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**TheBiGZ** · 02-08-2013, 06:35 PM

I found a 50a breaker at Amazon.com for about $15 and a spa panel on ebay for around $75

EDIT: this is just an FYI...I haven't purchased. Not sure yet if I am going to just pull another 30a or have a dedicated 50a

**dcbw** · 02-09-2013, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBiGZ

I found a 50a breaker at Amazon.com for about $15 and a spa panel on ebay for around $75

EDIT: this is just an FYI...I haven't purchased. Not sure yet if I am going to just pull another 30a or have a dedicated 50a

If you run two 30s, you'll need two Spa panels and two outlets and two plugs and two cables to the panel and two receptacles on the panel. That runs your cost up pretty quick. I have to believe one set of 50A wire and connectors is less than two 30A sets of the same. For the price of the second spa panel you could probably buy the 6/3 wire.

**TheBiGZ** · 02-10-2013, 03:51 PM

Good News!!! It turns out that the existing line for the electric stove is 50a...I just assumed it was 30. So I don't need to run any new circuits.

So we're going just replace the existing 50a breaker with a GFCI breaker. I'm still planning on putting a disconnect with an arm that locks in the off position...so we can kill all power to the brewery without having to go to the panel and don't need to put an e-stop button on the control panel and can put a lock on it so the child doesn't "accidentally" energize anything.

Still looking for input on how I should run the lines for the RTD probes. I am going to use XLR jacks/plugs from the pots to the wall, but what do I run from the wall to the Control Panel? Cat5 cable? Just any 18 or 20 gauge wire?

**TheBiGZ** · 02-13-2013, 11:59 AM

Bump

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBiGZ

Still looking for input on how I should run the lines for the RTD probes. I am going to use XLR jacks/plugs from the pots to the wall, but what do I run from the wall to the Control Panel? Cat5 cable? Just any 18 or 20 gauge wire?

alien · 02-13-2013, 12:24 PM

Shielded cable is best, that's why mic cable is good for the pots to the wall. Cat5 is twisted pair which is OK although it is not nice wire to solder. Run the ground and signal in the same pair. Doorbell wire will do, twisting it helps a little.

**wadefisher** · 02-16-2013, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevehaun

50 amp breaker in your control panel wired to 50 amp spa panel with GFCI. Very cheap. I would recommend 5500 watts (5500/220=25 amps) in your BK and 4500 watts (4500/220=20.5amps) in your HLT. That way you can run them simultaneously and still have several amps left over to run pumps and PIDs. I think one 5500 watt element will boil 15 gallon batches. Anything bigger will be pushing it. I boil 35 gallon batches (43 gallons preboil) with two 4500 watt elements and I need to run at 90% power to get a decent boil. YMMV.

I agree 100%

**TheBiGZ** · 02-18-2013, 01:29 PM

Parts on order...it's all coming together nicely. I will post pics of the build as i can.

Chris7687 · 02-18-2013, 01:34 PM

Interested to see how you do everything. I have all my parts ordered and coming in over the next week. I like how you mentioned the stove outlet. Forgot about that! I checked my dryer outlet and it is only a 3 prong, I already have a 4 prong dryer plug which I am looking to utilize. I will be checking the stove tonight. Subscribed!

**TheBiGZ** · 03-02-2013, 11:44 AM

finished mounting everything on the front panel last night. Sorry about the quality but you get the idea.