Keg King Elements

[Ross]

For those that are interested, I have discussed these elements at length with Kee from Keg King. I have no vested interest other than as a reseller who wants assurance that the product is safe & reliable. We stock other similarly priced elements, so have no issue with dropping this line if the problems are not resolved.

According to Kee, in the the previous model the heating element inside the S/S sheath came too close to the cable connectors causing in many units the cabling to get too hot & fail. The new units have a longer sheath so the element is far enough away from the cable to prevent the excess heating. Kee informs me that the new units have undergone long & extensive trials, with no failures, & they are now confident of their future reliability & have manufactured in quantity. Considering all these units come with a 3 year warranty, Keg King is open too considerable future losses if the problems have not been rectified, so at this stage I'm taking them at their word & have restocked.

Only time will tell if the problems have been truly rectified, but with the assurances I've had from Kee I'm hopeful.


Ross

 

[OneBrew]

My thought would be to ask Keg King to supply the Declaration of Compliance to show that the new models have been tested and passed the relevant AS and NZS standard (believe its a harmonised standard across both). Not sure of the Au rules, but on NZ the importer of any electrical item, must be able to produce this immediately upon request of the Govt Ministry and to purchases. Given harmonisation of standards between the two countries I assume there is a similar model in Australia. And probably for the previous versions as well....

 

[Ross]

At first these were the only element I used in my brewery so it was set up for them. On my HLT/kettle is a stainless J box to house the elements. the inside of it is covered in soot from all the blown elements. I had 5 and 5 ****** up. couldn't get replacements so I changed the brewery to suit different elements. They came from ebay like the originals. Haven't had one blow since.
Ross they were a **** element you knew it and so did lots of other people. Now you have fixed it you are vocal. Bit late bloke.

We have not fixed anything, they are not our elements & fyi we have been vocal from the start, on here & especially behind the scenes. Yes there have been problems, but we did not know the issues when originally stocked. Keg King have continually modified & redesigned the element to correct the issues as they've arisen & in the meantime have always stood behind their 3 year warranty. Of course I'm not happy with the problems there have been, & if the elements continue to fail it's very unlikely we'll continue to stock.
Booargy, if you'd bought your original elements from a reputable supplier, rather than from some dodgy operator on Ebay, you would have had them replaced, or refunded in full without question.

Ross.

 

[booargy]

Ross they were good value for me around 100 brews with them. Had they been in stock I would have got more.
I have now purchased a 3kw low density RIMS element expensive and not yet finished but should be good. In my HLT/kettle 3kw and 2kw ebay elements cheap as.
That is what I meant by to late and yeah I know who makes them.

 

[r055c0]

Still wen't to keg king, just didn't buy the element

 

[Red Baron]

The guys at Keg King have been nothing but helpful with me. I advised them of a burnout on thursday, confirmed my purchase details on friday, and a new element arrived today- monday. I have high hopes for the new one. I'll admit they probably have a bit of experience dealing with this issue by now after reading the previous 17 pages, but their customer service can't be faulted in my case.


Cheers,

RB.

 

[Lakey]

The guys at Keg King have been nothing but helpful with me. I advised them of a burnout on thursday, confirmed my purchase details on friday, and a new element arrived today- monday. I have high hopes for the new one. I'll admit they probably have a bit of experience dealing with this issue by now after reading the previous 17 pages, but their customer service can't be faulted in my case.


Cheers,

RB.

Hey red baron, post any feedback about these new elements im keen to know if they are worth buying.

 

[Maltyfingers]

can someone puts some dates to all this stuff?

I brought 2 x Elements on 3/03/2011

23/01/2012, both elements had failed. replaced under warranty.

5/07/2012, both new elements failed. replaced under warranty.

1/10/2012, one more element failed.

What dates where the new ones released and how can you tell the difference. ( had one smoke and burn, just last week)

These should be all recalled and removed from sale.

 

[joshuahardie]

hmmmm
well i bought one of these today.

craftbrewer told me they have had no issues with the new stock.

so i will be monitoring and will report back

 

[Verbyla]

I can support everything Ross just explained. The guys at Keg King openly told me that their previous model was faulty and that they had rectified these issues as explained above.

A Declaration of Compliance doesn't necessarily mean that a product will be great quality and not become faulty. The authorities do insulation resistance, fault loop impedance and continuity tests on electrical products to ensure they meet Australian and New Zealand standards. They don't have the time or funds to vigorously test everything that comes into the country. Faulty products are usually found through consumers reporting dodge or faulty products or sadly through someone getting injured. I'm an electrician and after learning that older models where faulty did all the tests to ensure that the element in fact did pass Australian electrical safety standards. Both of the elements I purchased clearly passed all tests.

If Keg King have corrected the design flaw that was the cause for these elements going BOOM! then I see no reason(other than emotional ) for them not to be purchased. That being said I can complete understand why people would prefer not to take their chances

 

[bradsbrew]

I bought one off ebay nearly 3 years ago. Has worked well and I have not had any electrical faults, despite me letting it get glowwing red without water twice, but it now takes nearly 2 hours to get the hlt to sparge temps and could not keep 25 L at a rolling boil. Can any one explain how an element loses it's ability to heat?

Anyway I have decided to replace it and have no problem buying my next one from craftbrewer, which is what I will do. I will always use an RCD with them though.

Cheers

 

[booargy]

I bought one off ebay nearly 3 years ago. Has worked well and I have not had any electrical faults, despite me letting it get glowwing red without water twice, but it now takes nearly 2 hours to get the hlt to sparge temps and could not keep 25 L at a rolling boil. Can any one explain how an element loses it's ability to heat?

Anyway I have decided to replace it and have no problem buying my next one from craftbrewer, which is what I will do. I will always use an RCD with them though.

Cheers

the resistance is increasing in the element which means that the electricity is finding it hard to get from one end to the other there fore dropping the output. the actual element is a tough bastard.

 

[spog]

certainly is a tough bastard of an element if it was glowing red when not immersed in water but keeps working. cheers...spog....

 

[Red Baron]

Hey red baron, post any feedback about these new elements im keen to know if they are worth buying.

Will do. All my bottles are full at the moment, so it will be a short while.....

As for dates, purchased 2 elements 19/02/12. Gave one to a mate, it burned out in SEP. Mine burned out on 21/22 OCT. The new element Keg King sent me is longer than the previous one, and the stamp on the element is upside down. Other than that, it looks the same as the old one (if that helps anyone).



RB.

 

[Lakey]

KABOOM!!! My kk element finally went last night after about 20 odd brews, I spose it was only a matter of time! Luckily it was about 10min to go in a 90min boil so no major dramas there. Has anyone used the new type kk elements? Have they fixed the problem? I am finding it hard to find a screw in type element with the same size thread as the kk ones.

 

[NickB]

You won't find a direct replacement in 1" BSP for anywhere near the price (a place would build me one for about $300 though) - I went with These, which are a little bit of a pain to get sealed properly, but working a treat. They are quite long though, so check your pot size.

I've had enough of the KK elements to never buy them again.


Cheers

 

[QldKev]

KABOOM!!! My kk element finally went last night after about 20 odd brews, I spose it was only a matter of time! Luckily it was about 10min to go in a 90min boil so no major dramas there. Has anyone used the new type kk elements? Have they fixed the problem? I am finding it hard to find a screw in type element with the same size thread as the kk ones.

You won't find a direct replacement in 1" BSP for anywhere near the price (a place would build me one for about $300 though) - I went with These, which are a little bit of a pain to get sealed properly, but working a treat. They are quite long though, so check your pot size.

I've had enough of the KK elements to never buy them again.


Cheers

That one from stove connection looks like a great unit. The extra length will mean it's a lower heat density so will reduce the possibility of scorching.

I know I'm not going to be a guinea pig to test out the new keg king ones.

QldKev

 

[Lakey]

You won't find a direct replacement in 1" BSP for anywhere near the price (a place would build me one for about $300 though) - I went with These, which are a little bit of a pain to get sealed properly, but working a treat. They are quite long though, so check your pot size.

I've had enough of the KK elements to never buy them again.


Cheers

Yeah they look good but the hole in my pot left over from the kk one is 32mm which is 1.25inch. I really dont want to buy another keg king one but not sure if there are many other options.

 

[punkin]

32mm is the diameter of 1" bsp thread

 

[Lakey]

32mm is the diameter of 1" bsp thread

Ok I thought it was 25mm, im not used to working with imperial measurements so I entered 32mm into a converter on my phone and it said 1.25 inch, my mistake

 

[_HOME_BREW_WALLACE_]

Ok I thought it was 25mm, im not used to working with imperial measurements so I entered 32mm into a converter on my phone and it said 1.25 inch, my mistake

yes, 25 (or 25.4MM) is 1", however the pipe thread is determined by the ID of the pipe. Eg. 1" pipe may be 1.25" OD. (just one of those silly thigs poms do )

 

[QldKev]

Ok I thought it was 25mm, im not used to working with imperial measurements so I entered 32mm into a converter on my phone and it said 1.25 inch, my mistake

1 inch = 25.4mm

But 1 inch BSP means you have a pipe with an internal bore of 1 inch. Not an outer diameter of 1 inch.
Hence an internal bore of 25.4 plus wall thickness plus thread thickness = 32mm

edit: Beaten by _WALLACE_

QldKev

 

[Lakey]

yes, 25 (or 25.4MM) is 1", however the pipe thread is determined by the ID of the pipe. Eg. 1" pipe may be 1.25" OD. (just one of those silly thigs poms do )

1 inch = 25.4mm

But 1 inch BSP means you have a pipe with an internal bore of 1 inch. Not an outer diameter of 1 inch.
Hence an internal bore of 25.4 plus wall thickness plus thread thickness = 32mm

edit: Beaten by _WALLACE_

QldKev

Ok thanks for clearing that up for me :drinks: now disreguard my earlier post.

 

[Maheel]

i have been happy with this

http://www.australianelementsupplies.com.a...P-SCREW-IN-2381

they offered to reduce the price to about $30 + post when i was talking to them

i also have their 3600 one

pretty easy to set up

 

[barls]

just bought one from here to fit to my rims
http://www.stoveconnection.com.au/shop/ind...r/elements.html

from two pages ago. cheapest ive found

 

[Filby]

I got a pair of new KK elements as replacements for my existing ones. They are a bit longer than the previous ones so hopefully this is the final iteration of them. I'm hoping to do a brew this weekend so should be able to find out how they hold up.


Fil

 

[Logman]

i have been happy with this

http://www.australianelementsupplies.com.a...P-SCREW-IN-2381

I got one of these as I noticed my original lock nut was squeezing the o-ring out a bit - I've got the o-ring inside because the outside section of the element is inside the jiffy box.

Anyone know if 304 Chinese stainless is up to the task (just for HLT) ? Hope so as it's keeping the o-ring snug in place...

 

[punkin]

Ok thanks for clearing that up for me :drinks: now disreguard my earlier post.

I surely will....

 

[Parks]

yes, 25 (or 25.4MM) is 1", however the pipe thread is determined by the ID of the pipe. Eg. 1" pipe may be 1.25" OD. (just one of those silly thigs poms do )

The way I understand it is pipe is measure by internal diameter, tube by external diameter.

Pipe is used for transferring liquid/gas where the internal diameter (vs external) is the critical measurement in determining pressure. Tube is used structurally where the external diameter is more important.

 

[joshuahardie]

I have one of the new ones, and just gave it a quick burst in some water.
I noticed that I never really got a solid boil going, just a low rolling boil.
So I will have to try some insulation matting.

Ok now for the stupid question. The O ring that comes with the kit. does it go on the inside or the outside of the pot.
??