Pre-built immersion heater with thermostat vs diy heatstick

[limulus]

The diy heat stick is so inexpensive to build compared to the one in the link below...but the one in the link has an adjustable thermostat. I could use this in RIMS. Does anyone have one of these?
http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/brewing-equipment/burners/electric-brew-heater-15.html

 

[The Pol]

Wow expensive...

How would you integrate that into a RIMS?

 

[CodeRage]

You could build a dedicated electric pot for less than that.
Pol, I think he meant to say HERMS.

 

[The Pol]

Just tossing this out there too.

I dont know how precise that thermostat is on that element. Within a couple degrees? I have a hard time believing that... and if that is the case, it would be pointless to use it to control mash temps. Youd be better off using a cooler with a tight lid.

Like Code said, build an entire E-Kettle for that amount, with precise control too.

 

[limulus]

Yeah, I think I was really visualizing a modified brew-in-a-bag system. I was thinking about using a steamer rack like this on the bottom of one of my two 10-gal coolers:

The element would be suspended above the bottom of the plastic cooler and slip under the rack. The bag-o-grain would sit on top of the rack. I still have a new Grainger pump and speed control that I bought to use with a RIMS that I built back in the 90s. I was thinking about recirculating from bottom to top. The element would only be on as needed.