120v heater for 30 gallon system

[user 121283]

I'm guessing 120v just isn't enough for a 30 gallon system? I can't seem to find a coil for a 30 gallon kettle that isn't 240v. Can you use hot water heater elements in a boiler? If so, can you wire them for 120v?

 

[jekeane]

120v can't produce the wattage required for boiling 30g.

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

lo 120v cant even boil 15 gallons, I have a 25 and the only thing that works is a 5500 or 6000 watt element

 

[user 121283]

Gotcha... Thanks for the info, working on a plan to upgrade to a 30 gallon system and we'd like to go to electric brewing.

 

[user 121283]

Now what about heating an HLT with a heating element from a hot water heater? Will that get up to the 160ish mark?

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

you can mash with 115 fine but not boil, you will need a 2000 watt but the amps will be close to the same as a 5500 240 volt so more electricity will be used

 

[wilserbrewer]

You could use multiple 120v 2000w elements in a 30 gallon kettle. Say 3 elements for 6000w.

Not the best approach.

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

yes but a huge draw on the electric bill for boiling anyway

 

[user 121283]

Right on... We have a 240 plug already wired we'd like to expand into once we can get the funds to upgrade the boiler. The immediate upgrade I'd like to do is convert the HLT to electric heat. Anyone have a preference on one element over another? What about the thermostat, is there a pre-programmed one I could use? Would it be better to run two 2000w elements or would that just draw more electricity than needed?

Thanks for helping an electric brew noob out gents!!

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

if you have a 240 plug just wait for a 5500 watt 240 element then you will need a pid with a rtd probe to control it, there are many ways to do this and it really all depends on your DIY skills and budget.

trust me the conversion from propane to electric is not a plug and play set up and can run several hundred dollars just for the very basic unit

 

[itsnotrequired]

yes but a huge draw on the electric bill for boiling anyway

your electric bill is based on watts, not amps. electricity cost is the same for 240v or 120v elements.

of course, the 120v setup would require larger wires, multiple elements, etc.

 

[Bellybuster]

its no cheaper to go 120v than 220 if you have the power available. well, maybe a bit but 120v in a 30 gallon system will be painfully slow

4000 watts would take 2 hours to give a 100 degree rise to 30 gallons

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

I or many people here can build you the set up you want based on 240 volts but keep in mind it will run inwards of $500 or more

 

[user 121283]

We planned on getting a boil coil for a 30gal boiler in the future to utilize that 240 plug. So how much are we talking to just get the HLT (15gal) switched over to electric if we just use heating elements from a hot water heater?

 

[Bellybuster]

there are literally thousands of threads and videos on converting to electric. I would say if doing it yourself you could convert for under $150
Seeing your HLT is only 15 gallons I still would never recommend going 120v. I'm sure lots have but that'll take a long damned time to heat the water.

the boil coils are nice but man are they expensive. a 5500 watt element and all the stuff to install it can be had for 50ish dollars

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

that price is if you do it your self and shop wisely

 

[user 121283]

Yea I don't want to wait that long to heat up the hlt... Lol with propane it's been fairly quick. I'll have to look around or the conversion threads and see what people did. Thanks for the info guys!!

 

[wilserbrewer]

Some use low wattage HLT's but put them on a timer to turn on say a few hours before brewing. There is a long thread titled something like "I love waking up to hot strike water.