how to keep HLT hot?

[Lost]

So, is there an easy way to keep your HLT hot? I'm tired of adding boiled water or applying heat every 10 or 15 minutes. Is there an electrical coil with a built in thermostat I could use.. like what's found on a water heater. Anyone done this? It'd be one less thing to worry about.

 

[kneemoe]

are you talking about a mash tun?

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

HLT = Hot Liquor Tank. Lost, i thought someone had a post about this one. check w/ tnlandsailer. i think he has some info on those goodies.

 

[SwAMi75]

I believe it's Sudster who uses a pressure cooker to heat his HLT. Here are some instructions for making your own heatstick, but with no thermostat.

Might be that the easiest option would be to switch to an insulated water cooler, assuming that's not what you have already. Mine will hold my water constant for 1 hour +.

 

[Lost]

cooler.. duh.. what a no brainer.

I'll have to see what I can find.

Those heatsticks look interesting and useful but seeing as how I now have a propane tank and burner I can't really see much use for them. If I wanted to do a step mash I could use my pot as a mash/lauter tun. Neat though.. maybe someday I'll think up a use for them.

 

[Sir Sudster]

I believe it's Sudster who uses a pressure cooker to heat his HLT. Here are some instructions for making your own heatstick, but with no thermostat.

NO, I use a propane burner for my HLT and a pressure cooker for my mash tun. Just settin the record straight..no harm done..pilgrim

 

[tnlandsailor]

I wouldn't waste time and money on a separate system to control the temperature of the HLT. I use a propane burner to heat water in a converted keg with a built in thermometer. I get it close then use my HERMS heat exchanger to put sparge water into the mash tun at the right temp. For those without a HERMS, just use a thermometer with manual heating and you should be fine.

 

[SwAMi75]

Here's a helluva deal on a 10 gallon: http://www.toolup.com/productinfo.asp?ID=1610-tu&man=rubbermaid

Looks like the exact same one I use, just with the "Toolup" logo on it. Insulates extremely well. I wish I could have found them this cheap when I was contemplating putting together my own mashing system.

 

[Steve973]

I *think* that I have the 5 gallon version of that. Anybody know if that'll hold nearly thirteen lbs of grain and 1.5 quarts of water per gallon, plus have enough room to add enough near-boiling water to raise the temperature to 170 for mashout? If not, I think i'm going to upgrade coolers before our mash this weekend.

 

[Lost]

1.5 qt per lb is what I use as well but others have suggested 1.33.. Mash is definately important but I don't think it'll make THAT much difference as long as you stay above the 1 qt per lb mark.. heck the starch conversion will be faster that way.

My first AG batch was close to that and I did fill that sucker right up to the top but I added boiling water several times to keep the mash temp up. Also, I wouldn't bother with a mashout unless you're worried about a stuck sparge. I don't bother with mashout and have had fine effieciency.. I *think* a lot of people skip it without any trouble.

I'll bet though that if you hit the 155F mark and thus didn't have to add any water at any point during the mash you'd have enough space for at least 1.33 qt per lb water AND a mashout... I could be wrong though.