240v eBrutus 20

[nspaldi0]

What Size kettles are you using and what element did you go with?

 

[iijakii]

62Qt Bayou Classic

5500W Camco

 

[nspaldi0]

Thanks. I've only got the 36 quart and I was wondering if you had that same size. I don't think the ripple element will fit in my BK.

 

[iijakii]

I don't think it will either. The 3500W ULWD foldback should. I think the 4500W elements are just as long as the 5500W. 3500W is plenty of power though for 5gal batches.

 

[iijakii]

Just looked at my electric bill. I'm averaging about $2.40 per day so far for April. Friday I cleaned my apartment really well. Like three loads of laundry (old units, probably the main draw), dishwasher, vacuuming: $5.76. Sunday I brewed and it was $5.42

Cliffs: Electric brewing costs me about $3. Less than doing multiple loads of laundry.

 

[nspaldi0]

Got a link to that 3500 foldback ulwd?

 

[iijakii]

I saw you post the same one in your thread. Looks like just the one on Amazon, which is all 1-3 weeks order time.

An interesting thing to note is that on Camco's site the LWD actually has lower watts per inch than the ULWD. http://www.camco.net/#

So maybe getting the http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006299I6/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 would work best. You should look into it more before buying though, maybe their website is wrong.

 

[nspaldi0]

Thanks. Now back to your thread (sorry for the hijack), I love your finished system. I might have to emulate your panel mount.

 

[iijakii]

No problem at all! Best of luck.

 

[iijakii]

Mashing a 10gal B IPA! I would just like to take the time and say that doughing in 32lb of grain is ridiculous. Heh.

 

[iijakii]

This one is going a lot better. Nailing my mash temps right away, mash is draining beautifully, pH is great. I put in a diptube in the BK and an elbow in the MT, so should get a lot better efficiency this time. Also, since this is a 10gal 1.080 beer I'm trying a mini-batch sparge. Going to use just 2 gallons of cold water to try and rinse a bit. Had the pot out and in-use already for getting strike water, might as well try it.

 

[iijakii]

That one went pretty smooth. I forgot to take an OG, but I can calculate it from my pre-boil. I ended up overshooting a bit, because I boiled too much off. Still haven't really gotten the hang of that too well.

Got 74% efficiency. Not bad for a two-vessel system on a batch roughly 1.090. The diptube in the kettle worked well, but my 90* elbow in the mash tun didn't. I had to pull the pot out of the hole so I could tip it, had a good two gallons in there that I got out. I guess I need to get another diptube cause that is not working. The pot is tough to lift out due to the ball-valve.

Still got some kinks to work out efficiency wise (losing liquid due to MT deadspace, hoses, boil-off rates). Hate myself for not going bottom-drain.

 

[nspaldi0]

Did you ever insulate your boil kettle from the wood. Saw you mention cork board but wasn't sure if you ever did it. I'm at that current stage.

 

[iijakii]

I got some cork board. It's a bit too small for what I want, but it works. Honestly I don't think the insulation is the proble, but if I try to turn or tip it at all without the corkboard I scratch it.