Well guys, after scorching another batch of beer, I am looking to remove standard HWD 120V 2000W element from my kettle. I know everyone claims that it doesn't happen and so on, but I have proven it can be done and I don't want this to be a thread about how no one else has had problems. I want to discuss an alternative and that is all.
Anyways, to put an end to this problem once and for all, I was doing some research and came up with an idea. I was reading the thread about the externally heated RIMS tube (link here) and it got me thinking. What if we externally heated the entire kettle/mash tun?
I started looked around for a product to do this and came across these silicone sheet heaters from various manufactures. It seems like this would be the perfect solution to ALL scorching issues. You will never have any direct contact between the wort and the heating element. It would essentially simulate heating the pot with a propane burner to some extent (except for the amount of heat you can put in i would imagine).
The heaters are self adhesive and could be adhered right to the outside of any kettle. I would plan on putting a layer of insulation over them to help with efficiency and to keep you from touching the heaters themselves. They can get up to about 300°F.
The biggest limiting factor I can see for this system so far is the low power input possibilities. The watt densities are so low (2.5-10 w/in^2) that it takes a larger surface area to get enough heat in.
Here is a link to the pages with the heaters. http://www.omega.com/Heaters/pdf/SRMU_HEATER.pdf
Do this seem as feasible to everyone else as it does to me?
Anyways, to put an end to this problem once and for all, I was doing some research and came up with an idea. I was reading the thread about the externally heated RIMS tube (link here) and it got me thinking. What if we externally heated the entire kettle/mash tun?
I started looked around for a product to do this and came across these silicone sheet heaters from various manufactures. It seems like this would be the perfect solution to ALL scorching issues. You will never have any direct contact between the wort and the heating element. It would essentially simulate heating the pot with a propane burner to some extent (except for the amount of heat you can put in i would imagine).
The heaters are self adhesive and could be adhered right to the outside of any kettle. I would plan on putting a layer of insulation over them to help with efficiency and to keep you from touching the heaters themselves. They can get up to about 300°F.
The biggest limiting factor I can see for this system so far is the low power input possibilities. The watt densities are so low (2.5-10 w/in^2) that it takes a larger surface area to get enough heat in.
Here is a link to the pages with the heaters. http://www.omega.com/Heaters/pdf/SRMU_HEATER.pdf
Do this seem as feasible to everyone else as it does to me?