Is this boiling?

[evandena]

You've insulated the pot to reduce loss & verified that 240V is reaching the element. Do you have a way to measure the current drawn by the element? The current should be very close to 23 Amps - if you are drawing less than 19 Amps then you have a mismarked 4500 Watt element.

If you can't measure current drawn then measure the resistance across the plug. A 5500 Watt element will be about 10.5 ohms, a 4500 watt element will be about 12.8 ohms.

Yes, its 23 amps.
Another 4500w element is on the way.

 

[Cbaddad]

How about a smaller kettle?

Did you explain why you are boiling 7 gallons in a 35 gallon kettle? I am not trying to be a smartass. Just saying. Perhaps this is just your test run? I am confused and obviously not much help.

What size batches are your ultimately trying to brew.

 

[evandena]

How about a smaller kettle?

Did you explain why you are boiling 7 gallons in a 35 gallon kettle? I am not trying to be a smartass. Just saying. Perhaps this is just your test run? I am confused and obviously not much help.

What size batches are your ultimately trying to brew.

I plan on brewing 15-20 gallon batches, 10 being the minimum.
I'm only trying 7 gallons because this is the first time the whole setup has been lit up.

After all the input from people in this thread, it seems like it needs more power. I have a 4500w on order, and will add that into the mix.

 

[Ajgeo]

This may be a long shot, but have you tried using more than 7 gallons? 7 gallons may be below the minimum amount of water required to achieve convection and boiling throughout the entire volume of water in a kettle that large. I do 18-23 gallon batches in a 30 gallon kettle using one 5500 watt element with no problem. It is no speed demon, but it works. I have read of others using one 5500 watt element for up to 1bbl batches. Before you add another element, try it again with with 15-20 gallons.

 

[LandoLincoln]

Figure out a way to plug the element right into the wall. Bypass the whole control panel and see if something in your control panel is not delivering 100% power.

 

[thargrav]

This may be a long shot, but have you tried using more than 7 gallons? 7 gallons may be below the minimum amount of water required to achieve convection and boiling through the entire volume of water in a kettle that large. I do 18-23 gallon batches in a 30 gallon kettle using one 5500 watt element with no problem. It is no speed demon, but it works. I have read of others using one 5500 watt element for up to 1bbl batches. Before you add another element, try it again with with 15-20 gallons.

actually this is not such a long shot. The inside exposed surfaces of the pot are loosing heat and filling the pot will cover the surfaces up but you would have the same water surface.

 

[evandena]

I could give that a try. Same results with 12 gallons, and Even if it boiled with 20 gallons, I'd like to be able to keep the minimum batch size at 10 gallons.

I don't think I can go right into the wall, but I've confirmed the PID is sending 100% to the element, and the element is getting all that power.

 

[evandena]

This may be a long shot, but have you tried using more than 7 gallons? 7 gallons may be below the minimum amount of water required to achieve convection and boiling throughout the entire volume of water in a kettle that large. I do 18-23 gallon batches in a 30 gallon kettle using one 5500 watt element with no problem. It is no speed demon, but it works. I have read of others using one 5500 watt element for up to 1bbl batches. Before you add another element, try it again with with 15-20 gallons.

What's the diameter of your pot?

 

[Ajgeo]

What's the diameter of your pot?

19.7 inches.

 

[evandena]

19.7 inches.

That's a good 2 inches less than mine, probably the reason why I struggle and you do not with the same element.

Curious, what are your boil off rates?

 

[Ajgeo]

Curious, what are your boil off rates?

About 3 gallons per hour.

 

[evandena]

About 3 gallons per hour.

Holy moses. Guess I'll be boiling off even more than that.
Thanks.