RayHomeBrewer
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- Feb 26, 2013
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I have a basic question I have been unable to find the answer to. I built a 20 gallon all grain system about ten years ago. I used a 110K BTU natural gas burner to heat my hot liquor tank and boiling kettle (the same 27 gallon kettle). I am considering converting to electric but am unable to find out how large an element I would need to heat something like 25 gallons of water to a boil?
I tried using the largest element I could find 4500 watts @ 240 volts (5500 @ 277 volts if I use a buck and boost transformer) some years ago and it brought 20 gallons of water to a rolling boil in about 30 min. Not sure if being just water changes the calculation water vs wort?
Also read that some folks are using electric elements to heat your mash tun? I boiled water in my hot liquor tank (175 deg F) to mash tun and use pump and electric element with aqua-stat to maintain 165 deg F.
I am also a licensed electrician...
Ray
I tried using the largest element I could find 4500 watts @ 240 volts (5500 @ 277 volts if I use a buck and boost transformer) some years ago and it brought 20 gallons of water to a rolling boil in about 30 min. Not sure if being just water changes the calculation water vs wort?
Also read that some folks are using electric elements to heat your mash tun? I boiled water in my hot liquor tank (175 deg F) to mash tun and use pump and electric element with aqua-stat to maintain 165 deg F.
I am also a licensed electrician...
Ray