Electric Brew and International Relations

[mexican]

Ok, its a really late reply. I've just moved house to the other side of the country and am just now starting to catch up.

I'll chime in here with my experiences. I use a keggle with a pair of low density electric elements 1800 watt and 2400 watt. We're on 240 volts here in oz and most circuits in a house are rated at 10 amp. That's why I've limited myself to 2400 watt for the largest element. It means I can plug into basically any wall socket and start brewing.

I did use gas, but it started to get expensive to refill a bottle every 5 or so batches. It got to the point where the cost for gas became a major expense per batch of beer I was making. I figured out that an electrically fired kettle was going to cost me around a 20th of the cost of gas per batch. I can also put the kettle on a simple electric timer and have it start before I get up in the morning. When I get up and head out to the brewery I have hot water ready to go into the mash tun.

About the only 'problem' is that it takes longer to get up to a boil with the elements I've got. I could go for larger elements but then be limited to only being able to use certain power outlets in the house that can handle the current. I can live with a little extra time to get to a boil here.

I love my system since I've made the change to electric. Once I figured out how to keep a rolling boil going on the single 1800 watt element brewing got much easier. No need to muck around with adjusting a gas reg all the time to ensure a good flame. I simply turn the heater on and off she goes. No adjusting necessary.

mex

[moot]

Hey Mexican,

Do you usually make 5 or ten gallon batches in your keg (or 20L - 40L)? Do you use controllers on the elements or just fire them full juice? Is the keg insulated?

Moot

[SpillsMostOfIt]

I brew my big batches outside because is is (usually) nicer and it's easier to deal with the boil-off. (I brew small batches inside because it is nicer and that is where the stove is.)

I use two 2400watt elements. Although I have 20Amp (230VAC) circuits throughout the house, I split them across two circuits for happiness. House-wide earth leakage detection devices are mandatory on all new houses in my part of the world. Stand-alone units are dirt cheap if you live in an older house and do not or can not install one.

There's actually too much energy in two elements for a 24litre batch. I've taken to turning off one element at the first hop addition and I'm building something to throttle down an element and allow me to retain some of the hop character that disappears when you throw too much energy into a brew.

As I type this, I am enjoying a brew that came from a double batch (48litres) that seems to have enjoyed having the two elements on the entire time.

With two elements, I go from tap water temp to strike temp for a 23litre batch inside of half an hour and from there to boiling in about as much time as it takes for my bag to drain to my satisfaction.

Electricity is cheaper here than bottle gas - even when you buy what is marketed as 'Green Energy'. I also get all the energy I purchase into my boil, so it is *cough* efficient. The equipment costs are roughly equivalent if you buy the elements I have, which are 'over the side' immersion heaters. If you buy cheapie electric kettles and implant them into your beer kettle, there is no comparison.

I'm committed and happily so - I wouldn't use gas unless I did not have the electric option. I find it safer and more convenient. I am, however, a card-carrying weirdo.

[mexican]

Hey Mexican,

Do you usually make 5 or ten gallon batches in your keg (or 20L - 40L)? Do you use controllers on the elements or just fire them full juice? Is the keg insulated?

Moot

Sorry I haven't replied any sooner. Building a new brew stand and all.
I'm normally doing 20 litre batches (around 5 gallons). The elements are just running flat out. I can't be bothered building something to limit the output of them. I usually have a foam camping mat wrapped once around the kettle and only need the 1800 watt element running to maintain a good rolling boil.

mex