Indoor electric brewing
- Thread starter Peligro28
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I would think so too, but it doesn't happen....even w/ high density 2000w 120volt elements. Search around, many different ways to electrify the process.
You may want to first consider your electrical situation. Do you have room in your panel to add circuits? Room for a double pole breaker? Are you comfortable adding circuits?
To install an element in the brew kettle you'll need to drill a 1.25" hole and use a 1" locknut. You can get them at Bargainfittings.com, among other places. You'll probably want to wire the back of the element inside a water resistant box and then to a box with an outlet and a switch controlling it. I personally like having a switch in each box. Be sure to use GFCI receptacles. 20 amp is needed for 2000 watts. To figure the amperage, just divide the watts by the voltage. So 2000 watts divided by 120v = 16.7. Hence a 20 amp box.
Wiring for 240 is more complex and requires a double pole breaker with two 120v lines. What turned me away from this is that I couldn't find the parts easily. I don't think they make 240v gfci receptacles so you have to buy a double pole gfci breaker. They were expensive and I would've had to go to an electrical supply place to find them.
Here's a good primer on electrical. Really helped me out.
Hard mounting in your kettle has advantages and disadvantages. You'll need more elements and you'll either need a dedicated 20 amp line for each or a system so you don't turn more than one on the same circuit on at a time. I find the 2000 watt elements to be what I need. 2 will heat up strike water fairly quickly. Sometimes I use a third. 2 will maintain a strong boil in 13 gallons. If you only have 5500 watt element, it may be too much for the boil. Then you have to look into one of the ways to dial it down.
I think the simplest solution is to use heat sticks. I used this design Only brewed twice with them so far, but they perform great.
The third thing to consider is ventilation. You'll create quite a lot of moisture and want to have some plan to deal with it. I went with an exhaust fan venting out the window.
Here's my electric brewery. Maybe it'll give you some ideas.
Good luck. People here are unbelievably helpful and even just searching the forums often yields everything you need to know. Get her built!
To install an element in the brew kettle you'll need to drill a 1.25" hole and use a 1" locknut. You can get them at Bargainfittings.com, among other places. You'll probably want to wire the back of the element inside a water resistant box and then to a box with an outlet and a switch controlling it. I personally like having a switch in each box. Be sure to use GFCI receptacles. 20 amp is needed for 2000 watts. To figure the amperage, just divide the watts by the voltage. So 2000 watts divided by 120v = 16.7. Hence a 20 amp box.
Wiring for 240 is more complex and requires a double pole breaker with two 120v lines. What turned me away from this is that I couldn't find the parts easily. I don't think they make 240v gfci receptacles so you have to buy a double pole gfci breaker. They were expensive and I would've had to go to an electrical supply place to find them.
Here's a good primer on electrical. Really helped me out.
Hard mounting in your kettle has advantages and disadvantages. You'll need more elements and you'll either need a dedicated 20 amp line for each or a system so you don't turn more than one on the same circuit on at a time. I find the 2000 watt elements to be what I need. 2 will heat up strike water fairly quickly. Sometimes I use a third. 2 will maintain a strong boil in 13 gallons. If you only have 5500 watt element, it may be too much for the boil. Then you have to look into one of the ways to dial it down.
I think the simplest solution is to use heat sticks. I used this design Only brewed twice with them so far, but they perform great.
The third thing to consider is ventilation. You'll create quite a lot of moisture and want to have some plan to deal with it. I went with an exhaust fan venting out the window.
Here's my electric brewery. Maybe it'll give you some ideas.
Good luck. People here are unbelievably helpful and even just searching the forums often yields everything you need to know. Get her built!
Dgonza - good links there. one question I never seem to see answered.. what web sites do yall shop at for electrical parts (like the heating element, etc)
I think I want to go electric with a temp control for my strike/sparge water vessel
I think I want to go electric with a temp control for my strike/sparge water vessel
You can get everything at home depot. Lowes near me doesn't have the 2000k elements, though.
Not sure why you'd want temp control for the strike and sparge water. It's pretty easy to dial that in just by turning your element off when you hit the temp. Where you'll need temp control is in the brew kettle.
You could look into RIMS if you really want to dial in temp control for your mash.
Here's a link to some RIMS info.
Not sure why you'd want temp control for the strike and sparge water. It's pretty easy to dial that in just by turning your element off when you hit the temp. Where you'll need temp control is in the brew kettle.
You could look into RIMS if you really want to dial in temp control for your mash.
Here's a link to some RIMS info.
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