Kayakr1988
Well-Known Member
So as the title says i am starting an electric brewery.![Mug :mug: :mug:](https://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/smilies/sdrinking-100-154.gif)
This being said in an ideal world I would just splurge and buy everything i need. But this being reality i can only afford ordering part by part until i complete this wonderful endeavor.
To start off ill fill you in on what equipment i currently have.
3 S.S. Keg pots set up with HERMS coil in my HLT. my MLT has a false bottom in it. And my Kettle... well it has a valve to release the wort after brewing. I use the HERMS coil to cool the wort down to temperature.
Currently i am using a Namco 1000 watt bucket heater to Heat/keep temperature in my HLT. This takes quite a while to do if im making a 10 gallon batch. Usually i will heat some water on the stove and pour it in to the HLT then pour some out and repeat until i reach my target temp.
This is a PITA but it gets the work done in about an hour to hour and a half.
For my MLT i wrapped it in Aluminum heat tape for hot water heaters. I also wrap a thick shipping blanket over it to keep my mash temp up. This works great and i usually only loose about 4 degrees max and thats on a cold rainy day.
My Kettle is currently heated by a, pardon my french, propane burner. i know some people like them but for me it is a hassle between running out in the middle of batches to not wanting to catch anything on fire when i have to brew under a pop-up tent when it rains.
Now eventually i would like a full electric brewery that i can use indoors and would be similar to Kal's design. I dont want to bother with 120 volt because i would soon be upgrading to 240 volt.
I have very easy access to my dryer outlet so that is not a problem. I know i will need the spa panel as well.
I am going to start off with the HLT and move forward with the Kettle eventually. So i need an element for the HLT i was thinking a 5500 watt but would like some input. Also i am wanting to do a step and be able to brew, then add something and be able to brew.
I know i dont have the money to afford the PID and components yet so is there a way i could brew with a spa panel, switch, and element(the element would be installed in a waterproof box).
I would have to manually turn it on and off and use a stick thermometer but it will work right?
This would be the first step for me if its not to dangerous.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Andy![Mug :mug: :mug:](https://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/smilies/sdrinking-100-154.gif)
![Mug :mug: :mug:](https://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/smilies/sdrinking-100-154.gif)
This being said in an ideal world I would just splurge and buy everything i need. But this being reality i can only afford ordering part by part until i complete this wonderful endeavor.
To start off ill fill you in on what equipment i currently have.
3 S.S. Keg pots set up with HERMS coil in my HLT. my MLT has a false bottom in it. And my Kettle... well it has a valve to release the wort after brewing. I use the HERMS coil to cool the wort down to temperature.
Currently i am using a Namco 1000 watt bucket heater to Heat/keep temperature in my HLT. This takes quite a while to do if im making a 10 gallon batch. Usually i will heat some water on the stove and pour it in to the HLT then pour some out and repeat until i reach my target temp.
This is a PITA but it gets the work done in about an hour to hour and a half.
For my MLT i wrapped it in Aluminum heat tape for hot water heaters. I also wrap a thick shipping blanket over it to keep my mash temp up. This works great and i usually only loose about 4 degrees max and thats on a cold rainy day.
My Kettle is currently heated by a, pardon my french, propane burner. i know some people like them but for me it is a hassle between running out in the middle of batches to not wanting to catch anything on fire when i have to brew under a pop-up tent when it rains.
Now eventually i would like a full electric brewery that i can use indoors and would be similar to Kal's design. I dont want to bother with 120 volt because i would soon be upgrading to 240 volt.
I have very easy access to my dryer outlet so that is not a problem. I know i will need the spa panel as well.
I am going to start off with the HLT and move forward with the Kettle eventually. So i need an element for the HLT i was thinking a 5500 watt but would like some input. Also i am wanting to do a step and be able to brew, then add something and be able to brew.
I know i dont have the money to afford the PID and components yet so is there a way i could brew with a spa panel, switch, and element(the element would be installed in a waterproof box).
I would have to manually turn it on and off and use a stick thermometer but it will work right?
This would be the first step for me if its not to dangerous.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Andy
![Mug :mug: :mug:](https://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/smilies/sdrinking-100-154.gif)