5kw heating elements

[BREWERS DROOP]

Hi brewers, anyone got any advice on heating elements,im just about to purchase 2 for my 100ltr pots.
They are Camco 02965 Models in stainless.
theres a 5500kw and a 4500kw which in your experience is the best to go for, for around a 10ish gallon batch.

Also these dont come with any controller,so anyone reccommend a set up please,as i have decided to ditch the gas system.

Thanks all

 

[Nial]

Hi brewers, anyone got any advice on heating elements,im just about to purchase 2 for my 100ltr pots.
They are Camco 02965 Models in stainless.
theres a 5500kw and a 4500kw which in your experience is the best to go for, for around a 10ish gallon batch.
Thanks all

What are you powering these from?

Nial

 

[BREWERS DROOP]

they will be run off a 30amp fused spur

 

[Nial]

they will be run off a 30amp fused spur

Good job, you know what you're doing!

 

[BREWERS DROOP]

Good job im not wiring it up myself,ill prob blow up the whole street:grin:

 

[BREWERS DROOP]

Any suggestions?????

 

[Fil]

fwiw i have 5.5kw of elements in each of my hlt and kettle 98l pots.
i use 1 x 3kw and 1 x 2.5 kw element in each pot,

the 3 kw element is ample to maintain the boil.

for a power controller i use a resistance controlled SSR with a heatsink using a 500k ohm linear potentiometer (pot/variable resistor) to bridge its control terminals and dial up/down the power output.

I also added a cheap ebay amp/volt meter to indicate the power output.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Voltage-Resistance-Regulator-Solid-State-Relay-SSR-40A-24-380V-AC-w-Heat-SInk-MJ-/331755143345?hash=item4d3e25c0b1:g:FgIAAOSwKtlWmSuK

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5-10-20-50-100-500-K-M-ohm-Linear-Logarithmic-Mono-Stereo-Pot-Potentiometer-/170703080727?var=&hash=item27beb24d17:m:m8nq-rBt-UniOR6ZgHwy5Tg


and a meter

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LCD-Digital-AC-Volt-Amp-Panel-Meter-Voltmeter-Ammeter-0-50A-100-300V-/301945136815?hash=item464d5526af:g5AAAOSwQjNW8j8F


and in true blue peter style..

Heres one i made earlier..

edit the ebay links above are not recommendations of the sellers just the first i found after a quick search to illustrate..

 

[BREWERS DROOP]

5kw elements all wired up nearly ready!!!!

 

[BREWERS DROOP]

Cable and box

 

[Brew_DD2]

I wish I wasn't so afraid of electricity. I'd love to go with a 5kw element. Boil times will be speedy!

 

[BREWERS DROOP]

fwiw i have 5.5kw of elements in each of my hlt and kettle 98l pots.
i use 1 x 3kw and 1 x 2.5 kw element in each pot,

the 3 kw element is ample to maintain the boil.

for a power controller i use a resistance controlled SSR with a heatsink using a 500k ohm linear potentiometer (pot/variable resistor) to bridge its control terminals and dial up/down the power output.

I also added a cheap ebay amp/volt meter to indicate the power output.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Voltage-Resistance-Regulator-Solid-State-Relay-SSR-40A-24-380V-AC-w-Heat-SInk-MJ-/331755143345?hash=item4d3e25c0b1:g:FgIAAOSwKtlWmSuK

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5-10-20-50-100-500-K-M-ohm-Linear-Logarithmic-Mono-Stereo-Pot-Potentiometer-/170703080727?var=&hash=item27beb24d17:m:m8nq-rBt-UniOR6ZgHwy5Tg


and a meter

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LCD-Digital-AC-Volt-Amp-Panel-Meter-Voltmeter-Ammeter-0-50A-100-300V-/301945136815?hash=item464d5526af:g5AAAOSwQjNW8j8F


and in true blue peter style..

Heres one i made earlier..

edit the ebay links above are not recommendations of the sellers just the first i found after a quick search to illustrate..[/

Is this wired inline from your element?

 

[Fil]

Yes, a 16a plug on the input and a 16a commando socket on the output. the live wire is split and connected to the ssr load terminals, earth and neutral split and joined in 15a leggo connectors neutral to neutral earth to earth


the meter is powered from the load in side, the heatsink/ssr base is earthed, and the pot bridges the SSR control terminals, 1 x outer leg to one side and the centre leg to the other.

be warned there is no off switch, if dialed all the way down some current may still leak a 2 pole power off switch would be a great improvement now i think about it. I simply unplug as soon as its finished with..