E-BIAB... Is it worth it?

[Bobby_M]

I probably shouldn't say impractical.
I run my 5500w on 60% output for a vigorous but controlled boil, which equates to 3300 watts. Since there aren't many 3300 watt elements, we'll either go 3000 or 3500. I'll grant the 3500 for this argument. That's 35 minutes to ramp to dough in and another 18 to ramp to boil. On 5500 watts, it's 20min and 11min. While it's true that most people wouldn't build a controller for a few hundred out of pocket to save 22 minutes of heating time, there are other factors you have to consider. First, will you be in front of the pot the moment the thermo reads 155F? No? Factor in time to ditch some hot water and replace with cold. Are you there to watch for the boil over?

I'll modify my position because I don't think fixed wattage systems are impractical. More precisely, I think that given the marginal additional cost of a controller like the EZboil, it is practical to plan to integrate it into your overall electric brewing plans even if you don't plan to let it heat during the mash.

1. Fast and unsupervised ramp to strike temps.
2. Regulated mash temps, should you choose to use it.
3. Built in mash timer with alarm.
4. Built in ramp to boil, with anti-boil over mechanism (and alarm).
5. Quick knob-style intensity adjustment with digital display.
6. Boil timer with end alarm (you could set this timer to your hop additions if you wish).

In addition to just the mash and boil, you can now do long term kettle souring projects and Sou Vide cooking in the same pot.

The last few things I'll say about fixed wattage kettles is that they push you into the same typical costs associated with running a new 240v GFCI circuit but don't make full use of the available current. Putting a 3000 or 3500 watt element on a circuit that can handle 6000 just feels like getting ripped off to me. Finally, if you have a kettle size that allows for different batch sizes, no one fixed wattage is ideal.

I don't know many GF buyers that are completely satisfied with the way the power was designed. Most think the boil is weak and everyone thinks the ramp times are painfully slow which is why I've sold so many hotrods to GF users. Even the simple controller has a low and high setting for mashing and boiling.

 

[ch19]

To further explain myself, switching to ebiab allowed home brewing to remain viable for me. Before we had kids, I could pull off 6 hour brew days in the garage, lugging equipment up and down basement steps, and checking temps regularly. It was "my" time.

Well add a kid to the mix and this time and chit-show of a production was no longer justifiable. My wife enjoys having homebrew around and we both know that if it isnt, we buy expensive craft beer. So we agreed to invest in ebiab (for me this was a simple controller, Bobby's TC integrated element and a GFCI breaker). I can now complete a brew day in under 4 hours, can set temps and wait for an alarm while upstairs, keep all equipment in basement, and can be far more present to the family while brewing.

So, is it worth it? For me, it was how I kept home brewing a part of my chaotic life.

This is me too! The ease of automation that eBIAB enables is what I value the most. I can brew a beer with less time spent watching the kettle and more time watching my kids.

 

[Ashevillain]

Thanks for all the input, i feel like this thread should be a pretty helpful resource for anyone interested in pursuing ebiab. I think my plans will be to go with a controller that has the capability to be fully automated and adjustable, but use it simply without recirc for a while.