Electric

[boybrewer]

Hey Raven and all AGers;
I purchased one electric kettle for $20 and a friend gave me another but that one doesn't work , so off to Target to get another. So far the brew stand and the electrification of the HLT has cost $20 woohoo. I'm convinced now electricity makes life easier.My stand is almost complete I , just set it up for the ****.I have a 55lt esky with a copper manifold and it works a treat.I have used an electrical lead from a computer which plugs straight into the kettle socket, I would like to show it but apparently it will only allow 1.11MB and I have already used up 909.83K of it.so I will post it later.With one element going it took around 35 mins to reach 86 C which is good but with two I reckon it will take half as long , which is quicker than gas. :icon_drool2:

 

[Mitternacht Brauer]

What was the volume in the HTL that took 35 mins ?

 

[boybrewer]

Hi Raven and all AGers;
This is the photo of the HLT with the plug in.





Cheers Mike

 

[Sammus]

insulate the HLT and itll get up to temp a million times quicker just get one of those $5 camping mats from the reject shop and tape it on, do a few layers. If you use a lid it also cuts the time significantly.

 

[boybrewer]

What was the volume in the HTL that took 35 mins ?

Buster;
It was only 17lt, as I mash in with approx 4.5 kg of grain and use around 13lt of water. So I can add more water and bring it to the mash temps during the 1hr mash. :icon_cheers:

 

[boybrewer]

insulate the HLT and itll get up to temp a million times quicker just get one of those $5 camping mats from the reject shop and tape it on, do a few layers. If you use a lid it also cuts the time significantly.

Sammus;
Thanks for the tip I will do that. SWMBO has a lid that fits perfectly and I will look for some insulation of some kind to wrap around the HLT.

 

[redbeard]

also fill the hlt from the hot water tap !

 

[Screwtop]

I so hope you have that Tun earthed :unsure:

Screwy

 

[spog]

I so hope you have that Tun earthed :unsure:

Screwy

hmmm,earth to brewer, your dead! .....cheers....spog.....

 

[boybrewer]

I so hope you have that Tun earthed :unsure:

Screwy

what ever do you mean earthed ? I stuck my hand in the water and felt the HLT no I am still here :icon_chickcheers:

 

[lmoore]

Hey BB,

Your setup looks good. I'm in the process of going electric for my HLT as well. Which kettle did you use?

Luke

 

[boybrewer]

hmmm,earth to brewer, your dead! .....cheers....spog.....

I am still here spog. My eldest boy is a sparky he wouldn't dare electrocute his dad or would he? :icon_vomit:

 

[boybrewer]

Hey BB,

Your setup looks good. I'm in the process of going electric for my HLT as well. Which kettle did you use?

Luke

Hi Luke I just purchased the Chief kettle from Target for $20 ripped it to pieces and unscrewed the socket from the element it also comes with a silicone ring which needs a hole 40mm in diameter and pulled out the tiny liittle stick that activates the cut off switch. If you decide to go that way there are a few ideas I got from Jim's beer forum its a pommy site and they have alot of boil kettles that are barstardised from these cheap kettles

Cheers
Mike

edit: I use two elements for a faster boil.

 

[boybrewer]

also fill the hlt from the hot water tap !

Is that just to save time on boiling and make more time for drinking ?

BB :icon_drunk:

 

[raven19]

Looks good mate.
I am a fan of electric over gas... but I need to finish my shed first!

Love the pics too! :icon_cheers:

 

[boybrewer]

Looks good mate.
I am a fan of electric over gas... but I need to finish my shed first!

Love the pics too! :icon_cheers:

Thanks Raven;
My shed was going to happen earlier this year thanks to K Rudd but this was spent on more urgent finances. <_<

 

[kegpig]

also fill the hlt from the hot water tap !

Just a tip i wouldnt fill from ya hot water unless you have instant gas hot water have you ever seen inside a tank you would never drink from hot tap again

 

[boybrewer]

Just a tip i wouldnt fill from ya hot water unless you have instant gas hot water have you ever seen inside a tank you would never drink from hot tap again

Yeah even tho my hot water service is only a few years old I would never drink from it. I was made aware of the nasties in a hot water service heater years ago. :icon_vomit:

 

[Mitternacht Brauer]

I am in the process of upgrading my plastic bucket of death . It can heat 30 L of cold water to 86 C in about 50 minutes. I have two elements in that HTL .I think you got ripped with the $20 kettles . I have a few but I only pay $10 or less for kettles if I plan to strip them. Sam's warehouse or reject shop.

 

[Sammus]

Wow I've been using hot water for as long as I've been AG...hmmm my beers taste good too