Anyway, this thing a bloody monster!! 4 inch stainless pipes and the biggest tri-clover fittings you have ever seen. It is fitted with an 1800-2000W element that I pulled out of a cheap supermarket kettle, but the unit is designed so I can exchange for a more suitable element if the cheapie doesn't work out.
Wort flows in one end at the bottom and exits at the other end up the top, crossing the element on the way. Because the end plates are removable, I can reverse the flow or turn the unit upside down and still keep the in low - out high thing going. I will probably hang it off the tri-clover lugs under my brew bench, to keep it lower than my mash tun, making sure it always has liquid in it. And it can be opened right up for cleaning.
Its just so solid and damn well shiny that I had to post pictures of it
Water only trials on Friday to get the PID tuned for the new format and to learn a bit about how long things will take etc etc. Then a commissioning run on Saturday or Sunday. Most likely something light and delicate to see if there is any scorching etc going on.
mmmmm chunky stainless gizmo. What more could a homebrewer ask for??
Thirsty
