BIAB vessel

[RopenutS]

So im about to purchase a Crown hot water urn from craftbrewer to start my adventures into all grain brewing, doing BIAB styles. Does anyone else use one of these for BIAB and do they do the trick all good? Or should i be looking at getting me a big ass gas burner and pot or something? Thanks

[Michael]

I have an awesome keggle made by Chris, and totally recommend it. Having said this, I wish that I was using electricity instead of gas. I would prefer electric brewing because of the following:

* One can stay in the garage with the door closed when using electricity. No carbon Monoxide to worry about.
* One does not need to worry about gusts of wind blowing out the flame with electricity.
* Running out of electricity mid-boil is unlikely. With gas, I have had it happen. :(
* Clean up is easier. I do not end up with black soot on my keggle. This can be improved by getting the mixture and height right on the gas though.
* It is easier to automate with electricity than gas.

JT uses an electric urn, and he makes some damn good beers. I am a big fan of electric brewing, and hope to convert to it once I am back in NZ.

[Chris Banks]

Yeah nice keggle that one..... ;-)

Easy enough job changing over to elements you should grab a couple of elements while youre over there Michael?

Long as they are 240v ,1.25" BSP thread and in the ideal world stainless or incoloy - of the low density variety. (watt/cm2)

[Michael]

So, the 240v ones should work ok in NZ? I will consider this. :>

 

I reckon that the keggle I have would be awesome for electric brewing. What wattage would be good?

[Chris Banks]

I have always thought a pair of elements will give you the most flexibility as you have the ability to power one and/or the other and split the power demand between two power points whereas one big element say 4kw would probably blow /melt normal 10amp fuses/wiring 

Also one big element would require throttling back with a temp controller or simmerstat - where you could come boil with two smaller elements and knock back to one to maintain boil  

Say a pair of 2kw or a 2.4kw and a 2kw if they were cheap enough you could get a few different wattages to fine tune the total bring to boil kw versus maintain boil kw

 

They wont go to waste cos I know you will want some in your HLT oneday..............(evil laugh)

 

 

Sorry for talking turkey over your thread Ropenuts!

[RopenutS]

Hahaha its all good man. Its all interesting reading to me

[Stu H]

Yeah man, I'd so go electric if my flat didn't have such SHITHOUSE wiring.

 

I have to say though, high-power induction elements would the coolest: All the benefits of electric, but no elements in the kettle, so you could whirlpool!

[Paul Wicksteed - another1]

Induction elements sound like a great idea Stu. Hey Chris after the keggle you building me, are you keen at looking what's involved doing an induction version

[Chris Banks]

Have looked at it before it seems very appealing with high heating efficiencey ratings and the lack of intrusions to the inside of your pot for bags whirlpools etc

the main drawbacks are the

- $$$ involved with high frequency power supplys and induction coils to supply the required power etc

- Doesnt work well or at all with decent 304/316ss, aluminium ,copper - kegs pots vessels

But yes I love looking into that sort of thing and will continue to do so!

[Stu H]

I don't know whether you'd have to upgrade your supply to use an induction element, at least not in the 2kW sort of range.. With the super high efficiency I reckon you'd be able to get rolling boils with those things at that rating. And yeah pretty much if a magnetic sticks to your pot, it'll work for induction cooking. 

 

I was looking at these things awhile back:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Kitchen/Hobs-ovens/Hobs/auctio...

Those sorts of things looks pretty plug and play, but maybe physically too small for the pot sizes homebrewers use.

Also I don't like how they seem to have a million and one buttons, if I was to control an element, I'd want to do it with my own brewtroller or something.

 

Wow sorry thread highjack.

[RopenutS]

Yeah im gonna stop farting around and just go for one of those Urns. It's gonna cost me way more for a gas setup and i just wanna get started! haha. If it doesn't work that great i'll just sell it. Cheers guys. Can't wait!

[jt]

Sure, and you can always use the crown for an hlt or kettle if you change to conventional

Would've thought the freight from Aus wioauld've been prohibitive compared to finding one locally though ?


Cheers, jt

[RopenutS]

I can't seem to find one locally, if you know where i can get one feel free to let me know haha. One day i'll be going conventional. I just can't afford the full setup at the moment and Ive been holding off doing any more brews until I upgrade my equipment..