BIAB Electric Brewery

[Wolfhausen83]

Nice build, do you have a false bottom, or just using the basket? Any issues with the electric element burning the bag?

 

[ameliabrewery]

I used the basket with enlarged holes. During the boil the paint strainer I used for hops was laying on the element and it did not scorch or melt.

 

[ameliabrewery]

Oh by the way I got 70% efficiency on my first batch on the new rig. Not too shabby.

 

[borny]

That looks awesome! Nice and clean.

I'm in the process of completing my ebiab. I went with a different kettle, but now on wishing I would've stuck with the bayou classic...

 

[gunner65]

Oh by the way I got 70% efficiency on my first batch on the new rig. Not too shabby.

And on a ten gallon batch to boot.

 

[tre9er]

Hope you don't mind me asking: How did you do the element mounting? Weldless? If so, did you use the stock o-ring on the outside and just a locknut on inside, or did you ditch the stock o-ring and use a locknut/o-ring on the inside?

 

[ameliabrewery]

I used stock gasket on outside with o-ring and nut on inside. Thought of removing stock gasket but it worked without removing it.

 

[tre9er]

any teflon tape or silicone on the threads?

 

[ameliabrewery]

Nope, and no leaks, but I have only brewed once on this system. I will post after next couple brews.

 

[tre9er]

Thanks. The reason I asked is that using the o-ring on the inside means the kettle is sealed around the edges of the o-ring, but water can still travel the threads. The outer o-ring is smashed between the element and kettle-wall, preventing water from leaking down the sides of the kettle, but water is still technically touching that stock outer o-ring, which isn't technically "food safe". The surface area it touches is very low, just saying though.

I'm told that silicone and teflon are basically inert up to their melting points, which are not exceeded by a boil.

On my mash tun (a cooler) I used baby-bottle nipple as the inner gasket and a SS washer behind that, followed by the locknut. This gave me a hard press seal and I used teflon tape on the threads. No leaks and a firm seal. I kinda don't want the element to rotate at all and finger-tightening with inner o-ring seems like it would give the element some play.

 

[ameliabrewery]

Cool idea.

That did cross my mind. But I am stubborn and figured the amount of any 'death dealing' substances or off flavors would be infinitesimally small.(woo, my big word for the day)

As for movement of the element, I have to force it to move. I am guessing the rubber gasket is helping to eliminate movement.

 

[tre9er]

If I have room, I may use outer o-ring plus silicone nipple gasket as a precaution. But I'll coat the threads with PTFE or silicone to keep the liquid on the inside, and out of contact with the stock o-ring.

Thanks again.

 

[borny]

Baby bottle nipple? Interesting, do you have any pictures?

 

[tre9er]

I tried the nipple gasket idea last night but has some leaks. The larger baby bottle nipples I got had extra silicone on the base making it hard to get a flush seal even after trimming with scissors. They were the perfect size though. My holes in my kettle aren't perfect either thanks to the damn hole saw walking.

I ended up using the bf o-rings and lock nuts, plus I put ptfe tape on the threads and lined the hole with silicone sealer. Boil tested 6.5 gallons today with no leaks.

I did use a piece of baby bottle nipple for the ground lug and it sealed without leaks.

 

[tre9er]

The pics are in the "about to mount elements" thread near the end

 

[ameliabrewery]

Just posted a new thread about this false bottom I purchased for my BIAB system.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f170/bayou-classic-false-bottom-367266/

 

[tre9er]

I use those same PVC junction boxes on my elements!

 

[BoxBrewer]

What wattage is your element?

 

[ameliabrewery]

The element is 5500w.

 

[grunewaldj]

I noticed that you used a fuse but no resistors with your emergency stop button, have you had any problems with that? I know others have talked about it in other threads but wanted to know how it worked for you.

 

[ameliabrewery]

I did use resistors. The red line running to the fuse block has the two resistors. I used red shrink tubing over them. If you look close you can see it.

 

[johns]

Nice thread. I want your system, or I mean I want to make your system. It looks really nice. Does the efficiency really improve that much with a HERMS system installed? As for me, I am thinking about bigger beers in a bigger stockpot (at least 80 quarts). 62 quarts might be a bit small for me, that's why I am looking for something a bit bigger, but I have not decided on which one to get. Do you have a link for your false bottom?