Newbie Questions

[Omnidons-Brewing]

1) How do you take a previously propane burner (banjo) that was converted to natural gas..... and convert it back to propane? I bought a banjo propane burner from a guy, and he had converted it to all-natural-gas, I need to convert it back to propane. Everything I've found on google and youtube just shows me how to go from propane TO natural gas conversion, and not the other way around.

2) What is the best recommended testing/reading equipment recommended for 5gallon all-grain batches? (Temperature and gravity readings.)

Thanks!

 

[kh54s10]

1) not sure
2) you need a hydrometer and an accurate thermometer. You might want a pH meter. I have been doing all grain for 6 years and I don't have one. My town water seems to be exceptionally good so I get good results without water adjustments. Another tool that makes all grain easier is a refractometer. Just don't use it for final gravity measurements.

 

[mredge73]

1. Buy a new burner, they are not very expensive:
http://www.agrisupply.com/low-pressure-burner-cast-iron/p/40282/cn/6000138/
Or buy a new orifice.

2.
Measure OG/FG:
Buy a 2 Hydrometers, the cheap $5 one most homebrew stores carry works fine. Buy 2 because you will break one somewhere between 5-10 batches.
You need a sample vessel to put it in, there are purpose built ones pretty cheap but you can also use a wine thief or tube from a auto siphon.
Later on when you are doing wine and all grain a refractometer can be helpful but you don't need it now.

Measure Temp:
For partial mash and all grain it is helpful to have a good instant read thermometer.
ThermaWorks are recommended many places on this forum for a thermometer; I use the $20 version while others use the $100 version.
http://www.thermoworks.com/RT600C
http://www.thermoworks.com/Thermapen-Mk4

Measure PH:
This is a concern only for all grain brewers. I have gone through about 2 PH meters, I cannot keep them working so switched to test strips.
So get some test strips or a PH meter. This one has been recommended to me but I haven't tried it yet:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DTNDME/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[bajaedition]

regular burners have a replaceable orifice that you can change from propane to gas, super simple. Check the banjo to see if it has a brass fitting leading in that has a small hole in it on the burner side, if it does, that ishow you convert it

 

[Omnidons-Brewing]

regular burners have a replaceable orifice that you can change from propane to gas, super simple. Check the banjo to see if it has a brass fitting leading in that has a small hole in it on the burner side, if it does, that ishow you convert it

I'm trying to go from GAS to PROPANE though. Is it basically the same idea, just in reverse? The guy I bought this from bought it as a propane burner, then converted it to gas because he had gas at his house, I don't, so I'm needing to convert it back to propane.

 

[Dcpcooks]

You can replace the orifice to switch your gas type. I'd start at the manufactures web site then more beers site to find the right part. Should be cheap

 

[kh54s10]

I think all you need is the right one of these that will fit the burner. https://www.amazon.com/ORIFICE-CONNECTOR-BRASS-CLASSIC-MfrPartNo/dp/B000CBSP3G

 

[bajaedition]

I'm trying to go from GAS to PROPANE though. Is it basically the same idea, just in reverse? The guy I bought this from bought it as a propane burner, then converted it to gas because he had gas at his house, I don't, so I'm needing to convert it back to propane.

Did you read what I said? replace the fitting to a propane one.