Electric keggle questions

[Ramdough]

So, I am looking into doing all grain electric brewing, but a friend warned me against putting the heating elements in inside the keggle because they can burn materials at the surface of the element and introduce off flavors.

Is this true?

 

[MrNatural]

Where did friend suggest putting the element if not inside?

 

[hillhousesawdustco]

Pretty hard to heat a keggle with electricity without putting low density elements inside...unless you had a ridiculously huge "hot-plate" sort of thing. Search around on the forums there are about 1 zillion different electric builds.

 

[Ramdough]

Where did friend suggest putting the element if not inside?

He suggested an induction type setup.

That just sounded like too much work for me.

 

[MrNatural]

Sounds more like too much $$$$$ to me!
Plus, not sure how induction behaves with the different distances to the heating surface you'd have with a keggle bottom.
Not to mention that now you're basically talking bottom fired.

 

[TreeBeard]

I’ve actually built an electric brewing system using keggles and have never had any off taste or scorching. The only thing i would consider doing different would be to cut open the bottom of the keg instead of the top (spear end). I think the bottom drain idea would be great.

 

[Ramdough]

I’ve actually built an electric brewing system using keggles and have never had any off taste or scorching. The only thing i would consider doing different would be to cut open the bottom of the keg instead of the top (spear end). I think the bottom drain idea would be great.

What is a typical brew batch size for a keggle setup? I have heard 10 gallons and I have heard 7 gallons. I think my target would be 10 gallons finished beer.

Thanks

 

[Airplanedoc]

He suggested an induction type setup.

That just sounded like too much work for me.

I'm not sure induction would work with a keggle. In addition to the curved bottom problem. I'm not sure a keg has enough ferocity to induction cook. Most stainless pots and pans for induction cooking have bottoms that are layered with ferrous steel.

I use a ULWD element with no scorching or burning problems. Turning down the power input with the PID helps as well

 

[hillhousesawdustco]

Keggles are 15.5 gallons so they work great for 5-12 gallon batches with 10 gallon being the most common