3 burner options......advice appreciated

[storytyme]

Hello everyone. Need some advice. After hours upon hours of researching I am down to this scenario. I forgot that I had $50 gift card to Lowes from Christmas. I want to upgrade my current burner which is this:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009JXYPU/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I believe I have 3 options and I would like to know everyone’s thoughts from experiences.
Option 1: Replace the burner in the SP50 with this http://www.lowes.com/pd_406413-1337...t=bayou&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=bayou&facetInfo=
I am not sure if I can do that, or if it is even a smart thing to do.

Option 2: Purchase the Bayou SQ14 http://www.lowes.com/pd_406086-1337...t=bayou&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=bayou&facetInfo=
and not have any out of pocket expense and then use the SP50 to heat up strike water.

-or-

Option 3: Purchase the Bayou KAB4http://www.lowes.com/pd_406074-1337-KAB4_0__?productId=4136568&Ntt=bayou&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dbayou&facetInfo=
and pay some out of pocket and use the SP50 to heat up strike water.

I usually do 5 or 10 gal batches so the boil vol is anywhere from 7.5 to 12ish gal. My boil kettle is this http://spikebrewing.com/collections...products/15-gallon-home-brew-kettle-1-coupler
Thank you everyone for your thoughts. Much appreciated.

 

[cpatel479]

I have both option 2 and 3. I brew with kegs. I personally like option 2 better than 3. 2 doesn't give you as wide of a heating area as 3 but from my experience, they heat at about the same rate. I prefer 2 because it seems to use less propane than 3. I feel like a lot of the heat escapes from around the sides of the keg with option 3 because of the larger heating area where as the flame is completely underneath the keg on option 2.

 

[storytyme]

I have both option 2 and 3. I brew with kegs. I personally like option 2 better than 3. 2 doesn't give you as wide of a heating area as 3 but from my experience, they heat at about the same rate. I prefer 2 because it seems to use less propane than 3. I feel like a lot of the heat escapes from around the sides of the keg with option 3 because of the larger heating area where as the flame is completely underneath the keg on option 2.

Thanks for the advice. Appreciate it.

 

[Reaver]

I have the KAB4 burner, and the distance between burner and kettle bottom needs to be adjusted (cut and drill for new mounts). I can heat 1 x 15gal keggle to strike temps in one hour with it as is. My Blichmann (Same burner in fancy stand) heats quicker with a closer kettle/burner distance. I have adjusted my KAB4's by mounting them in a brewstand. If you don't plan on doing a lot of 10gal, or building a fancy stand, just get #2.

 

[hendo80]

I vote for #3...go for all the BTU you can afford. I got my blichmann for Christmas and I can tell you, I had no idea the amount of time I was wasting with my turkey burner. Now that I'm at full boils for BIAB, with a 16 gallon kettle, I can get to strike temps in 15 minutes on a 9 gallon mash. #3 is more than double the BTU of the smaller burners, so I'd bet you will see a nice difference.

 

[Hops-and-pots]

I use a Partner Steel 4 burner camping stove. That thing is awesome 10,000 btus for each burner. Best part...folds up like a brief case and you can take it with you for your camping, hunting, whitewater and canoe trips. Multi-use so you get more bang for your buck. Thing withstands pretty much any abuse you throw at it.

 

[storytyme]

Thanks everyone for the advice and thoughts.

Any comments on option #1?

 

[storytyme]

I have both option 2 and 3. I brew with kegs. I personally like option 2 better than 3. 2 doesn't give you as wide of a heating area as 3 but from my experience, they heat at about the same rate. I prefer 2 because it seems to use less propane than 3. I feel like a lot of the heat escapes from around the sides of the keg with option 3 because of the larger heating area where as the flame is completely underneath the keg on option 2.

So am I correct in saying the the SP50 and the SQ14 have close to the same BTU, but the SQ14 is much more efficient?

Isn't the SP50 a tall version of the SP10?

 

[storytyme]

I have the KAB4 burner, and the distance between burner and kettle bottom needs to be adjusted (cut and drill for new mounts). I can heat 1 x 15gal keggle to strike temps in one hour with it as is. My Blichmann (Same burner in fancy stand) heats quicker with a closer kettle/burner distance. I have adjusted my KAB4's by mounting them in a brewstand. If you don't plan on doing a lot of 10gal, or building a fancy stand, just get #2.

I'm thinking of going with the KAB4 model. What is the distance the burner need to be from the kettle? It isn't "out of the box" ready?

 

[Reaver]

There are some threads on this. And for full disclosure I have NOT used my burners since adjusting them.

I wrote this thread after ordering my 2nd and finding it was different than the first.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/bayou-classic-kab4-differences-models-510397/

and here is another discussing it...
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f253/how-far-should-burner-keggle-454266/index2.html

My Blichmann is 2.75" from burner tips to kettle surface.
KAB4 is 4.75" from burner tips to kettle surface.

IIRC... one of the other users already did tested his KAB4 vs Blichmann. I had just my observations, no numbers, but new my Blichmann was more effective/efficient. I cut the legs off my KAB4 and mounted them into my Single Tier Strut Stand. I set it up so my Burner to Kettle distance is the same as the Blichmann.

 

[storytyme]

There are some threads on this. And for full disclosure I have NOT used my burners since adjusting them.

I wrote this thread after ordering my 2nd and finding it was different than the first.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/bayou-classic-kab4-differences-models-510397/

and here is another discussing it...
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f253/how-far-should-burner-keggle-454266/index2.html

My Blichmann is 2.75" from burner tips to kettle surface.
KAB4 is 4.75" from burner tips to kettle surface.

IIRC... one of the other users already did tested his KAB4 vs Blichmann. I had just my observations, no numbers, but new my Blichmann was more effective/efficient. I cut the legs off my KAB4 and mounted them into my Single Tier Strut Stand. I set it up so my Burner to Kettle distance is the same as the Blichmann.

Thanks. Looks like a great burner but some modifications are needed. Appreciate the info.