Have a new 20 gal Blichmann BK that I'm converting to an E-BK. However, trying to design a better hop stopper/blocker. Since its going to be electric with a LWD 5500W element in it running from back to front, I was going to design what i termed a "double hop taco", a hop taco on each side of the element connected to a tee fitting before going out the front valve. But I thought this was overly complex.
Since I wont be heating the bottom with a flame and the element will be above the false bottom, no reason I can't have a false bottom or a screen covering the entire bottom. Would be over 300 Sq In of surface area, so hopefully clogging wouldn't be a problem. I'll use the original dip tube supplied to pull from under the bottom.
I thought support might be an issue with the weight of several ounces of wet hop and break material, so my current thinking is to lay the SS mesh on top of a false bottom. I was thinking of just using a peice of preforated SS for support and 30x 30 SS mesh for the filter. Both materials to be purchased from McMaster or similar.
My solution needs to work for pellets, leaf, plugs or any combination thereof.
Has anyone built a false bottom screen hopstopper/blocker? How did it work? Problems encountered?
Since I wont be heating the bottom with a flame and the element will be above the false bottom, no reason I can't have a false bottom or a screen covering the entire bottom. Would be over 300 Sq In of surface area, so hopefully clogging wouldn't be a problem. I'll use the original dip tube supplied to pull from under the bottom.
I thought support might be an issue with the weight of several ounces of wet hop and break material, so my current thinking is to lay the SS mesh on top of a false bottom. I was thinking of just using a peice of preforated SS for support and 30x 30 SS mesh for the filter. Both materials to be purchased from McMaster or similar.
My solution needs to work for pellets, leaf, plugs or any combination thereof.
Has anyone built a false bottom screen hopstopper/blocker? How did it work? Problems encountered?