Airborneguy

Recipes 

Ok, I broke down and I'm making my own heat stick.

My final wish before I die is that someone tells me how large of a batch a 1500w element can be expected to boil. Thanks again and wish me luck.

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lschiavo

Recipes 

Well, I'm not telling then 'cause you'll have no reason left to live.

Yooper

Recipes 

I can't help (much) because I don't know. I will tell you that with a 1500 watt element in my HLT, it took 90 minutes to go from 60 degrees to 180 with 7 gallons of water.

I'm sure there are smart people who can do the calculation for you!

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Broken Leg Brewery
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Yooper

Recipes 

(Speaking of one of those aforementioned 'smart people'!)

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Broken Leg Brewery
Giving beer a leg to stand on since 2006

showdown496

Recipes 

I just built an electric brew kettle out of a 32 qt aluminum turkey pot. I used 2 1500watt elements. I sit the pot on my electric stove, plug in both elements and turn the stove to high. I can go from 60 to boiling in 25 minutes. then I can turn the stove off and unplug 1 element and continue to keep a rolling boil for 60 minutes with just 1 1500w element. This is a ~6 gallon boil. Hope that helps. BTW this is no reason to die!

CGVT

Recipes 

I use a couple of 2000w heatsticks to supplement propane. It takes a looooooong time to get 7 gallons to a boil for a 5 gallon batch with one. I usually use propane and the heat sticks to get to a quick boil and then go to one heatstick to boil.

I also use one in my HLT for my sparge water. I can get tap water to sparge temp in less than an hour. I have also used one to bring the temperature of my mash up if I undershoot or am losing temp too fast

I don't know it that helps you or not...

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"Filled with mingled cream and amber I will drain that glass again. Such hilarious visions clamber through the chambers of my brain--Quaintest thoughts--queerest fancies come to life and fade away; Who cares how time advances? I am drinking ale today"-Edgar Alan Poe

My Keezer build: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/keezer-i-guess-its-my-turn-340755/

Airborneguy

Recipes 

Thanks guys, your info does help.

I think I'm going to have to build another one for my purposes. I will be brewing a lot of 3 gallon batches also, which this one stick should be able to handle, especially if I use my stove to help.

__________________
Fermentor(s):
Lagering:
Kegged: Unintentional Sour Brown, Citra/Amarillo IPA
Bottled:
Tapped:
Up Next: Amber?

Reading: The Road to ---- Retirement

DeafSmith

Recipes 

According to my calculations, the best you can do with 1500 watts - assuming that you have no heat loss to the outside is:

minutes to raise G gallons by T degrees F. = 0.0977 * G * T.

So, for example, to raise 7 gallons from room temp. by 100ºF would take:
0.0977 * 7 * 100 = 68.4 minutes. It will actually take longer - how much longer depends on how much heat you lose from your vessel.

Shooter

Recipes 

I don't think it would be realistic to expect a seven or so gallon boil, for a five gallon batch, to be done with only a 1500 watt heatstick. I use one to speed up the heating of my mash and sparge water. I've started with the heatstick on its own and it would have taken a long time just to get up to the temps I need to mash. I only use it to supplement my propane.

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Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. - C. S. Lewis, English essayist & juvenile novelist (1898 - 1963)

showdown496

Recipes 

I swear I just did it last weekend guys! I used 2 1500w elements and my stovetop to get to a boil and then 1 1500w element to keep the boil going! It was in my house, with a range hood going, and no lid or any insulation on the pot! It worked great!