BugAC
Well-Known Member
So I am getting a hot rod heat stick for christmas. It seems like a great product. I plan to use it to heat up my strike water, and would also like to use it to control my whirlpool temperatures. I currently use a 10 gallon cooler system but am planning on buying the SS Brewtech Infussion mash tun shortly.
However, i keep hearing of people using sous vide cookers in brewing, and wonder if a sous vide would be the better solution. With a sous vide, i can set my temp. In order to do that with the hot rod heat stick, in addition to the cost of the heat stick, (about $140) i also have to purchase a temp controller capable of accepting 15A, 1650w ($99). So my cost for my needs with the heat stick is $240. The most expensive i've seen for a sous vide has been about $160 for 1100w cooker. Not to mention, wifi enabled control would make it even better
Will the sous vide do the job i want it to do? Can i get to temps up to 162 (for strike water) in a mash tun or maintain 170 in my kettle with a sous vide? Does the wort negatively impact the sous vide?
However, i keep hearing of people using sous vide cookers in brewing, and wonder if a sous vide would be the better solution. With a sous vide, i can set my temp. In order to do that with the hot rod heat stick, in addition to the cost of the heat stick, (about $140) i also have to purchase a temp controller capable of accepting 15A, 1650w ($99). So my cost for my needs with the heat stick is $240. The most expensive i've seen for a sous vide has been about $160 for 1100w cooker. Not to mention, wifi enabled control would make it even better
Will the sous vide do the job i want it to do? Can i get to temps up to 162 (for strike water) in a mash tun or maintain 170 in my kettle with a sous vide? Does the wort negatively impact the sous vide?
