Electric Rocks

[noggins]

Just finished my first brew day in my new homemade 120v eKettle. I pulled off two 5-gallon brews in just under 6 hours including prep and cleanup and pitching. The best part was my lack of presence during the whole process, just set it and forget it!!

Prpane sucks, I'm electric for life now

Thanks to everyone here for all your awesome ideas I stole to build my system, I couldn't have done it without you.

 

[Vellum]

Welcome to the world of electricity. It is wonderful!

 

[FloppyKnockers]

I don't know why I didn't do it sooner. I love my electric kettle.

 

[slym2none]

Slightly disappoint - expected to see some new-fangled gizmo, like electrified stones.

 

[jplowe]

I'm interested in some pics! I'd like to go electric but don't want to do 220v and I'm cheap. How did you setup your kettle?

 

[TexasWine]

I'd like to go electric but don't want to do 220v and I'm cheap.

Cheap ($565) and not 220v (two 120v 15 amp circuits).

http://brausupply.com/collections/b...120v-5-gallon-brew-boss-automated-brew-system

I have one of their 120v systems and love it.

But if all you want to do is replace your propane and you're not concerned with controlling mash temp, just buy a couple of Hot Rods from Brew hardware.com

 

[noggins]

My build cost was closer to $300 including a big shiny brand new 15 gallon pot. My controller is a simple on/off gfci box, elements are 120v 1650w. All parts sourced from amazon and lowes. It brought 7 gallons of delicious wort from 170 to a full rolling boil in 15 minutes. It also somehow brought 12 gallons of water from 60 to boiling in a little over an hour so I'm more than happy with that.

Inspired by:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=304914
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=131411
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=269164
http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/node/9?page=show


Putting everything together:

Checking for leaks:

Installing wiring:

Wiring control box:

Finished control box:

All setup:

2 gallon test boil:

Test-Boiling 12 gallons!!!:

First eBrew day:

Boiling Wort:

 

[wilserbrewer]

Agreed, even the most basic non automated electric system is far better than a propane burner.

 

[jcav]

Congrat's!! Welcome to the club, I love mine!

John

 

[inhousebrew]

True story! Electric is where it's at! I can regulate my mash temp and be alerted to strike temps by a buzzer all the while keeping equipment minimal by doing BIAB

 

[BBBF]

Slightly disappoint - expected to see some new-fangled gizmo, like electrified stones.

Me too. I thought it was going to be someone heating up rocks with an electric sauna

 

[kal]

Me too. I thought it was going to be someone heating up rocks with an electric sauna

You really think I could brew on this thing? Maybe you're on to something!

Kal

 

[BBBF]

You really think I could brew on this thing? Maybe you're on to something!


Kal

I hope to see Electric Steinbier (batch #195)

 

[kal]

Had to look that one up:

"Steinbier (pronounced [ˈʃtaɪnˌbiːɐ], German for stone beer) is a type of beer that was predominant in Carinthia until the beginning of the 20th century. It was also common in Scandinavia, Franconia and south-western Germany.[1]

Steinbier is not mashed in kettles, but in wooden tubs. Its name is derived from the hot stones that were put into the mashing tubs to achieve the required temperature for production. Due to the contact of the glowing, hot stones—often heated directly in the fire—with the malt, the resulting beer has a taste of caramel and soot. This was a traditional brewing process; top-fermenting yeasts and a taste of fruity ester were usual and there was no emphasis on long term storability. Steinbier was usually not filtered.[2]"

Cool. Never heard of that!

Kal

P.S. Can't be #195. That was a German pils. Next one's #199.

 

[Bobby_M]

Electric brewing kicks F'n A.

 

[noggins]

Just finished adding a variable control to one of the outlets for $20:

:fro:

 

[303Dan]

Loving my new electric rig! Not looking back from my old gas setup.

 

[golfindia]

My other hobby is ham radio, so naturally setting up an electric brewery was a must. I am lucky in that I've been doing AC electronics homebrewing (that's a real ham radio term!!!) for more than 20 years, so it was easy to take off running with electric brewing. The internet is a wealth of resources, both from the parts and instruction angles. With some cheap Al kettles a cordless drill and a trip to Lowe's, you can brew some decent beer without wasting an entire Saturday. Your electric brewery will also be the envy of all your ham radio nerd buddies.....

 

[LarMoeCur]

I started my build last year. I'm finally putting the finishing touches to it. I should have switched 5 years ago! The time I save alone is worth the cost. Not to mention no more lugging around 11 gallons of boiling wort! Pumps are the next best thing sense IPAs. Now I just need more kegs.

 

[Ki-ri-n]

Just finished adding a variable control to one of the outlets for $20:

:fro:

Noggins, you need to add an "11" to that dial :rockin:

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I too am disappoint.

Thought this was going to be about Steinbier with reptile heaters.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Slightly disappoint - expected to see some new-fangled gizmo, like electrified stones.

 

[noggins]

Noggins, you need to add an "11" to that dial :rockin:

That was the plan, I drew 11 ticks, marked the 5, marked the 0, and everything fell apart. I considered trying to change the 10 to 11, or maybe adding an 11 after the 10 or sneaking in an extra tick, but by the time the thought completely formed I had lost interest.

Let's say switch 1 is for 0 to 10, and switch 2 goes to 11 :rockin:

 

[ba-brewer]

Cheap ($565) and not 220v (two 120v 15 amp circuits).

http://brausupply.com/collections/b...120v-5-gallon-brew-boss-automated-brew-system

I have one of their 120v systems and love it.

But if all you want to do is replace your propane and you're not concerned with controlling mash temp, just buy a couple of Hot Rods from Brew hardware.com

Would it be possible to do a 2.5gal or 3gal batch in the 5gallon system?

 

[TexasWine]

Would it be possible to do a 2.5gal or 3gal batch in the 5gallon system?

By 5 gallon system do you mean they're smallest counter top system or the one I linked to?

Not sure about the one I linked to because I have an older version with a 36 quart kettle, but the small system should be able to. Email them and ask.

 

[ba-brewer]

By 5 gallon system do you mean they're smallest counter top system or the one I linked to?

Not sure about the one I linked to because I have an older version with a 36 quart kettle, but the small system should be able to. Email them and ask.

I was referring to the 5gal system you linked.

Thinking about getting a electric system and it would be nice if I could do two different batch sizes with one system. I will email them to confirm.

edit: used the contact tab on the website and got a quick response, 2.5gal or 3gal batches in not a problem on the 5gal system.