EBIAB brewing question

[mattnday]

I made my first batch with my new setup and am now a bit unsure about how to use my setup properly.

I am using a 15 gallon pot with a PID temp sensor and valve 1.5" from the bottom of the pot and a 4500 watt heating element just slightly above that.

I have a false bottom set up just slightly above the heating element which is about 2.75" from the bottom of the pot.

What I found is the temperature in my mash (measured via thermometer was significantly different than the temperature my thermometer was reading below the false bottom.

I monitored the mash temperature and adjusted the temp as needed to maintain my desired 158 degrees but ultimately would like to do this with my PID instead of the manual process which I used my last brew session.

Any advice?

 

[h22lude]

Are you recirculating the mash? If so, one of your thermometers is not calibrated. If you aren't, that is your problem.

 

[Lynchy217]

If you're trying to tightly control mash temps with a PID in eBIAB, you have to recirculate in my experience. Get a March pump or a chugger pump and just let that pull wort from the bottom of the kettle and recirculate to the top. This should be pretty easy for you, since you already have the valve at the bottom. In my experience, where you measure the actual temperature doesn't really matter at that point because the mixing tends to be good enough.

 

[mattnday]

Guilty on all accounts

I didn't have the spray head I wanted for pot so I didn't recirculate this time around.

I will play with my setup this weekend and get it dialed in

Thanks