minimum boil size in a E-Keggle?

Rivenin · Dec 19, 2012

Well i'm potentially selling one of my two keggles this weekend and i'm also moving into an apartment where size is pretty much constricted.

i have basically everything to go for small batch brewing (3 gallon batches) and will be turning it electric here shortly (2 vessel brutus system)... However, since i still have the other keggle and potentially could just put everything inside the keggle after brew day has be quite intrigued. But, the fiance' and i normally don't have a ton of people over and while she enjoys beer, she doesn't drink much.
So in my size constraints, i'm thinking about trying to do 3-4 gallons in a keggle, but do not want to run the element dry... so if i were to mount the 2 elements (doing 120v for ease, don't want to deal with the 240 GFCI expense) as low as possible in a keggle... what potentially could i get away with boiling and not worrying about running it dry?

:EDIT:

Because if i look at this, i should be able to safely boil 5 gallons down to 4 or a bit less (considering the elements are at roughly the 3 gallon mark)

garbageman · Dec 19, 2012

How are you sealing the element connections on the keggle. More pics?

Rivenin · Dec 20, 2012

That isnt my keggle unfortunately. Just a visual so to speak as i havw the keggle, just would enjoy doing small batches but have the ability to do large batches if need be

passedpawn · Dec 20, 2012

garbageman said:
How are you sealing the element connections on the keggle. More pics?

Silicone washer and a 1" SS nut. You can get both from bargainfittings.com

garbageman · Dec 20, 2012

passedpawn said:
Silicone washer and a 1" SS nut. You can get both from bargainfittings.com

I was talking electrical connections. I found "the POL" thread where he explains this method.

Rivenin
On the 1/2 barrel keggles I have seen, 5 gallons is going to be a minimum. When the boil is rolling you want the element below the surface. One idea is get a 1/4 barrel 7.75 gallon keg. It's narrower and would easily keep the element low for a 3 gallon batch. Someone had one here. Need to measure the element to make sure it would not touch the other side.

passedpawn · Dec 20, 2012

garbageman said:
I was talking electrical connections. I found "the POL" thread where he explains this method.

Rivenin
On the 1/2 barrel keggles I have seen, 5 gallons is going to be a minimum. When the boil is rolling you want the element below the surface. One idea is get a 1/4 barrel 7.75 gallon keg. It's narrower and would easily keep the element low for a 3 gallon batch. Someone had one here. Need to measure the element to make sure it would not touch the other side.

Wups. Sorry.

The ideal solution is welding a 1.5" or 2" (if ripple element) triclover to the pot then using one of these supercool adapters from Brewer's Hardware.

See Bolt's build thread.

garbageman · Dec 20, 2012

I have their RIMS tube with that and yes, "super cool". Someone needs to make a weldless setup to give you a triclover connection. Especially if it was from Bargain Fittings!

inhousebrew · Dec 20, 2012

This might just be me but a keg is an awfully big kettle for a three gallon batch. If space is tight in an apartment why not just sell that and get a smaller kettle. I'm eyeing up doing a three gallon eBIAB and am looking at a 7.5 gallon kettle. Or are thinking of hanging on to it for the long haul? I guess that would make sense.