Wondering if it's worth it?

[JONNYROTTEN]

Im doing this now.Under $300 with top of the line Aubins stuff.China stuff will bring the price down: The "important stuff on the links" Work in progress EVERYTHING I bought was from the help here.Last month I never heard of a PID or SSR. This Forum=:rockin:

https://www.brewhardware.com/produc..._page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=33.htm
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20_15&products_id=85

http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=3

5500w element amazon $33
40 A ssr +heatsink ebay apox $ 10
Dryer cord Ebay Apox $10
30Amp plugs Aprox $20
Controller box Free Dewalt saw box
Emergancy stop ???? haven't got yet..but cheap

$250ish with set it and walk away control
Pluggin into my dryer outlet also only with a 25' 30Amp rv extension cord Addl $40 so I can brew upstairs in kitchen

 

[bbohanon]

Thanks. How long did it take the 120v to come to a boil I'd love to be able to do it with a reg GFCI outlet.

I had my hot rod and the flat top electric stove going and it took about 18 mins to go from 158 to solid rolling boil in 6.5gal of wort.
I have yet to try the whole deal with just the hot rod..I would expect it to add about another 20-30 mins max without the stove helping. It did hold a solid boil without the help of the stove as I pulled the wort off the burner to see if the hot rod alone could maintain a boil.

I bought it to help in situations like this as my flat top stove is one of the new ones that's cycles off and on even on high so it takes forever for the stove to get anything up to temp and could not get 6.5gal of wort to a healthy rolling boil alone. I tried.

I did use the hot rod alone to heat up my 4 gallons of strike and sparge water..room temp to 170 was 20 mins tops. That's all 120v with a 2000watt element.

 

[theck]

I had my hot rod and the flat top electric stove going and it took about 18 mins to go from 158 to solid rolling boil in 6.5gal of wort.
I have yet to try the whole deal with just the hot rod..I would expect it to add about another 20-30 mins max without the stove helping. It did hold a solid boil without the help of the stove as I pulled the wort off the burner to see if the hot rod alone could maintain a boil.

I bought it to help in situations like this as my flat top stove is one of the new ones that's cycles off and on even on high so it takes forever for the stove to get anything up to temp and could not get 6.5gal of wort to a healthy rolling boil alone. I tried.

I did use the hot rod alone to heat up my 4 gallons of strike and sparge water..room temp to 170 was 20 mins tops. That's all 120v with a 2000watt element.

Can you send me the links to the product you purchased? 2000w is the highest I'm assuming with 120v?

 

[theck]

Great info thanks everyone.

 

[bbohanon]

Nope, I've got the 240v boilcoil and it is indeed 3-wire. Two hot, one ground. No neutral. You only need a neutral on the circuit if you're running 120v.

Very interesting to know.. I was on the fence with the boil coil as I love the design, but I am going to stick with the more off the shelf elements for down the road maintenance.

 

[bbohanon]

"I'd like to go electric but I don't want to spend a lot of money!" Yeah, you and about 200 other people on here.

I know others are going to disagree, but I personally believe that going electric is a "go big or go home" kind of upgrade. If you're going to spend a lot of time learning how to put things together, may as well do it right and be happy with all the bells and whistles that you added in order to simplify your brew day instead of just doing the bare minimum and wishing that you had spent more time finding out what was available and spending the cash on the stuff you wanted.

Somebody needs to put together a list of "things that you can add to an electric brew rig" with a general description of what the thing does, the pluses and minuses of adding it, and how much it might cost.

I would agree and disagree with you on this..brewing electric can be as simple as using the electric stove with a heat stick and no automation or a full electric brew house with all kinds of gizmos and gadgets..it's all in what you can afford as well as tolerate control-wise for your brew day.

 

[bbohanon]

Can you send me the links to the product you purchased? 2000w is the highest I'm assuming with 120v?

The hot rod is here: https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/hotrod.htm

Bobby also has the 2000watt stainless steel elements on there for purchase as well.

The stick and element will run you about $80.

You will need to add a length of 12/3 SJOOW wire with a 3 prong plug,wire it up, leak test it and you are in business.