Where to place RTD?

[theschick]

Curious if anyone has input where the best place to mount my RTD within my HLT? I don't have any circulation going on (manual if any). So, I was wondering if it would be better to place near the elements, above them, opposite side, etc.

 

[iijakii]

I wouldn't want to place them right together, but to me it seems that it wouldn't really matter if you did. The water will absorb the heat off the element and come to a uniform temp throughout the vessel basically instantly. You won't get heat pockets in your HLT like you do in the MLT 'cause of the grain.

 

[Ajgeo]

What size is your kettle? After I heat the strike water in my 20 gallon combination BK/HLT, I find I have quite a bit of temperature variation and stratification in the kettle. Cooler water will "pool" below the element. I am thinking about mounting the probe in my new dedicated HLT lower than the element and as far away horizontally as possible. I will still have to stir or recirculate to get all of the water heated to the desired temperature. I think it will take less time to equalize, because more of the volume will be at or above the set temperature.

 

[theschick]

I decided to put it on near opposite end, just slightly above the element. Since I'll need to stir it regardless, it probably doesn't matter all that much.

 

[Lucky_Chicken]

mine is at the same level...i also get a lot of stratification most noticed when sparging... the PID shows it getting hotter and hotter as it empties, probably in the 5-10 degree range.

 

[Brewer Gerard]

So has anybody found a sweet spot that isn't subject to fluctuation after being stirred? I'm thinkin of a ten gallon sanke with about 20qt strike water