Over The Side Element

[keifer33]

Well after a brew day from hell (got side tracked and left tap on in sink and pot floated and tipped over a bit). I was cleaning my over the side element as I normally do with a bit of water in a pot and just boil it for a few mins...bottom line I got side tracked and came back and only about 10mm of the element was in the water and smelt a bit burnt. On closer inspection only the top of the coil was burnt. Gave it a quick scrub and some of it came off so was thinking its a bit of wort left on.

My question is how do you know if the element is knackered. Filled up the pot and it brought it to the boil as normal. Is it a matter if it turns on it works , if it doesn't is fcked?

Quick pick of its current shape.

 

[Bribie G]

Have you tried some steel wool / steelo pad? Hopefully it's just cosmetic. My Birko Urn accidentally got switched on empty and there was smoke from burnt on stuff, but the boil-dry kicked in and the coil scrubbed up ok with steel wool and has worked perfectly for about 30 brews since.

I would guess that there is an inner core of some metal with high electrical resistance to generate the heat, and that this is inside a copper tube (which you see) to transfer that heat to the liquid to be boiled. So if it's only the outer tube that is pitted / burnt then presumably - if it still runs and the "barrier" has not been breached - then the inner core is unharmed.

 

[keifer33]

Have given it a good clean and there are portions that are no longer chrome and are showing a copper like colour. Thinking its not looking promising as im sure that stuff isn't meant to be showing.

 

[Bribie G]

Aha possibly nickel plated copper and you have just lost some of the probably very thin layer of nickel. Happened with the Birko. edit: I think they just electrolyte-on a bit of nickel for show only.

Here's an old photo of what it looked like when almost new:



Now the coil is lovely copper, like an old 2 cent piece that has been dipped in Coca Cola - assuming that's not before your time

You'll be fine, I'm sure. Also copper is more authentic for brewing, aarrr shiver me timbers laddie.

 

[keifer33]

Haha definitely before my time with 2 cent pieces being in currency but have mucked around with them in coke.

Thanks for the info bribie, will be doing a small boil for another batch tomorrow due to the stuff up today. If its going to give out a 60 min boil should bring out any faults. After the topic on dodgy elements the other day I will definitely not touch the pot during the boil and unplug it before I do just in case something gives way and the pot goes live. Bit more confidence im not the only one, be a shame to throw away $100 after like 5 uses.

 

[raven19]

I find a little bit of crud on my immersion elements does not affect my brews. I give them a soak in PBW as part of my rinse after a brew, but only scrub them clean once in a while.

Your element appears fine still.