Water Heater Element - What size fitting?

I have an electric heating element I'll be using in my setup. Its a replacement unit for an electric water heater. $8 from Home Cheapo for 1500 watts.

What size fitting to I need to weld onto my keg to be able to screw this baby in?

Thanks!

I would say that it depends on the size of the threads on the element. I would go back to the store, with the element and find one that matches up and that you can weld on to the keg. Also i would get some sort of cap to hide the wires, when they are attatched. This is my HLT, are you planning on making a boil kettle or HLT? Note the two white caps on the sides, they cover the exposed wires and are siliconed up to make them water proof.



It has two elements in it. But before you ask, i bought it like that. it just has a nut and some O-rings, there is no weld on the keg for the element to screw into.

The inside:



Cheers

It will be used in my 4th vessel. HERMS heating will come via this half of a half barrel with a copper coil in it. This way I can keep my HLT up at the proper temp and still have perfect control over my MT temperature.

I could certainly bring the heating element to a store to try a bunch of fittings... I was just hoping somebody knew off the top of their head so I can order from McMaster.

Thanks

Normally, the threads on these elements are 1" National Pipe Straight Thread, so you need a 1" coupling to weld into the kettle. If you go weldless, get a stainless 1" locknut from McMaster or Grainger. I doubt you will find stainless pipe fittings at local hardware or DIY stores.

AiredAle said:

Normally, the threads on these elements are 1" National Pipe Straight Thread, so you need a 1" coupling to weld into the kettle. If you go weldless, get a stainless 1" locknut from McMaster or Grainger. I doubt you will find stainless pipe fittings at local hardware or DIY stores.

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Thanks... I need a stainless so I can weld it on. I plan on ordering from McMaster.

I have two that I welded in my HLT and its an odd duck size its a 1" 11-1/2 NPTyou will need to buy a tap to clean the threads when you are done a let me tell you there not cheep you also need to make sure you buy a stainlees tap cause a normal one will break unless you are REALLY carefull. also I would suggest milling down one side a tig it from the inside with baby stitch welds and weld in a criss cross or you will warp the fitting and it will leak then stitch weld the outside in the same fashion. I did two and had to learn from the mistakes I made for the next HLT I make. If none of this makes sence PM me I can explane better
its very doable but they will go egg shape on ya if you dont take the right steps
Good luck
JJ

I have a big element (6000W 240V) that uses a 1-1/4" panel nut (like for electrical work/conduit). You can get them at a good electrical supply store or hardware store. I couldn't find a stainless or brass one.

O one more thing I dont know how many gallons of water you plan on heating with a 1500 watt but its not enough to heat 10 gallons of water very fast you will need to go to a much bigger one. Mine is a 5500 watt 220 volt on a relay and a 1500 watt 220 volt also on a relay with a low level switch to protect it.
ya ya ya I know I am a bit loooong winded
Just trying to help
JJ

Yuri_Rage said:

I have a big element

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bragger.... :cross:

Jaybird said:

O one more thing I dont know how many gallons of water you plan on heating with a 1500 watt but its not enough to heat 10 gallons of water very fast you will need to go to a much bigger one. Mine is a 5500 watt 220 volt on a relay and a 1500 watt 220 volt also on a relay with a low level switch to protect it.
ya ya ya I know I am a bit loooong winded
Just trying to help
JJ

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It will only be heating a few gallons of water... enough to submerge my HERMS coil which is in its own, isolated vessel. I plan on recirculating through this while keeping a standalone HLT

my stand alone heat exchanger uses a 1500 watt element, it'll be just fine but don't expect it to be able to ramp up temps fast enough for real step mashes

since my last brew session, where I realized I was going to have to try out my IC with the march pump with silicon tubing as a HERMS due to a mash in of 142 degrees, I have been thinking of switching the HLT to an electric element or perhaps two. I had heard that it was not very effective to use the HERMS for step mashes but easily got 2 degrees a minute variation of temp without any problems with over heating the mash and denaturing the enzymes. Soooo electric is looking pretty sexy for the HLT although I think I will stick with the banjo for the boil as I am uninterested in the elements contacting the actual wort. It seems as though the elements can be done with 110 although 240 clearly looks superior.

i am doing a build now that involves a 15 gal ss keg and a 1500 watt 110 volt water heater element. looking for a nice weldless fitting to connect them. I plan on heating about 7 gal of 10% abv mash up to ~174'F for about 6-8 hours. If your interested PM me.

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