlet which is either wired on a ring to a 30a fuse or 32a MCB.
These pull a hell of a lot of current and have tendency to over heat burning connections and scorching socket outlets.
If it was me I would be looking at a dedicated supply to carry the load.

Thanks, it is something I am aware of and keep in mind. In my current rented house I would not be able to brew with elements as the electric is terrible. It is safe, but overloads all the time with washer/dish washer running or even my phones fast charger in some sockets.

We are planning to move back to Leeds in August when our lease is up, so will keep in mind when looking for houses.

 

[Cyberjip]

It is safe, but overloads all the time with washer/dish washer running or even my phones fast charger in some sockets.

Not sure these two statement go hand in hand, good luck on the move back to Leeds, that's my old stomping ground and where I cut my brewing teeth. Some great brewery's and beer in Yorkshire

 

[r-evans]

Not sure these two statement go hand in hand, good luck on the move back to Leeds, that's my old stomping ground and where I cut my brewing teeth. Some great brewery's and beer in Yorkshire

Ha, we had an electrician come out recently to update the fuse box as we were having problems, he said the one before it was maybe from the 70s. He replaced the box but didn't do any updates to the wiring (landlady's choice) he said it is safe but there's not as much room for power as there would be on an updated wiring system. I think the previous owner ran some new wires too for some heating that was installed. Something like that anyway, I'm not an electrician.

Aye, Leeds is a good place, I'm eager to move back after being in London for 3 years and in the US for 2.

 

[giovanni 47]

Hmm. For my sins I use a 50l copper which was originally fitted with two 2.4 Kw kettle elements. Now, to be fair they got it up to a good rolling boil which was just sustainable with just one element on. They only downside was they seemed to have a happy but very short life. Perhaps this is because they are being utilised outside the design parameters which I suppose are to bring the liquid up to a boil and then switch off whereas we need to get to the boil and hold it for 60 or even 75 minutes. This didn't matter much when they were a couple of quid but they aren't any more. My solution is to leave the two elements in place but I've recruited my 6.8 Kw Propane fired Wok burner to assist. So the M.O. is everything on 'til we've a good boil,elements off and burner down to 50% .Seems to work for me and we'll see how long the elements last?

 

[An Ankoù]

It's a big kettle for a small element like that. Are you sure you wouldn't be better off with propane burner? (Outside, of course.)

 

[Druncan]

I use a Triclamp ferrules with two 2.4kw TC elements. Like this; 1.5 Tri-clamp 240V 2.5kw/3.5kw/4.5kw Electric Immersion Water Heating Element | eBay
I like them as they have pretty low watt density so you don't scorch the wort and can taken out easily to clean. I remember someone on here saying elements should be low watt density as possible (long length as possible seems to work) ? But someone with more electrical expertise may be able to explain what it really means,,,:tinhat:

 

[Cyberjip]

I don't notice any scorching in my beers, from my experience you tend to get that scorching/slightly burnt off flavour if you let your elements get build up on them.

This has not happend with my homebrew and only happened in the commercial brewery I used to work in. I'm not sure weather that was because it was used everyday and didn't get a deep clean between every brew, or because it was in a much harder water area than I now brew in

 

[giovanni 47]

I've just noticed the price of 2.4 kettle elements. It makes my decision to go for a bigger copper and use a Camco 02965 5.5kw stainless steel low density element a reasonable option.

 

[r-evans]

Thanks for the info, these look pretty good and I like the idea of a tri-clamp connected element for easy removal for cleaning.

Does anybody use these elements with an inkbird or similar? Would there be any issues doing this? My plan is to build a BIAB setup where I can plug the element into an inkbird to set it at the target mash temp to keep it steady while I recirculate the wort.

Similar to this system...

 

[Cyberjip]

I use an Inkbird on my HLT works perfectly.