5 gallon cooler for HLT?

[itwalte101]

I found two 10 gallon coolers at HD on Monday (they had 10 minus the 2 I bought), but I am wondering if I should get a 5 gallon to use for PM’ing to replace one of the 10 gallon coolers, and when I go to all-grain to use the 5 gallon as the HLT. Will a 5 gallon cooler be large enough as a HLT if I am only doing 5 gallon batches, but will be doing some high gravity beers? Thanks

 

[wilserbrewer]

Either way will work. Kind of a tough question. IMO both the 5 and 10 gal are oversized for PM. It will depend on how you use the 5 gal HLT. 5 gal will of course not hold all the make up water for a 5 gal batch and will require refilling.

Two 10 gal gives the most room for expansion and would let you heat all of your make up water at once for any 5 gal batch and could handle 10 gal batches.