Electric BIAB and Nylon Voile Experiment

ODI3 said:

Since you are using 220v, could you not just install 2 switches for the two hots on the 220v cord and disable one of the hots making the power output 1/4 for keeping the mash temperature? Would this not prevent the bag from scorching?

Click to expand...

When you switch OFF one of the hot leads, you will need to switch ON a neutral lead or you will have no power to your element. Be sure to use a "breaks before it makes" switching arrangement. A three position (ON/OFF/ON) switch controlling two seperate SPST contactors would work.

I'm no good with schematics. There are folks who can draw one up in their sleep (P-J).

Would this work with a 220v gfci?
Or would the lack of power on one of the 110v trip it?

I too have made several BIAB batches successfuly with my electric system. This last batch both my elements melted. I have a false bottom so no bag ever touches the elements. You guys are dead on with the slow recirculating system. I was making a Roggenbier, which is almost all rye grain, and I had a pool on top of my grain bed. So, does anyone think rice hulls would solve this problem?

Catywumpas said:

I too have made several BIAB batches successfuly with my electric system. This last batch both my elements melted. I have a false bottom so no bag ever touches the elements. You guys are dead on with the slow recirculating system. I was making a Roggenbier, which is almost all rye grain, and I had a pool on top of my grain bed. So, does anyone think rice hulls would solve this problem?

Click to expand...

What I've done, and it seems to work okay, is to make a tube out of SS screen, like a kettle filter. I put it in between the bag and the kettle and it acts as an overflow pipe. This, and keeping the flow rate down helps. The one time I scorched my element is when I didn't have this pipe and I stirred. Stirring upsets the flow through the grain bed, I think.