Keggle Wrap

[Edbeenbreto]

So I see on some others people threads and Pictures that their Keggle is wrapped in some metal pillow or something. I can take a guess and only think its for insulation for the mash rest. What are people using? Where can you buy it? I was almost tempted in buying a sun shade for like a car and using that lol. If anyone can help me out here and tell me what they wrap their keggle in or during the rest they just monitor their temp closely. Thanks guys hope this makes scene I've been awake for way to long now.

 

[BeardedBrews]

Reflectix

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0022NH3E4/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

It is cheaper at lowes or home depot.

 

[Onkel_Udo]

Reflectix or generic equivalent held together (often) with aluminized duct tape. Available in about three different sections of a big box home improvement store as well as Amazon.

If your kettle is electric it serves a couple of purposes. Temp stability while mashing and shorter time to boil/less watts to sustain boil.

 

[Edbeenbreto]

Love this community thanks for the fast response!!!!

 

[BeardedBrews]

If your kettle is electric it serves a couple of purposes. Temp stability while mashing and shorter time to boil/less watts to sustain boil.

Sorry, I missed the rest of the question (why use it).

It is worth mentioning, that almost any type of insulation could work for this. A big sleeping bag, stack of winter coats, 8" fiberglass insulation inside of lawn trash bags.

The point is to make your boil kettle more like a cooler or ice chest.

 

[Edbeenbreto]

So would you suggest using a 10gal igloo for the mash tun?!

 

[PeteNMA]

Lots of people use 10 gallon coolers and like them. Myself included

 

[Onkel_Udo]

So would you suggest using a 10gal igloo for the mash tun?!

Depends...are you planning BaiB or something like a 3-vessel? With BaiB, no sparge especially, the thermal mass is huge. Even the slightest amount of insulation is enough to hold temps within 2-degrees over about an hour...no cooler required. 3-vessel with less water, not a bad idea.

 

[Edbeenbreto]

I wanted three vessel I have he means to use a cooler but I got a great deal on a kettle semi system. So I want to use that.

 

[Onkel_Udo]

I wanted three vessel I have he means to use a cooler but I got a great deal on a kettle semi system. So I want to use that.

In my 3-tier keggle system two layers of wrap would maintain temps within a degree or two until temps got below 20 f in the garage for an hour. I also would set a chunk rigid foam on the top in the more frigid temps. If you have a drink cooler, it has about the same insulation less the lid insulation (easily corrected) so it is real your choice.

 

[Natdavis777]

I use reflectix as well (4 wraps total) that slides on and off the MLT. Holds the mash temp within 2 degrees during the winter ( temps in single digits) and dead on in the warm months...

 

[Edbeenbreto]

man that looks very clean

 

[sd_brewbie]

How did you make the lid so clean? I have a similar wrap setup, but just a small circle cut out of a couple layers of reflectix I set on the lid of my keggle (loosely fitting inside the handles of the keg). I feel the top is where I lose heat.

 

[Onkel_Udo]

I feel the top is where I lose heat.

Everybody thinks that because we all know heat rises. The simple fact is, baring air exchange with the outside (no lid), there is an almost linear relationship between surface area and heat loss...with minor increase where the liquid is directly in contact with metal. As a result, you loose a crap load more heat through the side walls (more sq in) than the top or bottom.

Think of your pot as a radiator.

 

[passedpawn]

Everybody thinks that because we all know heat rises. The simple fact is, baring air exchange with the outside (no lid), there is an almost linear relationship between surface area and heat loss...with minor increase where the liquid is directly in contact with metal. As a result, you loose a crap load more heat through the side walls (more sq in) than the top or bottom.

Think of your pot as a radiator.

Right. However, I think a lot of people don't insulate the BOTTOM of the mashtun (maybe in that picture above?). If it's sitting on a metal cart, or on concrete (me), the bottom will become a huge heat sink (conduction) and that's where you'll lose the most heat.

 

[cod3ck]

If you add 3-4 layers of reflectix on a keg, do you still need a RIMS or HERMS for this to work past an hour?

Also, I'm thinking of maybe doing this same thing, but flipping the keg so I can make it bottom draining (https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/sankebdrain5.htm).

Anyone tried this or have any gotchas they can think of?

 

[Onkel_Udo]

If you add 3-4 layers of reflectix on a keg, do you still need a RIMS or HERMS for this to work past an hour?

Again, this depends on your system and conditions.

With one layer, no top insulation, sitting on a table in my 57 f basement, I lose 1-2 degrees an hour. This is BiaB with a total thermal mass of 115#'s.

In my garage at 20 f with two layers and a chunk of 3" foam over the top, a thermal mass of about 76#'s I lose about 2 degrees.

So, with my BiaB set-up if I added 2 more layers and dropped the same chunk of foam on top, I could likely go 90 minutes with a 1-2 degree drop.

More important question is why do you need more than an hour? Even with a conventional three tier with a typical crush, I had full conversion in 45 minutes more than 90% of the time. I know there are reasons, just interested in what yours are.

 

[cod3ck]

Again, this depends on your system and conditions.



With one layer, no top insulation, sitting on a table in my 57 f basement, I lose 1-2 degrees an hour. This is BiaB with a total thermal mass of 115#'s.



In my garage at 20 f with two layers and a chunk of 3" foam over the top, a thermal mass of about 76#'s I lose about 2 degrees.



So, with my BiaB set-up if I added 2 more layers and dropped the same chunk of foam on top, I could likely go 90 minutes with a 1-2 degree drop.



More important question is why do you need more than an hour? Even with a conventional three tier with a typical crush, I had full conversion in 45 minutes more than 90% of the time. I know there are reasons, just interested in what yours are.

Thanks Onkel_Undo! I do 10 gallon batches on an e-brew setup in my basement. Coldest it gets down there is 58 degrees (F) in the middle of winter. So it sounds like I should be more than fine...

Regarding mashing over an hour -- really I'm just aware of recipes out there that call for that, so I'm trying to plan as much as possible in order to not have to get/build a new MT as I get more adventurous

 

[TexasWine]

Regarding mashing over an hour -- really I'm just aware of recipes out there that call for

Just approach those times as guidelines. You don't have to continue mashing if conversion is complete. Why would you? Check your gravity during the mash to see how it progresses.

 

[Natdavis777]

How did you make the lid so clean? I have a similar wrap setup, but just a small circle cut out of a couple layers of reflectix I set on the lid of my keggle (loosely fitting inside the handles of the keg). I feel the top is where I lose heat.

Once I had the wrap made, I just cut a circle from the remaining reflectix (just a little bigger in diameter) and then cut a 6-8" strip and taped it around said circle. I use a lid on the keggle as well before placing the reflectix cap on