Controlling a Heating Element

[silky]

I have been researching a new setup using heating elements. I nailed down the design for the HLT tons of places out there with info. However for the Kettle, there is one question I have seen asked but maybe not fully answered. Maybe someone can help me understand. Am I over simplifying things by saying that for the brew kettle, I can use a love controller set at a certain temp to maintain a boil. Maybe get it to a boil first then set it to a temp that will maintain the boil but keep it from boiling over? I have seen a couple of people who built a device kinda like a rheostat to turn the element down (seems complicated). I have also seen using 2 elements and turning one off. Trying to keep it simple!

[BadRock]

You can use your love controller to hold your boil temp. It will work just like an electric stove. Pulse on and off to hold the temp. Just make sure all your components are rated for the high current.

[seanhagerty]

dont use a controller on the BK. Its gonna get to 212 F and stay there (Unless you are at higher altitudes, then it will be slightly lower). You want it at a boil, period. The love controller wont be able to tell the difference between a huge boil and a little boil. It will all look like 212 to it.

Sean

[silky]

Yeah I see, its not the temperature I need to be concerned about, its the intensity of the element. Its looking more and more like I need a controller to reduce the power sent to the element.

Too much thinking on this subject has me crazy!

[seanhagerty]

I dont think you need a controller, but a variable power supply

Sean

[silky]

Thanks guys, I think I am going to test out the element in the brew kettle to see how it performs. I am blinded by the idea of brewing in the basement now that it is getting colder outside. That would be freakin sweet!

[seanhagerty]

Sounds like you are going electric, DO NOT USE PROPANE IN THE BASEMENT. Unless you have exhaust fans that will handle it. I would be very leary of using electric unless I had the same exhaust fans to remove all the moisture you will boil off.

GOod luck with it.

Sean

[Mylo]

To answer the original question (and to expand on what BadRock said...) - you can use a temp controller to "control" your boil. The controllers with PID are the ones that will "sneak up on desired temp" by throttling the output. They do this to prevent overshooting.

The obvious question that Haggerty and I have is - WHY? Boiling is boiling. Until all the water is gone - the temp is going to stay at the water boiling temp (corrected for your altitude).

I'd keep the BK manual. You can slightly tweak a rheostat or a ball valve to achieve the correct intensity a lot easier than relying on a controller.


Myly