2 element 120v setup wouldn't boil full volume 5 gallon batch.

[BrunDog]

Did you try insulating your kettle? Even a large towel will make a difference.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Thats good to know! It did produce a pretty rocking boil with the lid partially covering it. So I could still dial it back when it does come to a boil. !



.

All these posts about an underpowered kettle and now your considering turning it down lower....bang head!

 

[Justdrumin]

All these posts about an underpowered kettle and now your considering turning it down lower....bang head!

lol. Well with the lid on it comes to a nice vigorous boil, but like I said, once you take the lid of it dies down to nothing. So with the lid on I'd be able to dial it back a bit. So yes, I suppose I could bang my head on the wall. On top of that, my wife and I are going to look at a house tomorrow with a very nice sized work shop that has a bathroom, heat and ac, and it also has 220

 

[brew703]

I'm not sure I would ever switch to electric. I like the fact I can get a rolling boil in 15 minutes. The electric systems do look nice but way more than I am willing to spend. I hope you get everything working to your satisfaction.

How's Gainesville doing these days? Worked and lived there in the early 90's.

 

[Justdrumin]

Did you try insulating your kettle? Even a large towel will make a difference.

Yup. I wrapped it with that foil like bubble wrap from HD and secured it with two ratchet straps. Good idea!

I'm not sure I would ever switch to electric. I like the fact I can get a rolling boil in 15 minutes. The electric systems do look nice but way more than I am willing to spend. I hope you get everything working to your satisfaction.

How's Gainesville doing these days? Worked and lived there in the early 90's.

It's blown up!! My dad moved here in 05 when there was nothing here, but Buford is starting to overflow into Gainesville. That's why my wife and I are buyin a house up north.

 

[TexasWine]

Yup. I wrapped it with that foil like bubble wrap from HD and secured it with two ratchet straps. Good idea!


It's blown up!! My dad moved here in 05 when there was nothing here, but Buford is starting to overflow into Gainesville. That's why my wife and I are buyin a house up north.

My aunt and uncle operate the Buford Corn Maze just down the road from you. Not sure if you've had the pleasure of partaking, but if you get a chance this fall you should swing by and tell them Benson sent you their way.

http://bufordcornmaze.com/

 

[Justdrumin]

My aunt and uncle operate the Buford Corn Maze just down the road from you. Not sure if you've had the pleasure of partaking, but if you get a chance this fall you should swing by and tell them Benson sent you their way.

http://bufordcornmaze.com/

I've never been. We have driven by it several times. We have been to a few others in the area. We'll have to stop by this fall. They're pretty fun!

 

[ITV]

I just finished building a controller per one of PJ's diagrams. I made my control panel with a pid, single element outlet, pump outlet, switches for a pump, element and pid. One element is a 6000w element hard mounted in a 70 quart pot. I made a 5500w heat stick to supplement the single element in the kettle and running them at 120v which per my calculator gives me 2875w. This should get me to a boil no problem. It got up to 208 and wouldn't get higher than that. I plugged both elements in straight to the wall bypassing the controller and it still wouldn't bring it to a boil. I let them sit for almost two hours and it didn't get over 208. Anyone have any ideas why it won't boil?

If your 5500W heating element is rated at 220V then running it at 120V will only give you 1/4 output (1375W) not 2875W.

 

[TexasWine]

if your 5500w heating element is rated at 220v then running it at 120v will only give you 1/4 output (1375w) not 2875w.

6000 + 5500 = 11,500
11,500 / 4 = 2875

 

[ITV]

6000 + 5500 = 11,500
11,500 / 4 = 2875

My bad, I didn't notice that the 6000W heater was also powered up.

 

[RichBenn]

Do you have the PID controlling this in manual mode?

For diagnostics, I would recommend a wattmeter. How much each is drawing? Also, perhaps you have a bad SSR?

I, like others, think you should be boiling.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I plugged both elements in straight to the wall bypassing the controller and it still wouldn't bring it to a boil. ?

Control panel was bypassed for testing.

At best he might have 2875w in the kettle, and likely less as some elements don't put out quite what they claim. So if he only has 2500-2600w, that's on the cusp of boiling for a kettle that large IME.

 

[germanicus81]

Wait,I never saw how much liquid you were trying to boil. You said your pot is 70 quart? How full was it?

 

[wilserbrewer]

Kettle is 17" tall and 16" wide. Ambient temp was around 70 degrees. I didn't measure actual voltage, but it would presumably be between 110 and 120 as it should be. I am however boiling more like 7.5 gallons due to having such a wide kettle. I know it's not my controller because I decided to try running both elements directly plugged into the wall and still did not get a boil. .

Post 4

 

[Justdrumin]

Wait,I never saw how much liquid you were trying to boil. You said your pot is 70 quart? How full was it?

This is a pretty typical 5.5 gallon batch. Due to the wide kettle, I boil a little more than usual because of the outrageous boil off. I'd say it was around half full.