I have seen some threads on this but they don't seem to directly address it or they die out. Hopefully someone has done this and can share their experiences. My system build is still far from complete so I can't experiment.
Here is the thought process...
4500W or 5500W 240V LWD element controlled by PID (including BCS-460)
Fill MLT with desired volume of strike water, enter setpoint for strike water, start pump and heater.
In theory workable and probably efficient use of the element already attached to MLT a one less transfer step of water in the brewing process.
Here are the variables or different ways of accomplishing it.
1. Element is switchable between 240V and 120V so during the heating of strike water it can be on 240V and heat fast then switch to 120V for mash recirculation and gentle heat.
2. Element always on 240V. This is the area of debate and it usually focuses on wort scorching but here is my thought on the process but really interested in hearing from someone actually doing this. Seems that not having to add additional voltage switching would simplify the control panel build.
- Heating striking water is the simple process and there is no reason this wouldn't work in my head. It simply becomes a recirculating on-demand water heater.
- Recirculating Mash with 240V LWD or ULWD element should work fine and here are my thoughts as to why. Wort/Mash is already very near the desired temp so the PID controller will fire/cycle the element on and off rapidly to maintain the setpoint and since it is a RIMS setup we have flow over the element. Since there is constant flow over the element and the element is not continually on there shouldn't be any problem of worth scorching.
I didn't mash out with this as I just begin sparging at end of mash rest without mashing out. Seems like it would work fine as long as there is constant flow over the element, even if you step up the flow to slow the heating process a little just to be sure it isn't heating too fast.
Any thoughts?
Here is the thought process...
4500W or 5500W 240V LWD element controlled by PID (including BCS-460)
Fill MLT with desired volume of strike water, enter setpoint for strike water, start pump and heater.
In theory workable and probably efficient use of the element already attached to MLT a one less transfer step of water in the brewing process.
Here are the variables or different ways of accomplishing it.
1. Element is switchable between 240V and 120V so during the heating of strike water it can be on 240V and heat fast then switch to 120V for mash recirculation and gentle heat.
2. Element always on 240V. This is the area of debate and it usually focuses on wort scorching but here is my thought on the process but really interested in hearing from someone actually doing this. Seems that not having to add additional voltage switching would simplify the control panel build.
- Heating striking water is the simple process and there is no reason this wouldn't work in my head. It simply becomes a recirculating on-demand water heater.
- Recirculating Mash with 240V LWD or ULWD element should work fine and here are my thoughts as to why. Wort/Mash is already very near the desired temp so the PID controller will fire/cycle the element on and off rapidly to maintain the setpoint and since it is a RIMS setup we have flow over the element. Since there is constant flow over the element and the element is not continually on there shouldn't be any problem of worth scorching.
I didn't mash out with this as I just begin sparging at end of mash rest without mashing out. Seems like it would work fine as long as there is constant flow over the element, even if you step up the flow to slow the heating process a little just to be sure it isn't heating too fast.
Any thoughts?