Ideal Steam Condenser Output Temp?

[cactusgarrett]

I understand the theory behind immersion chiller output, but I can't wrap my head around, nor find any info as to what the ideal output for a steam condenser should be during the boil to confirm it's being used optimally. There are times when it's lukewarm to the touch, and others when I can't touch it at all and steam is actually coming out of the output hose along with the water.

Is it the same as in immersion chiller: too cold and the boil isn't intense enough and too hot the boil is too intense? What is optimal?

 

[marc1]

The way I look at it is to make sure my boil is how I want it. If the condenser gets really hot it means that my boil is going stronger than I want. But that's on my system. If lots of steam is coming out then it is not working well enough and you room is going to get humid.

 

[cactusgarrett]

I'm running the 9gph spray head on a 65L Brewzilla with typically 6gal batches with midwest-cold ground water, so I'm venturing a guess that it isn't the performance of the condenser. I've played with the heat intensity here and there due to missing the target post-boil volume on a few batches, and other than viewing the temp readout from the unit, I don't have a good idea of boil intensity without cracking the lid. I thought I'd be able to use the condenser output water temp as an indicator to adjust the boil intensity, but realized I don't know what the ideal temp should be.

 

[Bobby_M]

There's really no hard and fast rule. I use 140F as a target because any hotter and the effluent steams too much. Colder than that and you can put a little more power into the boil to maximize boiloff rate.