Quick boil kettle dip tube question

[IMUNS]

Is it better for me to orient the dip tube in my boil kettle so that it picks up liquid from the center of the kettle, or the bottom of the side wall? Also, what should the approximate distance be from the mouth of the tube to the bottom of the kettle?
Thanks

 

[Zen_Brew]

The answer is really dependent on your process. Are you putting your hops directly in the kettle, or using a hop sack, are you using a false bottom, are you whirlpooling? You want to find the best method based on the amount and location of hop matter and cold break you expect in the kettle.

For me I pick up off the side a good inch or more off the bottom. I whirlpool, put whole hops directly in the kettle, and use a false bottom. I leave behind at least a half gallon of wort, but it is mostly hop and break material. I found this easier than trying to filter it out based on my system and process.

 

[IMUNS]

I'm not using a false bottom and all my hop additions are in bags. No manual whirlpooling, but I feel that a pick-up tube drawing liquid from the bottom of the kettles side wall would generate a whirlpool effect. Would that be beneficial in reducing the amount trub entering the plate chiller or would drawing from the center be about the same??
rookie over here

 

[Zen_Brew]

I would recommend drawing from the side and whirlpooling. Plate chillers are a bit testy about debris clogging the channels. I do not use a plate chiller so you may want to do a bit of searching to see what set-ups people are using to keep debris out of their plate chillers. They can clog if too much debris gets through to them.