electric bucket heater?

[Bobb25]

It's been too long since my thermodynamics class. If I place 5 gallons of 100 degree water into an insulated cooler type HLT, how long would it take for a 1500 watt farm supply store bucket heater to raise it to mash temp., say 160 degrees?
Bob

 

[raysmithtx]

I could be way off but I'll take a stab at this.

1500 watts is about 5100 btu/hour

You have 5 gallons at 8.34 lbs. so you have 41.7 pounds of water

1 btu raises 1 pound of water 1 degree and you need 60 degrees.

So 5*8.34*60 = 2502 btus

2502/5100= .49 hours

 

[Bobb25]

Great ! So while the brew is mashing for an hour, the strike water can get up to temperature? This electrical brewing looks interesting. The HLT could be on the top level of a stand that I have yet to build, so that I wouldn't have to lift the hot water from the burner. Then I would only have to use the LPG burner for the boil. Hmmm.

 

[SmokeyMcBong]

I could be way off but I'll take a stab at this.

1500 watts is about 5100 btu/hour

You have 5 gallons at 8.34 lbs. so you have 41.7 pounds of water

1 btu raises 1 pound of water 1 degree and you need 60 degrees.

So 5*8.34*60 = 2502 btus

2502/5100= .49 hours

you gotta be close to bang on although I'd guess a little faster. I have the 1000w bucket heater and it'll get me to mash temp in 45 or so. I'd assume the 1500w would do it faster.

edit: that's in a round 7 gal beverage cooler.

 

[QuercusMax]

I just started using a bucket heater to help heat my water - it really saves a lot of propane. I can heat 10 gallons of water from 60 degrees up to 170 in about 4-5 hours (depending on ambient temperature). It will pay for itself within a few more brew sessions.