RockfordWhite

Recipes 

So i do not have access to a 240V outlet, so I was wondering if you think it would be ok for a Electric Brew Kettle if I used two 120 V heating elements (mind you this is for 10 gallons). The way i figure is i wire them each to separate switches and turn one of them off when the hard boil beings to prevent scorching.

I figure in the HLT 1 120V element should be ok. Does this seem reasonable?

Brewpastor

Recipes 

they have the elements out there, so why not?

__________________
Before I learned to brew I was poor, sober and lonely. Now I am just poor.

scoates

Recipes 

You'll need to run those on separate circuits, and depending on your kettle geometry, you can run the full wattage during boil.

I boil 5 gal with 1x3000W element in my kettle for a rolling, but not vigorous boil.

Say you find 1500W@120V elements (I think you can run a 3000W@240V element at 120V, but I'm sure someone else will pipe in and tell you why I'm wrong). Note (edit): 3000W@240V is actually 1500W@120V (same element).

1500W@120V is 12.5A. Most household circuits are 15A, so you'll need two circuits to run a pair of 1500W elements.

S

Brewpastor

Recipes 

I am not positive, but for some reason I think your get 1/4 of the watts when you 1/2 the volts. So a 3000W 220V becomes a 750W 120V

__________________
Before I learned to brew I was poor, sober and lonely. Now I am just poor.

HarvInSTL

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I say use the 2000 watt 120v element.

$9 each

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100163361

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slnies

Recipes 

Scoates, if you have a 3000w Element @240v it will be less than 1500w at 120v. It's an Ohms law thing, but that does not mean you can't get a 1500w element @ 120v. S.

__________________
Nies

Primary: American Wheat
Secondary: Phils Pils Clone

slnies

Recipes 

1920w is the max on a twenty amp circuit. This is because heating elements are continueos loads. So the circuit must be derated to 80% of the maximum. The reason is that running full bore causes excesive heat in the breaker and the wire, eventualy causing tripping and other bad JUJU.

__________________
Nies

Primary: American Wheat
Secondary: Phils Pils Clone

Brewpastor

Recipes 

Such as living in the Best Western down the road while the inspectors figure out whose fault the house fire was.

__________________
Before I learned to brew I was poor, sober and lonely. Now I am just poor.

ClutchDude

Recipes 

You'll rarely find a 20 amp circuit regardless. They are usually only found where a floor buffer is used and have the horizontal plug in addition to the verticals . If your hoping to do long term brewing, it'd be easier to install, either yourself or by an electrician, an extra circuit for brewing purposes.

That way you avoid a fire risk and don't have a circuit trip in the middle of brewing....especially if the lights are on the same circuit.

__________________

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scoates

Recipes 

Oops. You guys are right. I forgot about the "squared" part (-:

3000W@240v = 19.2Ω == 750W@120v

S