Blichmann Boil Coil

[steveoatley]

Check the mechanical drawing of the coil you want to use and measure your pot before buying, but you should be able to work it out.

Ebr3w

do you think I could get this to fit in the middle ?

http://stainlessbrewing.3dcartstore...s-request-035-304304L-Coiled-Tubing_p_30.html

25ft - 1/2 inch - similar to the photo on top

Sneak one output under the Boil Coil, the other above the BC

Thanks

 

[Ebr3w]

Maybe. You would prob need to interlock the coils. Maybe you could put the boil coil as low as possible and put the other coil above it if that works out with the height of your pot.

 

[week0019]

General Data with my setup:

Images: http://imgur.com/a/oRs5v

Kettle: Blichmann Boilermaker 10-Gallon
Element: Boil Coil (120v 10-Gallon 2250w)
PID: Auber Instruments SYL-2352

Heating times with 5 gallons of water:

76F to 152F: 30 minutes
76F to Boil: 59 minutes
Boil-off rate at 100% power: 0.96 Gal/hr

Can you comment on the boil strength? I have the 2000w in an 8 gallon kettle that is nearly identical dimensionally to the blichmann 7.5 gallon kettle.

My heating with 5 gallons is very similar to yours, mine is:
75F to 165F in 35 minutes
75F to boil in 63 minutes
but the boil is not much more than some bubbles coming directly off the coils. I wouldn't call it a rolling boil. My boil off is more like 0.5 gal/hr.

This is at 100% power.

I would have assumed since the heating rate is so similar the boil off would be too.

Also maybe I should mention that my 40A SSR was very warm even though I was operating (or attempting to operate) at 100%. Does the SSR being very warm indicate it's doing some switching? I didn't touch the settings from heating, which seemed to go very well, to boil.

 

[guitarguy6]

So happy I found this thread. If I get the 4500W version and am only doing 5gallon batches would I be correct in assuming that getting room temp water to roughly 170f for sparging would take about 20min? What would be a simple way to control the power going to it?

Thanks!

 

[trimixdiver1]

A SCR on a temperature controller

 

[Brewnanook]

SwissCheese, I'm looking to put a 10 Gallon Boilcoil into my 10 Gallon Bayou Classic Kettle(I still need to measure to make sure it will fit). My only concern is that I'll likely need to build a control panel like yours. How hard was it to build? Do you happen to have a parts list?

Krieger, have you had a chance to install the boilcoil in the bayou 10 gal pot? I'm looking at doing the same, but would like to know if it's possible to use the Basket as well?

Or if any one else has done this could you let me know your thoughts?

 

[TrickyDick]

Does anybody know if you can heat the kettle with a traditional propane burner once you've installed the boil coil??

TD


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[geoffey]

Does anybody know if you can heat the kettle with a traditional propane burner once you've installed the boil coil??

TD


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I'd be interested to hear what others say about this. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to, but a heat shield would be called for. I'd think this main problem would be keeping the electric cord from getting too hot. It's more than just the rubber and plastic you need to worry about. If the cooper inside the cable gets too hot or may cause electrical problems, make your breaker trip prematurely, etc.




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[TrickyDick]

Just heard back from JB himself:

I would not recommend that as it will certainly damage the plug and possible the heating element.

I guess that answers it.



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[geoffey]

I bet it would be fine if you didn't have a huge flame and had some kind of heat shield. But probably better to not risk it. I don't think JB could say anything else without some legal risks.


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[mwill07]

has anyone got any pictures of one of these installed in a standard keggle?

Thanks!

 

[trimixdiver1]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1423693392.697389.jpg

 

[mwill07]

View attachment 255692

thank you. looks like a nice fit.

There is concern with things like immersion chillers touching conventional heaters while they are on...would that be an issue with these boil coils?

 

[mwill07]

oops, never mind. double post.

 

[Maubach]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1423769285.725773.jpg
I had to flatten out a part of the area where one of the holes was drilled to get a good seal. (Natural curved area of keg)

 

[quaboagbrewing]

A kettle is a kettle. The blichmann needs to make room for the dip tube but other than that, use the template and drill 2 5/8 holes.

View attachment 218453View attachment 218454

This is 2 4500w coils in my HLT Keggle.

So I'm looking at using in my 15 gallon spike kettle. Printed out the template. My kettle valve is installed lower in the spike kettle then in the Blichmann so when aligning the template to the valve the bottom 5/8 hole would be too low....so not sure what to align the template with. Anyone else run into the same thing? Suggestions? Was thinking about getting the 120v for my 8 gallon kettle but same deal....when aligned with the valve it's too low. Starting to wonder if I should sell both kettles and just get a 20 gallon Blichmann.

 

[ingchr1]

....so not sure what to align the template with. Anyone else run into the same thing? Suggestions?...

It doesn't have to be aligned with anything. You can place it anywhere in the kettle, as long as it doesn't interfere with anything inside and there is room for the plug on the outside. The lower in the kettle the better.

 

[trimixdiver1]

It doesn't have to be aligned with anything. You can place it anywhere in the kettle, as long as it doesn't interfere with anything inside and there is room for the plug on the outside. The lower in the kettle the better.

What he said

And if it does interfere with your kettle valve dip tube, you can spread the coil apart. I re rolled a 5kw coil to fit into a 1/2bbl keg.

 

[chisena]

Krieger, have you had a chance to install the boilcoil in the bayou 10 gal pot? I'm looking at doing the same, but would like to know if it's possible to use the Basket as well?



Or if any one else has done this could you let me know your thoughts?

I did this for my eHERMS; 10G 240V coil in a 10G Bayou Classic. See below...

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1427774285.706814.jpg

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1427774303.831144.jpg

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1427774320.499674.jpg

 

[BillyWhiteLegs]

Has anyone installed a Boilcoil in a 20 gal. Stout Kettle?. The kettle is 15.75" inside Dia. so I guess I would have to use the 4500W coil which has a 14.4" Dia? But really want the 5000W element (it won't fit?) to boil 12.5 to 13.5 gal. of wort for 90 min. to yield 11 gal. to fermemt. Is the 500 watt difference going to make that much more time to come a boil?

 

[part16john]

Inside a 20 gallon boilermaker

 

[NateBrew]

I brewed my first batch using the 10g 240V BoilCoil in a homebrewing.org 9gal pot. I'm very pleased with the performance. I found that I had to run it at about 85% to maintain a nice rolling boil with 8g of wort in the pot.

I have the system setup to act kind of like a RIMS with the full volume of water, half in the kettle and half in the tun. I am using a TA4 temperature controller and a separate PWM knob to control the element with a switch to change between them.

One thing that I did find out, by accident, was that dry firing the element didn't destroy it immediately. When I pumped the water into the tun I forgot to turn off the heater. Then, while it was recirculating I had to go deal with something else for a few minutes and my in/out flow rates weren't quite matched so the top turn of the element got exposed. The splashing wort burned onto the element pretty bad, but with a scrubbing pad and some barkeepers friend it cleaned right up and I was able to continue.

 

[chisena]

One thing that I did find out, by accident, was that dry firing the element didn't destroy it immediately. When I pumped the water into the tun I forgot to turn off the heater. Then, while it was recirculating I had to go deal with something else for a few minutes and my in/out flow rates weren't quite matched so the top turn of the element got exposed. The splashing wort burned onto the element pretty bad, but with a scrubbing pad and some barkeepers friend it cleaned right up and I was able to continue.

I always forget to turn my coil off in my RIMS when the water level drops below it. Definitely discolored from dry firing. It's still working though... Knock on wood.

 

[mwill07]

are you guys still happy with the boilcoil?

 

[NateBrew]

I'm probably 20 batches into my boilcoil and I wouldn't trade it for anything (brewing wise). It has been great, the only thing that is a tiny bit annoying is cleaning the scale off of it that can form sometimes. Since it is a coil, it just takes a lot of time working around the loops to get the stuff off. It isn't a big deal, and I only have to do it every 5-8 batches.

I guess the real proof is that if mine broke today, I would go buy another one to replace it without hesitation.

 

[johnsant]

Didn't look through the whole thread but if you are still looking for a Tower of Power check out High Gravity.

http://www.highgravitybrew.com/store/pc/Blichmann-Tower-of-Power-trade-Stand-no-Pump-269p4478.htm

 

[Ebr3w]

Still happy with mine. I've probably done about 15 batches. Only issue is cleaning it is kind of a pain, but not too bad really. I recommend it still.

 

[chefjaypeek]

I've got the 55 gallon G2 kettles with one element in each for brewing 1bbl batches. Other than having an initial problem with the cords which was due to a manufacturing issue and Blichmann swapped the full coils and cords out without an issue, they have worked great. I am still thinking I am going to get another coil for the BK just to speed up getting to a boil, but that is for another day. I brew about once a week now, but that should also be going up soon.

For cleaning I got a fairly stiff plastic brush with a long handle and use that with warm pbw. Gets the coils to look like new.

 

[XPLSV]

I've got the 55 gallon G2 kettles with one element in each for brewing 1bbl batches. Other than having an initial problem with the cords which was due to a manufacturing issue and Blichmann swapped the full coils and cords out without an issue, they have worked great. I am still thinking I am going to get another coil for the BK just to speed up getting to a boil, but that is for another day. I brew about once a week now, but that should also be going up soon.

For cleaning I got a fairly stiff plastic brush with a long handle and use that with warm pbw. Gets the coils to look like new.

I had been wondering about performance on the larger batch volumes. With the single coil, what kind of times do you get for your temperature raises and how is your boil performance on that full 1 bbl volume?

 

[chefjaypeek]

I have not timed it exactly, but I will try to get better numbers tomorrow when I brew. General numbers if I turn on the HLT at 8 am I can usually start transferring my strike water (165-170) around 10 30, starting point is probably 65-68. I turn the boil element on as soon as it is covered and by the time I am done fly sparging and have my 35 or so gallons boil volume it is around 180, and takes about an hour to an hour and a half to get to actual boil. Both numbers are longer than I would like, but it does work as while I am waiting for the strike water to heat, I will go put things in the smoker, count the money, etc. When I am waiting on the boil, I usually eat lunch and then keg whatever is in the fermenter that I need to put the fresh wort, and clean out the grain from the HLT. The boil is a good rolling boil, but that is full blast, and I did put 3 layers of reflectix on the boil kettle.

From turning on the panel and starting the strike water heating to everything cleaned up is usually an 8 hour day. I think with a second coil in both vessels I could cut that down to about 6 hours. Since I have other duties at the brewpub though, it works for me. With our pending distribution though, I may add the extra coils.

I will try to remember to take a picture and better notes on the actual times tomorrow.