Attention stovetop brewers...

[noremorse1]

I just found out there is an 8inch 2600w interchangeable element for my stove (and any other stove except for GE models) with reinforced support. It is made for people who can food but, with this I can do 7 gallon boils on my stove-top in no time. Check it out:

http://store.appliancezone.com/servlet/ ... pot/Detail

[fermentalist]

Nice, but unless I am mistaken (which happens on a regular basis) the amperage supplied by the stove will be the determining factor and most 8" will put out about the same heat--the reinforcements and offset look good, but might want to check with the folks before shelling out the $$ to see if this will really be an increase.

In my current situation we went with enamelware in the 33 qt size: a its cheap, but also the lo-boy design can use both front and back burners at once which saves days .

[Wolfgang]

I've always brewed with gas. Now I live in an apartment with an electric (coil) stovetop. Other than the time it takes to heat/cool, are there any disadvantages to this? Carmelization, scorching??
Just curious.

[fermentalist]

er, not sure who the question was directed at. I like the both burner approach cuz we get a rolling boil on two sides of the kettle--my understanding is the roll is where all the important action takes place--hop isomerization, protein denaturation, etc, (besides being much faster grtting to a boil).

Even with gas, the Maytag gas range we're using is still too slow for my taste and the next step will be to make a small electric water heater--take the biggest heating element the circuit will support (here a 220 dryer line works well if you got one) and mount on the bottom of a >=6 gal food grade bucket. This is not UL approved device so use caution.

This way I don't have to use crummy municipal water sourced from hot water tank to get a jump start. There are work arounds with good planning and extra Igloo but I like having the extra hot liquor tank.

[noremorse1]

Nice, but unless I am mistaken (which happens on a regular basis) the amperage supplied by the stove will be the determining factor and most 8" will put out about the same heat--the reinforcements and offset look good, but might want to check with the folks before shelling out the $$ to see if this will really be an increase.

In my current situation we went with enamelware in the 33 qt size: a its cheap, but also the lo-boy design can use both front and back burners at once which saves days .

I thought the same thing but, this guy I know on another homebrew forum posted that he used it and got a much quicker and vigorous boil in a 7 gallon boil as opposed to his previous burner

[fermentalist]

well thats cool if it works as promised....

I'm left doing some headscratching as to why, unless, unless he's getting better kettle contact/heat transfer. But then ago what do I know about stoves and the application of nickle knowledge can be a dangerous thing....

Still I would be curious to know what the stove is, and just looking up the specs on the stock burner. Electrical heating is of course 100 percent efficienct minus that lost because the element is outside vs inside the kettle.

[Brandt]

I've always brewed with gas. Now I live in an apartment with an electric (coil) stovetop. Other than the time it takes to heat/cool, are there any disadvantages to this? Carmelization, scorching??
Just curious.

I've never noticed it being more prone to caramelization, even when I used a thin gague pot. The major advantage for me, is that electricity is much, MUCH, cheaper than gas. But I live in the Tennessee Valley where we have coal, lots of hydro, and wind up on the ridge tops, as well as nuclear (which is inefficient IMO). I calculated that my two heatsticks take about 30-40 minutes to get 10 gallons to 180f and I spend around 30 cents. I used to use propane and it would take the same time to get up to temp and cost $20, give or take. I don't have natural gas but I know the utilities charge like they're very proud of it. Many of my friends with a gas furnace have started using space heaters instead of their central heat.

Long story short, I don't see any disadvantaged to electric. A stove is going to use fewer amps than my heatstick, for the same amount of watts because it's 240v.

[Wolfgang]

Thanks for your input! I usually brew outside, but it's starting to get pretty nippy out there!!