Taming the Wild Beast - Multi-Jet burner mod

[Bobby_M]

That's the rub with wok burners. There's no need for adjustability for their intended purpose.

 

[zachman]

Bobby, just received the 23-tip burner yesterday. I have one question if you don't mind. I already have a location to tap into the gas line. Would you share your connection method for your rubber hose that is connected to the brew rig? Are those connections quick disconnects? I have been racking my brain for the best way to make this connection. I am going to do about a 20' run with the hose.

I will also be building a CFC based on your tutorial. Maybe I can get both of these projects knocked out this weekend.

 

[Bobby_M]

Let me preface this with an extreme disclaimer. I'm not suggesting you should do what I did. In fact, you probably should NOT do it. Ok, good enough?

Realizing that this hose would only have gas in it for a few hours once a month, I was confident that if it did not leak, there would be no problem. It is essentially a garden hose. I used Goodyear utility hose from Lowes and terminated it on both ends with high quality Garden hose barbs. The reason I went that way is that the very pricy QD's that are meant for NG are highly restrictive. Again, I have a gas rated ball valve on the hard line prior to all this cludged hose work. It gets turned off (and the handle removed) after brew day.

Can we collectively think of enough reasons why my system is a bad idea and against code? How about the possibility of attaching my gas to the garden hose bib and flooding all my appliances like the three stooges?

 

[MoRoToRiUm]

Where's the boom!?!?

Say maybe 2 hour brew session... I'd probably justify your method as well; but I would have incorporated duct tape, somehow....

 

[Bobby_M]

Don't mistake DIY bravado for carelessness. Of course, after every explosion you'll hear a fellow say, "I didn't think it would happen". There are two substances that most people have an unrealistic fear of; gas and electricity. Yup, they can both kill you if you're not careful, but so can a steak knife. Gas kills by either asphyxiation due to oxygen displacement or by collecting in a closed area and then igniting. In my setup, the valve on the hardline is always closed unless I'm using it. Well, that, and it doesn't leak.

 

[BlindLemonLars]

The reason I went that way is that the very pricy QD's that are meant for NG are highly restrictive.

I'm thinking this is exactly why I've had less success than you with the multi-jet burners: supply restrictions. I'm coming off a 1/2" stub, through a ball valve, one of those pricey quick-disconnects and finally into a 3/8" hose. Why? Because the stub has to serve both my gas grill and brewing needs. Furthermore, my girlfriend sometimes fires up the grill, and I want hooking it up to be easy, safe and foolproof with no kludgey bits.

That being said, the "DIY bravado" you mentioned is acceptably safe in the hands of a cautious person who understands and respects the inherent danger, and proceeds accordingly. There is a lot of unnecessary hysteria about working with low-pressure natural gas...I'm inclined to think it's a lot safer than the high pressure propane rigs most brewers and holiday turkey chefs use.

How about the possibility of attaching my gas to the garden hose bib and flooding all my appliances like the three stooges?

Great visual!!

 

[DiveBrew]

Bobby do you know the difference in orifice size on the NG vs the propane version of the multi-jet? Just wondering if anybody has tried the propane version of this burner on NG to see if it limits the flow close to your jet blocking.

 

[Bobby_M]

They are very similar in size with the NG version having just slightly larger orifices. If you picked either one up you wouldn't know the difference. Side by side, yes. I suppose a propane unit would run cooler but the mix may not work right at all. It would be worth a shot.

 

[Jimmi_Jones]

I have a system in my garage (don't think I have any photos with me) running on natural gas. I put it on the wall that has the gas meter on the opposite side. I then replaced an elbow in the existing supply lines with a tee. From the now new opening in the tee I brought a .3/4" black iron line into the garage. I then split that and went to two .1/2" lines for each 23 jet natural gas burner. The HLT is operated by a PID and has a constant pilot light. The boil kettle is just lit with a match and adjusted with a ball valve. I mash in a cooler. The entire system is permanently mounted on the wall and gravity fed. (I even plumbed fresh water to a valve that fills my HLT) I have a hard time controlling boil overs with the ball valve for gas on the boil kettle and after reading this thread think I will try plugging some of the jet holes in the lower burner. I will try to get some photos up this weekend.

 

[Flomaster]

Jimmi I look forward to your photos.

welcome to HBT.

-=Jason=-