Electric BIAB

[brueng78]

I need more info to quote this:
1. Watts per element?
2. You want On/OFF element control, or power intensity (more expensive)?
3. Both elements controlled simultaneously or one at a time (one or the other not both)?
4. What circuit would you be power this from? 240V 30A, or 50A?
5. What type of float switch do you have in mind? Switch power off to elements if water level too low, or something else?
6. Do you have a float sw selected or open to suggestions?
7. What model Inkbird PID would you be using?
8. How do you want to connect to each/both elements (what type of connector(s))?
9. what type of connector for the 240V power outlet?

 

[Polobeers]

I didnt read through all of these posts but I constantly see the argument between 120 volt and 240 volt which is better, basicly it boils down to (pardon the pun) watts. Elements have a designed amount of resistance, resistance does not change. Voltage and amperage however do. I'll use a 3000 watt element as a example. Power or watts / voltage = amperage so 3000 watts at 120 volts leaves you needing a 25 amp circuit, or a 3000 watt element at 240 volts uses 12.5 amps. A common configuration I see is 2 1500 watt elements plugged into 2 seperate circuits wich is perfectly fine. So 1500 watts/120 volts = 12.5 amps on 2 seperate circuits in your house still nets you 3000 watts total. The only problem I would see is if some one used say a single 3000 watt element on a 120 volt circuit the load on that circuit would then be 25 amps obviously overloading a 20 amp circuit. I have a 5500 watt element on a 240 volt circuit in my keggle, it pulls 22 amps per phase with a total load of 44 amps on the panel. Long story short a watt is a watt.