Mounting 2 elements and thermo probe

[homebrewdude76]

I am planning on building a brew pot that will have 2 elements mounted and a thermo probe for the PID.

Any specific height or relation from probe to probe? At the same level, just 45 degrees apart?

Temp probe location? I am assuming I don't want to skew readings having it too close?

 

[Walker]

is this just a boil kettle, or are you using it to also heat strike water to proper temps?

 

[homebrewdude76]

I will be used to heat mash/sparge water and boil.

 

[Walker]

If you don't have something in there stirring/mixing the water when trying to heat to specific temps, your going to have hot and cold spots in the water, so temp probe placement is somewhat irrelevant. It's not going to be super accurate, so you can just pick a place and learn what kind of error or variation you get and just compensate for it. A little practice and you'll have something that works.

If you DO have something to stir/mix the water during heating, then the probe placement won't matter. It'll read evenly and accurately unless you are actually touching the element with the probe.

 

[homebrewdude76]

I thought about using my existing pump to periodically move the water around while it is heating. Pump from the bottom of the kettle to the top.

Not sure how I will put this together with the elements and such, and try to put a false bottom under them.
False bottom would be for hops...

 

[Walker]

A false bottom under an element might be a challenge, but I'll leave that to you.

At any rate, if you are going to mix it while heating, then it really doesn't matter where the probe is.