Electric hot plate

[tonkota]

I've been searching for information about hot plates and I haven't found what I am looking for. I want to get a hot plate that will allow me to boil 5 gallon batches in my basement so I don't have to carry a 5 gallon carboy down the stairs. My beer room is in the basement and I can control the temperature in that single room with out keeping the entire house at 68*.

Does anyone have a make/model number that you use or have used? Is the one at Wal*Mart (or any box store) strong enough?

I have a 22 quart stainless steel brew pot.

 

[Clonefarmer]

I don't know about hot plates, but if you are just wanting to use one so you don't have to move a carboy maybe the Brew Hauler will help.

 

[tonkota]

Anyone use this one: http://www.missionrs.com/6310-1.html

Well, if I slip and fall (which I have done) the beer will make a sticky mess and I'm trying not to take over our small kitchen when I brew. It was fine with the Mr. Beer stuff, but me stepping up to the next level would be better in the basement.

 

[Ohio-Ed]

I don't have any experience with Hot Plates.

If you have any interest in DIY stuff, you might search this site for threads on "Heat Sticks".

Ed

 

[JVD_X]

There is a guy using induction cookers.

 

[pjj2ba]

There is a guy using induction cookers.

That would be me. However, I don't boil with them, I use them to direct heat my mash tun and my HLT. At 1400 watts they don't have enough oomph to get 6+ gal. to a rolling boil. You might be able to do a partial boil. Most hot plates don't have the power my induction cookers do.

 

[tonkota]

I give up. Even if I had one with enough wattage, it would still take forever to make a batch. I'll just find a propane burner and use a brew hauler.

Thanks.

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

I give up. Even if I had one with enough wattage, it would still take forever to make a batch. I'll just find a propane burner and use a brew hauler.

Thanks.

As mentioned above, try a heatstick, or even better, two heatsticks (if you have access to more than one 20 amp circuit).

They work great!

:rockin:

 

[Hermit]

I looked and couldn't find a suitable hot plate. However if you want to go electric, the element in the brew kettle looks easy enough and that is the way I plan on going. You need 240 V though. I couldn't even find a 240V hot plate that would handle a 5 gallon boil. If I did I don't remember it because of cost.

 

[tonkota]

what do you mean element in the brew kettle? Heat Stick?

 

[Hermit]

what do you mean element in the brew kettle? Heat Stick?

No. Just drill a hole. POL has described it as a simple procedure. Drill hole, stick in element, tighten nut.

 

[tonkota]

Link to a write up? I'm having trouble finding it with google.

 

[The Pol]

Oh, there goes THE POL again making stuff look easy.

It is easy. Drill hole, insert element, tighten nut.

I can get a boil going in NO TIME with electric. Remember, gas heat is very inefficient, you net about 30-40% of those BTUs, you net about 100% when using an immersed element.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/bling-bling-electric-herms-conversion-93217/

Here are some instructions, parts lists... simple stuff.