Electric "stick" Element Usage

[Bribie G]

I'd like to get one of these off 2200w elements off CB and wonder if anyone has experience with them. What I particularly want it for is to hang over the side of my urn and (working off a different circuit of course) reduce the time required to raise the wort to boil.



Particularly, do they work ok as a 'hand held' - as the black plastic head and cable above the stick would obviously cop a fair bit of condensed steam - or should they be plumbed in permanently and:
Any problems with wort caramelisation? (not wanted for Pils or Helles to give 2 examples) as that surface area would have to get pretty hot to do its job.

Cheers

 

[raven19]

You want a proper over the side element Bribie. I would not be dangling one of those over the side.

Caramelisation should not be an issue with those, I have not had issues with my immersion elements, and they have a smaller surface area, hence higher heat density.

Trying to find a suitable linkie with no luck atm...

Edit: Linky here

 

[Fourstar]

assuming the reviews are up to scratch on this, this is a good off the shelf option for a HLT heater. Ive been tempted with doing the old rip apart a kettle trick but even with me being relativly well schooled with electronics it scares the hell out of me trying to waterproof the thing. unless somone has some good advice\experiences with the kettle heater, i think i'd jump straight onto one of these.

 

[roller997]

I have a number of these and they are definately made to be mounted and not to be hand held.

The power is connected via a IEC plug and I don't believe they are water proof so when you leave it hanging upside down, there is a risk of water entering where the power is connected.

I have not installed them yet in the kettle so I can't comment on the caramelization but I was assured by the guy selling them that the wort colour is not going to be affected.

Cheers

Roller

 

[haysie]

i know distilling aint meant to be spoken, but thats what they are perfect for!

 

[Fourstar]

I have a number of these and they are definately made to be mounted and not to be hand held.

The power is connected via a IEC plug and I don't believe they are water proof so when you leave it hanging upside down, there is a risk of water entering where the power is connected.

I have not installed them yet in the kettle so I can't comment on the caramelization but I was assured by the guy selling them that the wort colour is not going to be affected.

Cheers

Roller

this is sounding awesome as it goes on.

how goes it w/ seals etc? look durable enough to last a while?

 

[Greg Lawrence]

I recently bought 2 of these and put them in a 50L keg to be used as an HLT.
Installation is dead easy. A 32mm holesaw, clean up the edges of the hole with a dremmel (helps the seal), pop the element in from the inside with silicon washer (comes with it) and tighten the locknut from the outside.
I installed 2 in 10 minutes.
Havent finished the HLT yet, stil need to get the bits for a tap & site guage, but gave it a test run with one element and 25L of cold water. It took 1Hr to get to strike temp (85 degrees for me). So I would assume 2 elements will heat 50L in the same time.

Gregor

 

[Greg Lawrence]

this is sounding awesome as it goes on.

how goes it w/ seals etc? look durable enough to last a while?

Seal is great, seems alot more durable than the standard element types.

 

[~MikE]

i've got one, they're excellent, but not suitable for handheld or over the side IMO.

 

[Cortez The Killer]

I have 2 of these too

I wouldn't be dangling them over the side

Cheers

 

[argon]

I just installed on of these in the new HLT over the weekend. Looks a pretty solid unit... and as said before dead easy to install... all of about 5 mins to cut hole and screw in place. Pretty damn good for less than $40.

I wouldn't hold one of these jobbies as an over the sider immersion heater though. The back of the unit doesn't really have anywhere for you to grab and certainly doesn't look waterproof. I'll probably tape up the back of mine just to be a little safer.

 

[mxd]

as evey one said not over the side but mounted.

For me 1 wasn't enough to get a 30 ltr boil going so depending on what you want it for I would recommend 2

 

[Bribie G]

Thanks guys, I don't mind buying 2 of them for my 2 urns. Looks like the two of them are about to be anally invaded B)

 

[bradsbrew]

Bribie I have one of these, ebay one, in my HLT (50L keg shaped vessel) takes about an hour to get to strike temps and gets to mash out temp over the 90 min mash. As I do a double sparge I have to turn it off before the second sparge. Would definatly not hang it over the side though and check the length as well.


Cheers Brad

 

[lastdrinks]

I have just started using two of these in my 92litre pot. They were a little cheaper when bought them but they are made for over side immersion heating. I'm happy with them

http://www.grainandgrape.com.au/product_in...roducts_id=8227