The Pol

[passedpawn]

JoeMama was another seemingly cool guy. He posted constantly, but I haven't heard from him in a year or more.

Maybe this thread should be called "Where have they gone?" or "Where are they now?"

Actually there is a MIA thread somewhere, but I was too lazy to look for it. Someone google that for me, TIA.

 

[Revvy]

JoeMama was another seemingly cool guy. He posted constantly, but I haven't heard from him in a year or more.

Maybe this thread should be called "Where have they gone?" or "Where are they now?"

He messaged me a few months back, right after my surgery, I think. IIRc he got out of brewing and beer drinking, and was hanging out on a message board devoted to the cultivation and participation in a plant closely related to Humulus lupus (one would say a "cousin" of) where there was someone going by the monicker Revvy, who he wondered if it was moi. (Having given up imbibing in that stuff 25 years ago after yakking on a bunch of Motown Funk Brothers, I could honestly say it wasn't me. )

 

[Malticulous]

Off topic...but if you want to add a generator you need a critical load panel and a transfer switch. Defiantly not a male to male pig tail. Some idiot might island the grid and put utility workers at risk.

 

[Ohio-Ed]

I understand that the level of paranoia given any piece of equipment should be directly correlated to the consequences of mishandling. I'd equate handling a male to male cordset just like a gun. Assume the gun is loaded at all times and assume one of the female outlets is hot. Jesus, I just can't avoid the innuendo today. The problem comes when someone who is NOT aware of the danger decides to handle things. No one assumes an extension cord is dangerous to handle because we've been conditioned our whole lives.

...


FYI, I think the reason Pol went with a male to male cord set was to avoid the cost of the panel mount male. That's probably where most of the heat came from.
...

I think you're right... He could have avoided the concern altogether except he wanted to be able to remove the power cord from his control panel. I think most folks don't have a problem with a power cord coming from their panel. But, because he was building a piece of furniture and was more concerned with aesthetics he wanted to be able to remove the cord for display purposes.

 

[Bobby_M]

He could have still had a removable cord but it was the $25 difference in price for the male panel mount vs. the way more common female.

I think think it would be slick to use the same concept on all the vessels as well so that you didn't need the cordset hanging off. Someone needs to start working on a line of heating elements with a molded-in male twistlock. Hmmm, beard stroke and a Dr. Evil pinky.....

Even after all the bickering he could have just said, "thanks for all your concern, it's dangerous and I'm reconsidering the design". Whether or not he would ever heed the advice is moot at that point. I've only seen one other person throw a "I'm outta here" tantrum in my whole life.

 

[Ohio-Ed]

He could have still had a removable cord but it was the $25 difference in price for the male panel mount vs. the way more common female.

I think think it would be slick to use the same concept on all the vessels as well so that you didn't need the cordset hanging off. Someone needs to start working on a line of heating elements with a molded-in male twistlock. Hmmm, beard stroke and a Dr. Evil pinky.....

Even after all the bickering he could have just said, "thanks for all your concern, it's dangerous and I'm reconsidering the design". Whether or not he would ever heed the advice is moot at that point. I've only seen one other person throw a "I'm outta here" tantrum in my whole life.

I pretty sure I have seen a molded in twist loc mounted in a cover plate on someone's BK here... may have been Boerderij_Kabouter.

I made the exact same point to The Pol you mentioned earlier... "No one expects to get shocked/killed by the male end of an extension cord because that's not what we're used to".

In the US, you look left before stepping off the sidewalk to cross the street, in the UK, that habit will get you killed!! I made that mistake and was nearly hit. I was shocked how conditioned I was to look left, I never realized I did it.

I agree, instead of saying... "Thanks, noted." he, went with his normal sarcastic "Oh My GOD, I'm going to DIE" response. I let it go, but I guess other's didn't, next time I was on HBT, he had "taken his ball and went home" (deleted the thread).

 

[broadbill]

Off topic...but if you want to add a generator you need a critical load panel and a transfer switch. Defiantly not a male to male pig tail. Some idiot might island the grid and put utility workers at risk.

Not with an interlock bar that Bobby was talking mentioned. It fits over two circuit breakers, but only allows one or another to be open at a time. In this way, either the main circuit breaker is open (allowing electricity to come into the panel via the main line) or it is closed and isolating the panel from the grid and the circuit breaker to the generator can be opened to energize the panel. That way there can never be a back-feed from the generator into the main line.

Functionally, the system works. I guess the question is if this is a code-legal way of setting up a generator power transfer system. I have one in my house and it was installed by an reputable electrician, FWIW.

 

[Homercidal]

It's not just what people here expect. It's the fact that have hot male ends leave hot elements exposed. With a female, you can swing it around and bump it into things and nothing is likely to happen. With a male end, it can get shorted and cause a problem.

But like you say, it could have been a simple 'I wouldn't do that because..." and an "Yeah, you're probably right, but I'm building mine this way anyway." and let it go.

I'm the kind of person that needs that little bit of extra safety. I'd have the cord end in my hand and go to do something else and just set it down on the panel where it could short out.

There is a good reason that hot conductors are kept covered and hard to get at...

 

[Cape Brewing]

Don't worry everyone!!! ALL IS WELL!!!

I'm still here!

(just cause I know some folks were getting nervous)

 

[jkarp]

FYI, I think the reason Pol went with a male to male cord set was to avoid the cost of the panel mount male. That's probably where most of the heat came from.

I think you're right... He could have avoided the concern altogether except he wanted to be able to remove the power cord from his control panel. I think most folks don't have a problem with a power cord coming from their panel. But, because he was building a piece of furniture and was more concerned with aesthetics he wanted to be able to remove the cord for display purposes.

Actually I think the picture was a little bigger than this. POL liked putting his work out there for people to admire (even had a small article in BYO on his earlier rig), but he couldn't take criticism at all.

It's tough to put yourself out there. I know of many folks who've cloned my CB20 rig but I still get notes from people who insist it is sh*t and cannot possibly produce drinkable beer.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

It wasn't so much the fact that he was using the male to male, it was that he was a total D-bag about it. When someone gives you sound safety advice, the proper response is "thank you for the advice, I'll update that when I have a chance, and now know to be very careful int he meantime." Not "shut up." Then sarcastically talking about know it alls and making dick warnings about how electricity will kill you don't listen to me etc. He was kind of arrogant online and couldn't handle other people having knowledge he didn't. He did make cool stuff though and had good things to offer, just couldn't handle feedback other than ego-stroking.

I also put a male-male pigtail one my first e-setup. When informed that it was unsafe. I said thanks and figured out how to do it properly. End of story. No several page diatribe and bitching ending up in running away in frustration. A little humility goes a long way (and I am one stubborn SOB).

Bobby- I have been making my e-kettles that way and it is great. Here is a pic of one:

On my all metal ketal I silver soldered a metal box to the kettle and that one looks even better. I don't have pics of that up yet though... I love the setup like that. It makes cleaning and storage easier.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

It's tough to put yourself out there. I know of many folks who've cloned my CB20 rig but I still get notes from people who insist it is sh*t and cannot possibly produce drinkable beer.

Yeah. That design sucks. I totally haven't built several of them...

 

[Bobby_M]

Any reason you didn't go with twist locks? Is it a non issue? Is that thing relatively water resistant when the plug is in?

 

[Homercidal]

I plan on using twist locks, but I haven't priced them yet. They can't be unreasonably more $$.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Yeah, I just setup all my stuff with the blades. I think twist lock will be on the list for my next build.

You could get water in them, but you would have to be pretty aggressive with the spilling. I brew in my kitchen and if I get that much water spilling everywhere I am going to have a lot of problems beyond my rig

 

[Ohio-Ed]

Any reason you didn't go with twist locks? Is it a non issue? Is that thing relatively water resistant when the plug is in?

I plan on using twist locks, but I haven't priced them yet. They can't be unreasonably more $$.

Easy guys... let's not run off another member

That is definitely the BK I referred to in my earlier post... I thought they were twist loc's, but obviously not.

Bobby - Not sure if your questions were related, and you probably know this but, just going to twist loc's don't add any water resistance.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

My water resistance is a sealed box (with a bottom drain), a good ground connection, and a gfci outlet. That is enough for me to be comfortable.

I will note that twist locks would be nicer, the blades do pull out if you pull on them. Not that it is a big deal with my female ended cord

 

[Bobby_M]

No, I was just rattling off questions without any coherency. The twist lock question was more about accidental unplugging but that's only an issue if the cords are hanging all over the place. I know I've seen panel mount males with a gasket that seals against the cord mounted female but they were over $50 each IIRC. That was my motivation for the question about mild water resistance. I don't anticipate hosing down during the brew but a violent boil over is never out of the question. That's what GFI is for I spose.

 

[Homercidal]

I don't think Bobby meant to imply that twist locks were more water resistant. Two separate questions.

I'd go twist lock simply because in the shops I've worked in they've done a great job of keeping things plugged in while working around and moving equipment.

At risk of being chased from the forums, I'd like to add that although water resistant connections would be preferred, I'm going to go with GFI and a decent splash guard on my stuff and call it good. Of course, this would change if some low-cost water-resistant connectors could be had...

 

[Homercidal]

I wonder if there is enough play in a twist lock connector to allow a thin silicone washer to be inserted between them...

Bobby got in ahead of me.

 

[Shooter]

I don't think Bobby meant to imply that twist locks were more water resistant. Two separate questions.

I'd go twist lock simply because in the shops I've worked in they've done a great job of keeping things plugged in while working around and moving equipment.

At risk of being chased from the forums, I'd like to add that although water resistant connections would be preferred, I'm going to go with GFI and a decent splash guard on my stuff and call it good. Of course, this would change if some low-cost water-resistant connectors could be had...

You gonna die!!!!!!

 

[AnOldUR]

McMaster-Carr 7164K72 In stock for $28.60

 

[weirdboy]

Where is the element mounted on the other side of that? More towards the bottom of the box or straight through on the other side of the connector?

Also, if you are doing that style of mount for a HERMS, do you run into any problems with the coil sitting on the element?

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

The element is mounted in the lower part of the box.

I am using this with a HERMS coil. The coil is bent such that the element slips between two adjacent coils. IIRC, there are two coils beneath the element, and the rest are above.

In my newer kettle (flat bottomed kettle, not a keggle), the element is much closer to the bottom. In that setup, I plan to bend the lower coil into a ∩ shape to sit above the element. I'll post some pics when I get around to that.

 

[Cape Brewing]

I think he left cause he was too self-conscience about being bald.

There... I said it.

You were all thinking it. It's ok. You can admit it now that I've broken the ice.

 

[Whut]

But no one listens to me anyway.

Not true, your sticky taught me how to wash yeast! :rockin:

 

[Poobah58]

Where's Revvy and Yooper! Haven't heard from them in 4 or 5 minutes...

 

[Yooper]

Where's Revvy and Yooper! Haven't heard from them in 4 or 5 minutes...

Oh, I know it hasn't been 4 whole minutes!

 

[AnonyBrew]

 

[HumanGarbage]

Anyone seen CodeRage in a while? I dropped him a PM... he's been absent for quite a while.

Try the Brewtroller forum. He is on there all the time spreading the knowledge and solving problems for the noobs...

I always enjoyed the Pol, even when he was a dick. That seems to be a default personality type for pilots. My way or the highway. Even I suffer from it despite my best efforts. Confidence is a key trait, and there can be a fine line to arrogance it seems.

That male-male thing is a joke. Anyone with half a brain knows its not safe. Hearing the truth hurts sometimes, but it must be told with what is at stake. The is a company called Marinco that makes a recessed male socket. I got mine at the local (commercial) fishing supply store for like 13 Kanuckistani Pesos each. Why take a chance at that price?