Kayakr1988
Well-Known Member
So as the title says i am starting an electric brewery.
This being said in an ideal world I would just splurge and buy everything i need. But this being reality i can only afford ordering part by part until i complete this wonderful endeavor.
To start off ill fill you in on what equipment i currently have.
3 S.S. Keg pots set up with HERMS coil in my HLT. my MLT has a false bottom in it. And my Kettle... well it has a valve to release the wort after brewing. I use the HERMS coil to cool the wort down to temperature.
Currently i am using a Namco 1000 watt bucket heater to Heat/keep temperature in my HLT. This takes quite a while to do if im making a 10 gallon batch. Usually i will heat some water on the stove and pour it in to the HLT then pour some out and repeat until i reach my target temp.
This is a PITA but it gets the work done in about an hour to hour and a half.
For my MLT i wrapped it in Aluminum heat tape for hot water heaters. I also wrap a thick shipping blanket over it to keep my mash temp up. This works great and i usually only loose about 4 degrees max and thats on a cold rainy day.
My Kettle is currently heated by a, pardon my french, propane burner. i know some people like them but for me it is a hassle between running out in the middle of batches to not wanting to catch anything on fire when i have to brew under a pop-up tent when it rains.
Now eventually i would like a full electric brewery that i can use indoors and would be similar to Kal's design. I dont want to bother with 120 volt because i would soon be upgrading to 240 volt.
I have very easy access to my dryer outlet so that is not a problem. I know i will need the spa panel as well.
I am going to start off with the HLT and move forward with the Kettle eventually. So i need an element for the HLT i was thinking a 5500 watt but would like some input. Also i am wanting to do a step and be able to brew, then add something and be able to brew.
I know i dont have the money to afford the PID and components yet so is there a way i could brew with a spa panel, switch, and element(the element would be installed in a waterproof box).
I would have to manually turn it on and off and use a stick thermometer but it will work right?
This would be the first step for me if its not to dangerous.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Andy
This being said in an ideal world I would just splurge and buy everything i need. But this being reality i can only afford ordering part by part until i complete this wonderful endeavor.
To start off ill fill you in on what equipment i currently have.
3 S.S. Keg pots set up with HERMS coil in my HLT. my MLT has a false bottom in it. And my Kettle... well it has a valve to release the wort after brewing. I use the HERMS coil to cool the wort down to temperature.
Currently i am using a Namco 1000 watt bucket heater to Heat/keep temperature in my HLT. This takes quite a while to do if im making a 10 gallon batch. Usually i will heat some water on the stove and pour it in to the HLT then pour some out and repeat until i reach my target temp.
This is a PITA but it gets the work done in about an hour to hour and a half.
For my MLT i wrapped it in Aluminum heat tape for hot water heaters. I also wrap a thick shipping blanket over it to keep my mash temp up. This works great and i usually only loose about 4 degrees max and thats on a cold rainy day.
My Kettle is currently heated by a, pardon my french, propane burner. i know some people like them but for me it is a hassle between running out in the middle of batches to not wanting to catch anything on fire when i have to brew under a pop-up tent when it rains.
Now eventually i would like a full electric brewery that i can use indoors and would be similar to Kal's design. I dont want to bother with 120 volt because i would soon be upgrading to 240 volt.
I have very easy access to my dryer outlet so that is not a problem. I know i will need the spa panel as well.
I am going to start off with the HLT and move forward with the Kettle eventually. So i need an element for the HLT i was thinking a 5500 watt but would like some input. Also i am wanting to do a step and be able to brew, then add something and be able to brew.
I know i dont have the money to afford the PID and components yet so is there a way i could brew with a spa panel, switch, and element(the element would be installed in a waterproof box).
I would have to manually turn it on and off and use a stick thermometer but it will work right?
This would be the first step for me if its not to dangerous.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Andy