HERMs coil question

Hi Home brew community, I'm a long time reader 1st or second time writer. I'm looking for recommendation for a HERMS coil

http://stainlessbrewing.3dcartstores.com/Coiled-to-customers-request-035-304304L-Coiled-Tubing_p_30.html

This is the one I was thinking of going with, I just wasn't sure which size and length and Diameter of the coil to go with. My HLT is a 30 Gallon G1 Blichman which i am converting to an all electric setup.

I love mine, great quality and service. Can't help on the size, but the 1/2"OD 50' 12" coil fits my keg perfect. The two bends on the end are a must. I'd go with the 14" if it will fit the pot, then you don't need as much water in your HLT.

I just ordered mine from StainlessBrewing. I have a 15g Blichmann G1.(Kettle diameter is 15.7 according to Blichmann) I went with a 1/2" 10" diameter coil as suggested by Zach. Once you factor in the compression fittings (~1.5") and the Herms in and herms out bends (~2-2.5") it should be a pretty good fit.

That 30 gallon has a diameter of 19.7, so I don't see why you couldn't go with the largest diameter StainlessBrewing offers (14" Diameter).

I have that stainless coil as well. Went with the 1/2" 25ft coil and it works great inside my converted keg.

jsieling said:

Hi Home brew community, I'm a long time reader 1st or second time writer. I'm looking for recommendation for a HERMS coil

http://stainlessbrewing.3dcartstores.com/Coiled-to-customers-request-035-304304L-Coiled-Tubing_p_30.html

This is the one I was thinking of going with, I just wasn't sure which size and length and Diameter of the coil to go with. My HLT is a 30 Gallon G1 Blichman which i am converting to an all electric setup.

Click to expand...

I bought one from them. I have a 25g Concord pot. My coil was 1/2" with a 50' coil. 14" diameter for the actual coiling process. Fits well. The Blichmann 30g pots are extremely close in diameter to my pots. I know this because I use a Blichmann 30g false bottom in my mash tun, and it fits almost perfectly. Concord pots are somewhat fatter and shorter than Blichmann pots, apparently.

So yeah, I'd order a 50' 1/2" coil with a 14" diameter coiling with bent ends.

For a closer fit with a larger diameter coil you can use compression fitting elbows with no bends in the coil.

Wish I had seen that before I built mine

I have 1 question though, with caliper rulers I measured the Compression fitting (20.6mm or 0.811 inched).
With having to cut a wholes in my brew kettle I was going to use a knockout would you go with 3/4 or 7/8, by my calculations it should be in between the 2, but no such knock out exists.

I am assuming 7/8 one.

13/16" Greenlee radio punch is what you are looking for... Makes perfect holes for anything weld less you want to install on your kettle.

To save a few bucks on a radio punch look into Q Max punches. I think I paid 20 shipped for mine from the UK through Amazon.

jimboj79 said:

13/16" Greenlee radio punch is what you are looking for... Makes perfect holes for anything weld less you want to install on your kettle.

Click to expand...

+1, 13/16 will give you a pretty tight fit on male 1/2" NPT fittings. I used a 7/8" hole (step bit) before I got my 13/16" punch and it'll work too. It'll have more play than a 13/16" punch, but it still works for weldless bulkheads.

Or the 20.5mm from Q.Max If I'm not mistaken. 1mm tighter than the 13/16" so you actually have to screw stuff into place. It's cheaper than the Greenlee. Unless you're gonna punch tonnes of holes I'd go with this for the sake of the wallet.
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But in terms of the topic. I've tried three HERMS-setups and landed on a compact herms. It's a question about available power. I had a 50ft coil in my HLT with 4.5kW of heating and the response time can't even compare to my compact herms which is 1.8L fired with 3kW.