RIMS Element
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:20 am
by Hammer
Hello fellow brewers.. I need to get a heating element for a new RIMS loop I am building. I need to know if anyone has suggestions. I am sure it is a topic well covered before in the forum. I am looking for a low watt density, affordable element that will not leech any coatings into the mash over time. If anyone has a lead on a good supplier for this that would be great. I am thinking of 1500 watts. Thoughts?
Re: RIMS Element
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:07 am
by UnaHopper
Go for the highest wattage you can. The more wattage the longer the element, the lower the chance of scorching. I used a 3500w element that worked great. Gave up on the RIMS and switching to HERMs now.
Re: RIMS Element
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:10 am
by one_dead_soul
i got a 1500w element at low's for $9
tom
Re: RIMS Element
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:16 am
by one_dead_soul
UnaHopper wrote:Go for the highest wattage you can. The more wattage the longer the element, the lower the chance of scorching. I used a 3500w element that worked great. Gave up on the RIMS and switching to HERMs now.
a 3500w elements would need a 220 line were as a 1500w only needs a 110. so he wouldn't need to upgrade anything. he's just using it for a rims not to boil the hole pot. i think the 1500 would be more then enough. during the mash there only a few gallons of shit to worry about anyway.
Re: RIMS Element
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:37 am
by UnaHopper
one_dead_soul wrote:a 3500w elements would need a 220 line were as a 1500w only needs a 110. so he wouldn't need to upgrade anything. he's just using it for a rims not to boil the hole pot. i think the 1500 would be more then enough. during the mash there only a few gallons of shit to worry about anyway.
Sorry, I should clarify. You can wire 220 elements as 110 reducing the output by 1/2. So the effective wattage of a 3500w is 1750w. Make sure you house circuit can handle it.
Re: RIMS Element
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 8:18 am
by Hammer
Thanks All.
Re: RIMS Element
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 6:29 pm
by Herms
I think running a 220 volt element at 110 will reduce the power to 1/4 of the rating.
power = voltage^2/resistance
It's been a decade since I was an electrical engineer but I think that's correct.
Re: RIMS Element
Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 8:22 am
by Mylo
Herms wrote:I think running a 220 volt element at 110 will reduce the power to 1/4 of the rating.
power = voltage^2/resistance
It's been a decade since I was an electrical engineer but I think that's correct.
Yep, that's correct. I checked with my brother in law who is an EE working at UL Labs. He said it should draw 7.3A so you should protect it with a 9A fuse.
Mylo