I'd have a panel built so that's not a con for me, just more $$Electric:
Pros:
* You feel like a mad scientist, pushing buttons that light up and watching digital readouts. Get a lab coat and a clipboard and you are all set.
* You can easily intimidate your friends with your control panel. "NO, NOT THAT BUTTON!" is a favorite thing of mine to yell as one of my friends is about to press something innocuous.
* It's a very exact heat source. No more missed target volumes with electric. You want 87% heat applied to the wort? You got it.
* It's very efficient. Not much energy is wasted, since the heat source is inside the pots.
* You can build a really super neato control panel that does all kinds of cool things. Like a fully automated brewing system if you are into that kind of thing.
Cons:
* It can be pretty darn expensive, depending on how elaborate you go.
* If you're not already some kind of electrical professional, there's a goodly amount of stuff to learn before you put your control panel together and run wires to the place you're planning on brewing at. Anybody can do it, but it just takes a good deal of reading.
* Electrical parts can eventually wear out, requiring replacement parts.
* Cleaning the heating element is a pain in the ass.
I'd have a panel built so that's not a con for me, just more $$
How do you clean the elements that makes it a PITA? The common hot soak in PBW isn't enough?
This problem can be greatly reduced by making your heating elements easily removable by installing them inside tri-clover fittings. I think Bobby sells them for about $50-$60 per pot. I'm probably going to upgrade my boil kettle with one of these soon.
Sorry, but who is "Bobby"? Is there a link to a store front, or just a member on here (Bobby M. in this thread?)? I am interested in buying some reasonable tri-clovers... Thanks!
Electric:
* Electrical parts can eventually wear out, requiring replacement parts.
* Cleaning the heating element is a pain in the ass.
It's Bobby M. on this thread.
To the OP, how well do you enjoy and are capable of building your own brew rig? Are you putting something together from parts and a schematic or do you want something that's pre-built?
Bobby when will the hop back be available. I need to make a purchase soon and was hoping to get it in the box too.
I'm sorry it's actually a while away. I'm moving into a new building so I haven't been able to put any time into the new products at all.
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