RTD snuck between coil

[Joshua Giese]

We are looking to accommodate 5 gal batches in our 15 gal boilermaker. In order to do that I believe I'll need to put the RTD low enough in the kettle that it will need to go between coil loops. I'm guessing this is not ideal, but I'm curious how not ideal is it. If it touchs the coil at all is that a problem? Is the tip where the most sensitive reading will be that as long as I get it far enough away it should be ok. As it's boiling I have to imagine as fast as the coil will produce the heat it will be whisked away by the wort. Appreciate any input that you all might have!

 

[jekeane]

I would not put the probe between your coils you want to have the probe a few inches from your element to get a more accurate reading of the wort. The element itself will be hotter than your wort and if it touches the probe it would interfere with your boil. I use standard elements in a 15g kettle and do exclusively 6g to fermentor batches. That means my post boil volume is about 7.25 gallons which is 8" in a 15g Blichmann or right about the Blichmann thermometer level in a G1 kettle.

I would consider placing the probe 2" above your coil assuming that is below the standard thermometer. Is there no clearance below your coil?

 

[day_trippr]

Looking at the BrewMometer placement on my 20 gallon and 10 gallon G1 kettles, and knowing the former needs 8 gallon to reach the probe while the latter needs 4, I'm going to guess the 15 gallon kettle needs 6 gallons to reach the thermometer stem, and your RTD needs to be about an inch below that stem to read your chilled post-boil 5 gallon volume.

I bet you can locate the RTD at roughly 12:30 in the picture and be comfortably above the closest loop while still remaining immersed at the end of the brew...

Cheers!