johnodon

Recipes 

Still playing with my new toys and everything looks promising. But I do have a few questions (observations) from my test runs.

1. I have yet to run an auto-tune on my 2352 PID, but I did do a boil/ice water test. I'm not sure if these are appropriate for an RTD but I figured what the hell. I set the Sv to 225F and let it go. The Pv maxed at 211F and dipped to 210F on an ocassion during a full boil. I then submerged the RTD in crushed ice and water for 15 mins. It held steady at 32F. Acceptable?
   
   
2. I am seeing a LOT more steam than I ever did with a propane boil. Is this normal with an element? It could be just because I have the BK in the back of the garage now where it would normally be closer to the garage door. It could also be because I had a much mnore agressive boil than I would normally have. Just curious if anyone else has had teh same experience.
   
   
3. I'm getting a slight odor from the water at mash temps and during the boil with the element that I can say I never had with propane. It's hard to describe...kinda metallic. Maybe due to the anode? Or is this just a by-product of the element. Any concerns?

TIA!

John

__________________
Tap #1: BM's Black Pearl Porter
Tap #2: Bell's Two-Hearted Ale
Tap #3: Big O. Great Pumpkin Ale
Tap #4: Big O. No Ordinary Bitter
Tap #5: BM's Aberdeen Brown Ale

On Deck: EdWort's Apfelwein; Victory HopDevil

Primary: BM's Centennial Blonde

Cube: Nada

Upcoming: Stoudt's Scarlet Lady; Heavenly Scourge Black IIPA; Russian Rivers Pliny the Elder

passedpawn

Recipes 

1: sounds perfect (more perfect than mine!)
2: 2 things going on here: 1, you are probably boiling off more than you did with propane, and 2: the flames and heat that used to rush up the sides of your keggle might have carried the steam away before; you don't have that now
3: Maybe the odor of the propane burning previously covered this metalic odor you're getting. I have not experienced any type of off flavor or odor or anything with my setup.

__________________
Now there's some take delight in the carriages a rolling
and others take delight in the hurling and the bowling
but I take delight in the juice of the barley
and courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early

johnodon

Recipes 

Thx pass.

So, when it comes to auto-tune, do I have it right...

Fill BK with tap water...
Set Sv to mash temp (~155).
Apply heat.
Start AT.
Let it run.

Or do you bring the water up to mash temp first and then start AT?

Thx!

John

__________________
Tap #1: BM's Black Pearl Porter
Tap #2: Bell's Two-Hearted Ale
Tap #3: Big O. Great Pumpkin Ale
Tap #4: Big O. No Ordinary Bitter
Tap #5: BM's Aberdeen Brown Ale

On Deck: EdWort's Apfelwein; Victory HopDevil

Primary: BM's Centennial Blonde

Cube: Nada

Upcoming: Stoudt's Scarlet Lady; Heavenly Scourge Black IIPA; Russian Rivers Pliny the Elder

Walker

Recipes 

heat the water close to your desired set-point first, and then start the auto-tune process. i've done it a couple of ways, and that way worked the best and the fastest.

__________________
Ground Fault Brewing Co.

passedpawn

Recipes 

my PID worked much, much better after auto-tuning. I was surprised. I don't think it overshoots at all now.

__________________
Now there's some take delight in the carriages a rolling
and others take delight in the hurling and the bowling
but I take delight in the juice of the barley
and courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early

johnodon

Recipes 

Thanks again guys!

I performed my auto-tune last night. Added 8 gal. of water and set my Sv to 152 and recirculated for abolut 10 mins. I then kicked on the auto-tune and continued to recirculate the entire time since I will be doing the same with my mash.

Temp never overshot and held steady @ 152F for the length of the tuning. Only once or twice I saw it jump to 153F but it immediately came back to 152F. So, if I wanted to be nit-picky, I could probably say that I had a .75F swing when the element would kick on. I can live with that.

Auto-tune took only about 15 minutes.

First official electric BIAB session is scheduled for this weekend. Can't wait!!!

Thanks for the help.

John

ps. I have now run 4 fake sessions through my kettle with the anode and not a single sign of rust.

__________________
Tap #1: BM's Black Pearl Porter
Tap #2: Bell's Two-Hearted Ale
Tap #3: Big O. Great Pumpkin Ale
Tap #4: Big O. No Ordinary Bitter
Tap #5: BM's Aberdeen Brown Ale

On Deck: EdWort's Apfelwein; Victory HopDevil

Primary: BM's Centennial Blonde

Cube: Nada

Upcoming: Stoudt's Scarlet Lady; Heavenly Scourge Black IIPA; Russian Rivers Pliny the Elder

passedpawn

Recipes 

I've run at least 50 batches on mine without a drop of rust. I have an element in my HLT and BK. And, I keep them outside (but under a covered patio) here in humid Florida. Go figure.

__________________
Now there's some take delight in the carriages a rolling
and others take delight in the hurling and the bowling
but I take delight in the juice of the barley
and courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early

johnodon

Recipes 

Honestly, I never tried without the anode so I don't know what my results would be.

John

__________________
Tap #1: BM's Black Pearl Porter
Tap #2: Bell's Two-Hearted Ale
Tap #3: Big O. Great Pumpkin Ale
Tap #4: Big O. No Ordinary Bitter
Tap #5: BM's Aberdeen Brown Ale

On Deck: EdWort's Apfelwein; Victory HopDevil

Primary: BM's Centennial Blonde

Cube: Nada

Upcoming: Stoudt's Scarlet Lady; Heavenly Scourge Black IIPA; Russian Rivers Pliny the Elder

johnodon

Recipes 

BTW...I haven't even brewed yet with my electric setup and I am already loving it!!!

__________________
Tap #1: BM's Black Pearl Porter
Tap #2: Bell's Two-Hearted Ale
Tap #3: Big O. Great Pumpkin Ale
Tap #4: Big O. No Ordinary Bitter
Tap #5: BM's Aberdeen Brown Ale

On Deck: EdWort's Apfelwein; Victory HopDevil

Primary: BM's Centennial Blonde

Cube: Nada

Upcoming: Stoudt's Scarlet Lady; Heavenly Scourge Black IIPA; Russian Rivers Pliny the Elder

EarthBound

Recipes 

You got it going on, man. Good job.

__________________
"You can do anything you set your mind to when you have vision, determination, and an endless supply of beer."