bigljd
Well-Known Member
I'm still brewing with propane out in my brew shed, but have visions of converting to electric and have been researching all the different ways to set up a system. I have really only seen 2 options for temp controlling a mash in a MLT, either a PID controlled RIMS or HERMs system.
I was wondering if anyone has tried using an electric hot plate under an MLT to 'direct fire' heat into a kettle or keg. To keep temps consistant throughout the MLT, you'd have a false botton and use a pump to recirculate, and the power to the hot plate could be controlled by a PID with a thermocouple in the MLT to turn the hot plate on or off as needed to maintain temps.
Here is a random example of a hot plate:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I14C7I/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
One issue I could think of is the weight of a full MLT could crush the hot plate. If it were mounted into a brewstand where the bulk of the weight was supported by the stand, not the hot plate it seems like it would work.
It would only need to maintain MLT temps or maybe raise them slowly if you wanted to step mash.
Is this crazy - would it work?
I was wondering if anyone has tried using an electric hot plate under an MLT to 'direct fire' heat into a kettle or keg. To keep temps consistant throughout the MLT, you'd have a false botton and use a pump to recirculate, and the power to the hot plate could be controlled by a PID with a thermocouple in the MLT to turn the hot plate on or off as needed to maintain temps.
Here is a random example of a hot plate:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I14C7I/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
One issue I could think of is the weight of a full MLT could crush the hot plate. If it were mounted into a brewstand where the bulk of the weight was supported by the stand, not the hot plate it seems like it would work.
It would only need to maintain MLT temps or maybe raise them slowly if you wanted to step mash.
Is this crazy - would it work?
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