Playing with electrons?

[Stein]

Yeah, that sounds good. I guess we will see if there is more interest, or just a few guys talking. Maybe it is something that can be done in the forum as well. Who know, maybe I could put something together.

[2DogAle]

Hi, let me chime in here... I am a brand new extract brewer. I just bought a turkey fryer to do full boils in so I am a little way from pumps or complex anything. A segment on basic electrical safety would be helpful. I mean, there is water in beer and electricity all around me when I make it in the house. I would be interested on what it would take to make a heating element to boil with that would be safe to use indoors. I saw someone's website that had a heating element inside a cooler to keep the temperature steady. A safe way to make that would be a great how to for a show.

So, there is an idea here for the show. Maybe it just needs to be tossed around some more.

My two cents,

Rob

[Lufah]

Hey Rob,

Some links....

http://www.brewing.schmidt-house.com/Ke ... ontrol.htm
http://brewheads.com/rise.php
http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtop ... t=electric
http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtop ... t=electric

I'll get more later if I can.

Travis

[BeerPal]

I was thinking it may be a good thing to talk about electricity, how to use it, what all of those gadgets do and cover typical electrical systems and components. NEC requirements as well as component requirements could be covered as well.

There seems to be a ton of questions on motor control, pid control, wiring size, power calculations, gfci breakers, electrically operated gas valves, branch circuit sizing and the like.

OMG! No offense, but I can't imagine anything bringing the show to more of a grinding halt than a discussion of power calculations, NEC requirements and branch circuit sizing. I can see maybe some electrical safety tips on a gadget show, but a whole (or even a portion of a) show devoted to electrical engineering? ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[Stein]

Hi, let me chime in here... I am a brand new extract brewer. I just bought a turkey fryer to do full boils in so I am a little way from pumps or complex anything. A segment on basic electrical safety would be helpful. I mean, there is water in beer and electricity all around me when I make it in the house. I would be interested on what it would take to make a heating element to boil with that would be safe to use indoors. I saw someone's website that had a heating element inside a cooler to keep the temperature steady. A safe way to make that would be a great how to for a show.

So, there is an idea here for the show. Maybe it just needs to be tossed around some more.

My two cents,

Rob

You may want to look at submersible heat sticks that are not attached to the vessel.

Look at this part number from Mcmaster 3583K92

I don't know if they will work, but I have been looking into an easier way to get the job done. I am thinking of using them to keep the sparge water at a constant temp. With circulation, they may work in a mashtun as well.

Boiling is a different matter altogether. I wouldn't suggest using a heating element in a plastic pail.

[Bugeater]

You might also considering building a heatstick. I built one using directions from this website:

http://www.cedarcreeknetworks.com/heatstick.htm

I use it every brew in my HLT. Works like a champ. Just make sure you have it plugged into a GFCI circuit.

The one modification I made to the design was to use an elbow so that the element would sit parallel to the bottom of the pot. This allows operation in shallower liquid. The next change will be to install a switch inline.

There is no problem with using this in a metal pot as long as your outlet has proper grounding.


Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[2DogAle]

Thanks for the information. I have some reading to do on this stuff.

Rob