Need help with calculating heat loss in my MLT

[saxebrew]

I's new to all-grain brewing and need some help. I have a 10 gal water cooler MLT and need an easy way to calculate my strike water temp in order to hit the right mash temps (I wish I could use BeerSmith....but I have a Mac.) Dose anyone have any suggestions for easy calculations?

 

[Pappers_]

No, but if you post your grainbill and mash temp, I'll put it into beersmith for you.

 

[saxebrew]

#8.5 two row, 0.5 crystal 15 L. Mash in 154F.

 

[ajf]

Assuming the mash tun is pre-heated and the grain temperature is 65F
Using 1 qt per lb grain - 171F
Using 1.25 qt per lb grain - 168F
Using 1.33 qt per lb grain - 167F
Using 1.5 qt per lb grain - 165F
Using 2 qt per lb grain - 162F

-a.

 

[theRick]

I just made a batch with my new 10 gal round MLT. Not knowing my system yet I calculated my strike water temp and then heated the water 10 degrees hotter, added it to my tun to preheat and let the temp come down to strike temp (about 10 min). I missed my mash temp by 2 degrees but later realised I did my first calc with 1.5 qts/lb but used 1.25 qts/lb. Recalculating I see I would have hit it on the nose. Now I know my system and have confidence I can hit my mash temps, assuming I input the right variables!

I used beer math. It's free but I plan on using some brewing software in the future, mostly for organization.

 

[saxebrew]

Ill have to try beer math.....thanks.