Why Electric? Confused

[Bernie Brewer]

This might do the trick

View attachment 39296

It is a little pricey. A $20k brew accessory might be tough to explain to the wife. Plus it would probably fall through the ice

I knew someone wold post something like that. Let me rephrase.........there is no affordable portable generator that can handle that....

 

[Yooper]

I knew someone wold post something like that. Let me rephrase.........there is no affordable portable generator that can handle that....

True! But I kept my old stuff so I still can do a brewday with propane if I want to. I rarely do brewdays with others, but I can if I want to.

By the way, I miss Robin Yount! I almost didn't recognize you!

 

[Bernie Brewer]

By the way, I miss Robin Yount! I almost didn't recognize you!

The holidays are here and I am grouchy. Scrooge is much more fitting right now.

 

[elj4176]

I've only done 4 brews on my eherms but I am not getting anywhere near 90% efficiency. More like 75% but it's likely due to the way I am sparging.

For any who are getting ~90% efficiency how are you sparging?

I pump the sparge liquor into the HLT and start the wort flow to the kettle at ~ the same flow rate until I get my volume. Should I be doing this differently?

 

[OneHoppyGuy]

75% is on the high end of efficiency that you want. I just read an article (can't find it) on why Jamil's pilsner had more flavor and it was due to the lower efficiency.
I shoot for the low 70's on my brews.

 

[Homercidal]

I've only done 4 brews on my eherms but I am not getting anywhere near 90% efficiency. More like 75% but it's likely due to the way I am sparging.

For any who are getting ~90% efficiency how are you sparging?

I pump the sparge liquor into the HLT and start the wort flow to the kettle at ~ the same flow rate until I get my volume. Should I be doing this differently?

There is nothing wrong with 75% efficiency. You can spend time and effort trying to improve, but unless you want to crush a bit finer, I'd spend the time and effort on doing something else.

I recommend settling the process so you can get consistent results. Then factor your recipes for that efficiency.

Ever hear of a guy name Icarus?

 

[gitapaynts]

Not sure why eBrewing would effect your efficiency. To me, the most important factors aside from mixing the heck out of the mash at dough in to ensure no dough balls and a nice mixture are. 1. Slow sparge and 2. vigorous boil.

My sparges typically take ~75 minutes to get about 12.2-12.5 gallon in the BK. Added sparge liquor should form a totally clear head space above the grain bed after ~45 minutes or so.

A strong boil allows you to start with more sparged wort, thus more sugar for you to concentrate down a bit from evaporation of water during the boil.

Of course a finer crush helps too. I prefer to deal with sticky mashes at the beginning of recirculating and getting higher efficiency. I've never hit 90%, but 85% is common. I have to use my mash paddle to 'scrape clean' the false bottom early in the recirculating to keep it from getting stuck. Takes less than 10 minutes of intermittent prodding for the bed to settle nicely and filter itself to smooth recirculation. I cherish this early time standing over the mash with paddle. It's the most intimate part of the process I think....

 

[scottland]

Electric definitely has it's benefits. Personally I think a blended system is the best way to go. Electric HLT and propane for the boil.

 

[kal]

Personally I think a blended system is the best way to go. Electric HLT and propane for the boil.

Why? What are the benefits you see with boiling with propane vs electric?

Kal

 

[joeybeer]

I'm going electric so that I don't have to fill my propane tank, the noise - MY GOD THE NOISE !, and I don't have to bird-dog the HLT to get to 170* (not 168, not 172, 170) The PID is going to handle that for me, I can crush grain and measure hops without having to worry how long it takes.

Oh, and it's really cool

 

[Homercidal]

I'm doing electric to have better mash control and to get rid of the requirement to have propane on hand.

As a bonus, I'll be getting rid of the turbo jet noise from the burner.

 

[Lucky_Chicken]

I knew someone wold post something like that. Let me rephrase.........there is no affordable portable generator that can handle that....

I would disagree... most portable generators that are worth anything can generate at least 30A of 240V... Living in the not so far north where we get lots of ice storms (down power lines and such) lots of people have generators for backup power on their houses... that would be a small one for them, and its something they would already have.

edit: example http://www.harborfreight.com/16-hp-...ferralID=a8420f59-1b6d-11e1-931b-001b2166c2c0

 

[rico567]

Yes- most portable generators that can generate 5KW continuous* will put out the required power. I would suggest something in the 6-6500W range.

*NOT peak power. Lots of generators are rated at peak power, which usually refers to what they're capable of putting out over a short period, maybe less than a minute, to handle the starting loads of A/C, heat pumps, and the compressors in fridges and freezers, and any other decent sized electric motor that's starting under load.

 

[scottland]

Why? What are the benefits you see with boiling with propane vs electric?

Kal

I just don't like an electric element touching my wort. It's more of a neurotic thing than it is a practical issue.

 

[Brewratt]

It's been posted before, but for me it's two parts weather and one part wildlife. For seven to eight months of the year I just can not brew in an open air environment, it's way to cold, and ventilation is not an option in my current home. The other four of five months, I have to worry about the sweet smell of boiling wort drawing bears out of the nearby parks and undeveloped areas, while I love sharing my homebrew, I'm not keen on sharing it with a 600 lb killing machine who's got a sweet tooth.
When my wife and I move into our "Forever Home" (as she calls it) I'll be able to custom build my home brewery, ventilation and everything, but for right now I have to stick with what I have.

 

[kappclark]

I'm doing electric to have better mash control and to get rid of the requirement to have propane on hand.

As a bonus, I'll be getting rid of the turbo jet noise from the burner.

The quiet is a big relief .. 2 advantages of electric are the quiet, and automation...water is hot when I wake up

I mash in the basement with electric, usually very early on the weekend. I don't bother anyone.

boil on the porch with propane, outside..I need to get a good ventilation system and an electric BK for the basement to complete the setup..The bucket heaters for the HLT cooler are setup using simple timers..don't know how to automate propane.

 

[yjfun]

I'm converting to electric because I'm a cheap bastard and don't want to pay for propane or listen to that dam burner anymore. I'm also an electrician so it's not that difficult for me to convert.