Trying to Decide Between HotRod Heat Stick or Kettle Mounted Element

[brent756]

I'm in the process of planning out a conversion to electric and was pretty much set to do kettle mounted until I saw the HotRod heat stick. Wondering if anyone has input on using a heat stick vs. element installed in kettle. I'll have 30a with GFCI breaker available and plan on doing 5500w element and 10 gallon batches.

Currently I have 2 vessels. 17.5 gallon Penrose kettle and a Coleman cooler. I heat strike water and boil in the Penrose. I collect first runnings into a bucket until my batch sparge water is in the mash tun, then transfer first running to boil kettle. At some point I would like to add a third vessel as a HLT.

The Hot Rod seems appealing since I could just swap that between the HLT and BK during the brew day. I don't do any back to back batches so heating both would not be a concern.

 

[Fatman_Brew]

I am moving from a 10 gallon built in 120v element to help the stove out to the HotRod in a keggle in the basement. Mine is wired in like the method shown in the electric brewery, however I never liked having the cord and element permanently attached for cleaning and storage.

 

[augiedoggy]

Having TC connection to remove the element is nice....the nice thing about the hotrod is its easy to pull out if you want to whirlpool.

 

[barleywhore69]

I don't think I would like having things attached to my kettle. I was very close to mounting an element but i built a 1500w 120v heatstick instead. I couldn't bring myself to drill a hole in my new kettle so soon after buying it. It's nice to be able to move the heatstick from one vessel to the next. The Hot Rod w/ 2000w 120v is going to be my next major brewing purchase. Then I can hopefully just use the two heatsticks instead of having to use my electric stove to supplement one. I built my heatstick because nothing as high quality as the Hot Rod existed at the time.

 

[augiedoggy]

Here's a thread from a few days ago that might help...https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f170/submersible-heating-element-vs-drilling-465420/

 

[Bassman2003]

Maybe I am too scared of electricity, but even though this product is off the shelf, submerging 5500 watts just seems dangerous to me. The downside risk is you toasted.

I have had elements mounted with wires on my keggle for about 7 years and the wires have never been an issue. Cleaning is not an problem as who cares if the leads get a bit wet after you are finished brewing? Just my 2 cents.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

I have triclamp mounted elements. There is no way I'd want the element bolted to the kettle. Removing them to clean is a really great feature.

 

[Bassman2003]

If you have a coupling welded to the keg the elements thread in and out pretty easily.