Converting to Natural Gas

[gruversm]

I have a Brutus-style 3-burner brew rig that I've been using Propane successfully for over a year. I am having a 3/4" Natural Gas line run into my garage that will be stepped down to 1/2". What do I need to do to convert my high pressure burners to Natural gas. I'm going to use a Natural Gas Connection Hose to connect the Natural gas to my Brutus.
My questions are: 1) what do I need to do to convert my High Pressure burners to Natural gas use? and 2) will I have a an issue supplying enough gas to my burners with my setup?

[bcmaui]

You want to calculate the pipe sizing and determine if it might be better to stay 3/4" all the way to your garage.

Your plumber or utility company can help - they need to measure the pressure you currently have, figure out the demand you will be using (2 burners at the same time?) and determine your pipe sizing.

My understanding is that you will need to switch out your burners - your current propane burners will not work with low pressure NG

http://morebeer.com/view_product/17249/ ... atural_Gas

[Mylo]

It might be possible for him to re-jet his burners. I did this once to a LP BBQ grill - and it involved figuring out the natty gas pressure, and picking the right size drill bit to drill out the jets, to achieve the same BTUs.


Mylo

[gruversm]

It might be possible for him to re-jet his burners. I did this once to a LP BBQ grill - and it involved figuring out the natty gas pressure, and picking the right size drill bit to drill out the jets, to achieve the same BTUs.


Mylo

That's one of my questions: What size drill bit do I use (or how do I figure it out) to drill out the jet?

I'm now reading that a 1/16" drill bit should do the job.

[foomench]

You want to calculate the pipe sizing and determine if it might be better to stay 3/4" all the way to your garage.

+1 on that. If you're running multiple high BTU burners at once, a 1/2" likely won't cut it. When I told a plumber that I wanted to have two burners going at ~100,000 BTUs each, he pointed out that was more BTUs than my furnace, cloths dryer, and hot water heater combined. I wasn't going be able to tap off the line I wanted to. I've now decided to go electric, but that's a different thread.

[gruversm]

You want to calculate the pipe sizing and determine if it might be better to stay 3/4" all the way to your garage.

+1 on that. If you're running multiple high BTU burners at once, a 1/2" likely won't cut it. When I told a plumber that I wanted to have two burners going at ~100,000 BTUs each, he pointed out that was more BTUs than my furnace, cloths dryer, and hot water heater combined. I wasn't going be able to tap off the line I wanted to. I've now decided to go electric, but that's a different thread.

Thanks for your suggestions. I will, in fact, be running 3/4" all the way into my garage. The 1/2" will only be used to make the quick disconnect connection.

[Kbar]

Given Propane regulators reduce to 10 Psi and greater, and NG is 0.5 Psi, the control orifice has to be drilled out. Was not aware the jets had to be modified, just the fitting.

[Charlie]

One option is to chunk the propane burners and replace them with NG burners from your friendly curb-side hot water heater store. If you know a plumber they've probably got hundreds of dead hot water heaters laying around the yard (mine does, and talk about mosquito heaven!).

I looked at that same hose in Lowes and I think it's 3/8 ID. Stuff I read said 3/8 was too small so I got 1/2" connects and hose at a local bearing/hydraulic shop. It may not have mattered because I have to turn the NG burner way down to keep the wort from jumping out of the pot!

You're gonna love NG!

Charlie