3 Burner System

[Captian]

from Adventures in Homebrewing. I live in a house but plan on moving around a bit in the next few years, so i want a system that's easy to move. This system seem expensive but good for my needs. Looking form some advice here. Is there a better burner system out there or should i pull the trigger on this one?

http://www.homebrewing.org/3-Burner-System-14-Propane-Burners--220000-BTU_p_1487.html

 

[Catt22]

IMO, that 3-burner system is way overpriced at $220 plus shipping and the diffuser burners are not the most desirable. You would be better off getting three of the Bayou Classic SQ-14's: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009JXYQ4/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 You could easily rig up a manifold to run all three from a single tank. Hook them up with quick disconnects like these and you would be good to go: http://www.flameengineering.com/Quick_Connectors.html

The only problem I can see with running three burners from a single cylinder is that it might ice up the tank to the point that the gas flow could be inhibited. It's unlikely that you would be running three burners at the same time and certainly not all three wide open, so that might not be a problem at all. If it is, you could optionally get a larger propane tank, put the tank in a large tub of water or have another tank standing by that you could switch to while you warm up the first one.

 

[Captian]

Why are diffuser burners not the most desirable?

 

[Catt22]

Why are diffuser burners not the most desirable?

IMO & IME, the diffuser cup type burners don't spread the flame very well. I do not like how they burn at low flame levels. They burn rather dirty. The one I have will set off my CO2 detector at high flame levels where my other two burners do not. They are not as fuel efficient as my other two burners at equivalent flame levels. This is a popular and inexpensive burner and there are lots of people who would disagree I am sure. The bottom line for me is that there are better choices available at about the same price or only slightly more. A lot depends on how you are using the burner. Most any burner would do OK for a BK or an HLT, but it's a different story if you are direct firing your MT, which is what I am doing. I prefer the ring type burner that is standard equipment on the Bayou Classic SQ-14. My least favorite burner is the single pipe type jet burner. Next worst are the multi-jet wok burners which have no means to adjust the air/fuel ratio. The Hurricane and Banjos are overkill and burn a lot of fuel. It's difficult to operate them at very low flame levels. They are very susceptible to wind at low flame levels. What I would like to see is a burner about the diameter of the Banjos with maybe only 1/3 as many gas ports. That might provide better heat distribution and improve operation at low flame levels. I have thought about plugging up 2/3rds of the ports with one of those just to see how it would perform. I would use small sheet metal screws as plugs for the ports. Those could easily be removed if it did not work well. Another project...

 

[Captian]

IMO & IME, the diffuser cup type burners don't spread the flame very well. I do not like how they burn at low flame levels. They burn rather dirty. The one I have will set off my CO2 detector at high flame levels where my other two burners do not. They are not as fuel efficient as my other two burners at equivalent flame levels. This is a popular and inexpensive burner and there are lots of people who would disagree I am sure. The bottom line for me is that there are better choices available at about the same price or only slightly more. A lot depends on how you are using the burner. Most any burner would do OK for a BK or an HLT, but it's a different story if you are direct firing your MT, which is what I am doing. I prefer the ring type burner that is standard equipment on the Bayou Classic SQ-14. My least favorite burner is the single pipe type jet burner. Next worst are the multi-jet wok burners which have no means to adjust the air/fuel ratio. The Hurricane and Banjos are overkill and burn a lot of fuel. It's difficult to operate them at very low flame levels. They are very susceptible to wind at low flame levels. What I would like to see is a burner about the diameter of the Banjos with maybe only 1/3 as many gas ports. That might provide better heat distribution and improve operation at low flame levels. I have thought about plugging up 2/3rds of the ports with one of those just to see how it would perform. I would use small sheet metal screws as plugs for the ports. Those could easily be removed if it did not work well. Another project...

So if I am looking for three burners and plan on a direct fire MT what would you recommend?

 

[Catt22]

So if I am looking for three burners and plan on a direct fire MT what would you recommend?

I would get this type: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009JXYQ4/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

You can buy just the burner casting by itself: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009JXYT6/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I would operate the burners with 0-10 or 0-15 adjustable pressure regulators and use separate regulators for each burner.

I only use two burners, one for the MT and one for the BK. I use a bucket heater for my cooler HLT. My system is what I refer to as a modular direct fired RIMS. The burners are stand alone and not mounted on a stand or rig.