BrewBeemer
Well-Known Member
I read about the High Gravity system that use a low density 4,500 watt electric heating element in their 15.5 gallon HLT and a 3,500 for their brew pot. From what I understand they run their system at 220 volts for brewing up to 15 gallon batches.
Questions I have:
Would the heating element cause scorching the wort being run at 220 volts vs 120 volts?
Is there enough heat from 3,500 watts on the brew pot to allow a rolling boil without scorching? This with a converted keg operating in a 60 degree F environment.
What I am thinking is why not weld in a 1 1/2" by 15" long stainless tube into the lower section of a keg with a cap on end plus a step down fitting to 1" pipe thread for the 4,500 watt screw in heater and run it on 220 volts. Have a short sight gauge connected to this tube that extends outside the keg filled with anti-freeze allowing for the sight level plus expansion of the anti-freeze when heated. This way you can have a high electrial heating with 220 volts plus a large surface area from the 1 1/2" by 13" long stainless tubing allowing for heat transfer without scorching.
I have propane plus natral gas in the patio but rather have a electrically heated and PID controlled system.
Am I thinking on the right track here?
Only at a paper design stage here.
Questions I have:
Would the heating element cause scorching the wort being run at 220 volts vs 120 volts?
Is there enough heat from 3,500 watts on the brew pot to allow a rolling boil without scorching? This with a converted keg operating in a 60 degree F environment.
What I am thinking is why not weld in a 1 1/2" by 15" long stainless tube into the lower section of a keg with a cap on end plus a step down fitting to 1" pipe thread for the 4,500 watt screw in heater and run it on 220 volts. Have a short sight gauge connected to this tube that extends outside the keg filled with anti-freeze allowing for the sight level plus expansion of the anti-freeze when heated. This way you can have a high electrial heating with 220 volts plus a large surface area from the 1 1/2" by 13" long stainless tubing allowing for heat transfer without scorching.
I have propane plus natral gas in the patio but rather have a electrically heated and PID controlled system.
Am I thinking on the right track here?
Only at a paper design stage here.