Beginner Q on element control

[lalh20]

I'm looking to do a build of a 220V system for my eBIAB setup using either a 4500 or 5500 watt element (5-10 gallon batches in 16 gal keggle)

I feel like I understand the setups - all except for one thing. I read of people saying "with the element at X percent". Is that something the PID is capable of or is there a separate control for that?

Also, is it bad to overbuild with a 5500 watt element in case I expand or are there reasons that may be a mistake?

 

[Bensiff]

I wouldn't say that 5500w is overbuilding, I do both 5 and 10 gallon batches at 5500w and wouldn't want less power. You can run your element one of two ways, on/off or variable power. I run mine on/off with a PID. I set the PID to percentage time on/off for a given amount of time...ie 75% on during a 2 second cycle. If you want to control the element via amperage, my understanding of that setup is pretty much a potentiometer with a SSVR (a special form of SSR that allows the variable control to work). But, I don't have experience with that system so I can't give you details.

 

[HumulusHead]

If you only want to control the percentage and don't care about dialing in an exact temp (which is prob what you want to do for a BK) auber makes a controller that is a simple turn knob to quickly set the percent from 0-100. Looks pretty slick. But if you also want to control the temp say for mashing, I'd go with the standard auber PID that everyone uses. Has both options of set temp and power percentage.

I'm currently designing a control panel that will use one PID to control both HLT and BK with a selector switch to change what the PID will be controlling. Basically the same setup would work for you just skipping the selector switch and 2nd element.

 

[BadNewsBrewery]

I have an eHERMS system, a 5500w element in the HLT and a 4500w in the BK. I am set up to do back-to-back batches, so I wanted to have a little wiggle room in the amperage which is why I went with the 45 instead of two 55s. I never have problem getting to a raging boil, even when I've got 14gallons of wort in there at the start of boil.

I have a dedicated PID for the boil kettle and don't need to do any mashing, but it's nice to be able to set the temperature to 209*F and let the controller get everything up to near boil. Then, when I'm ready, I can switch over to manual mode and run between 66-75% to get a rolling boil. The dial / SSVR option allows you to dial whatever percentage you want, but eliminates the ability to set a temperature to get near boil and hold.

-Kevin