Boiler Voltage Controller

Renegade · Mar 30, 2019

I have recently bought a stainless steel boiler which I have converted to home brew use by changing the tap and disabling the sensor.

I used it recently for wort boiling and found it difficult to maintain a rolling boil. I hand to manually control it switching the element on and off via the control knob.

Looking through these forums it would seem that a voltage controller would do the trick. There is an excellent article on this forum showing how to build one using a component from ebay. However I do not feel confident enough to build one, particularly bearing in mind the voltages, watages involved, etc.

In one thread there was a link to this pre-made unit that would seem to do the job: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Voltage-Tr...V21N4ZR3FA4GX8FJ9V1W&qid=1553987902&s=gateway

However the feedback on the item claimed that the item was potentially dangerous, and the 3-pin plug and socket does not seem to be very "British"-looking.

So my question is this: Where can I purchase a pre-made voltage controller for my boiler which is safe, at a reasonable price?

LeeH · Mar 31, 2019

Brewbuilder do prebuilt PID controllers IIRC.

Renegade · Mar 31, 2019

Thanks but it's not temperature control I'm looking for. I'm using the boiler to boil wort. I need to reduce voltage to the element to get a rolling boil rather than a volcanic one

simon12 · Mar 31, 2019

The description of the product makes it sound perfect but based on the review and the sellers feedback and company details I wouldn't put it near a electrical supply.

BeerCat · Mar 31, 2019

A PID can also reduce the voltage. A lot of people use them to tame the boil. I have seen voltage controllers on eBay for about £15 already made. I have burned out a gee 2k ones so I would at least get a 4k.

Renegade · Mar 31, 2019

BeerCat said:
A PID can also reduce the voltage

I have an Inkbird for controlling fermentation temps, but don't think it can control voltage, just on and off.

Can you show me a PID which would be suitable for controlling the boiler.

DavidHatton · Mar 31, 2019

Renegade said:
Thanks but it's not temperature control I'm looking for. I'm using the boiler to boil wort. I need to reduce voltage to the element to get a rolling boil rather than a volcanic one

I recently converted my SS Brewtech 37.5l pot, with a 2.8kw element I to was having a over rapid boil.
So not wanting to wire anything further than my element, I bought a Grainfather connect controller and added the spare thermowell from TMM and it has been working great reducing the power via the controller has been perfect for what I needed.
All in all it cost about £120 which I found reasonable compared to the other options, and can control everything from my android tab. Not the cheapest option, but for me the least messy one.

Drunkula · Mar 31, 2019

Renegade said:
Can you show me a PID which would be suitable for controlling the boiler.

I've used an Inkbird PID on manual to control an element. It does turn it on and off, pretty much what a PWM voltage controller does but on the seconds scale rather than milliseconds. You can set the control period so 20% on a 5 second cycle would be on for a second, off for four. It does work but an actual voltage controller would be nicer.

Nobbynormal · Apr 1, 2019

I bought a voltage regulator from China on eBay. Works like a dimmer switch but can handle up to 10000 watts. Easy to wire up too like a plug and controls the boil on my tea urn from a rapid boil to a very gentle simmer.

Renegade · Apr 1, 2019

Nobbynormal said:
I bought a voltage regulator from China on eBay. Works like a dimmer switch but can handle up to 10000 watts. Easy to wire up too like a plug and controls the boil on my tea urn from a rapid boil to a very gentle simmer.

Yes, a voltage controller is the route I'd prefer to go down, as I believe constantly switching the element on and off would shorten its life.

Is the item, or something similar, still available on Ebay? Could you post a link if so? Thanks.

Nobbynormal · Apr 1, 2019

This is the same as the one I got about 4 years ago. I built mine into a box. Two wires in from your wall outlet and two wires out to your boiler plus join the earth wire. The digital display shows the % of power from 0% to 100% up/down by the two white buttons. I actually wired the output to a double wall socket and just plug the boiler in to it.

Nobbynormal · Apr 1, 2019

Renegade · Apr 1, 2019

Thanks very much, just bought it now. Might resurrect this thread in about 2 weeks time when it arrives, to seek further advice.

Got to say your installation looks very professional. I'm sure mine won't look as good as that, but if I can get to do it safely I'll be happy.

Once again, thanks for your help

joe 90 · Apr 2, 2019

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC-220V-...881586?hash=item3d877957f2:g:kgsAAOSwNClbr27C

i use one o these to control a 2000wat element and it came with a British style plug on it and it works good its worked for about twenty hours and no problems so far

soupdragon · Apr 2, 2019

joe 90 said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC-220V-...881586?hash=item3d877957f2:g:kgsAAOSwNClbr27C

i use one o these to control a 2000wat element and it came with a British style plug on it and it works good its worked for about twenty hours and no problems so far

Anyone else got one of these? I like the look of it but would like other views before spending my hard earned

Cheers. Tom

Hang on, ignore this. It's not suitable for my use unfortunately

Cheers. Tom

BeerCat · Apr 2, 2019

Renegade said:
I have an Inkbird for controlling fermentation temps, but don't think it can control voltage, just on and off.

Can you show me a PID which would be suitable for controlling the boiler.

One of these inkbirds You run them in manual mode then you can control the output voltage. You set the temp a few degrees over boiling. Most people change the sensor for something like this npt100.

Renegade · Apr 2, 2019

joe 90 said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC-220V-...881586?hash=item3d877957f2:g:kgsAAOSwNClbr27C

i use one o these to control a 2000wat element and it came with a British style plug on it and it works good its worked for about twenty hours and no problems so far

That looks promising, and you're only using half the claimed wattage, which gives you a safety "buffer" - not pushing it to the max.

My boiler's wattage is 2.1-2.6kw, so slightly less of a buffer, but I'm tempted to try it.

Interesting that it comes with a UK plug, despite the picture.

whistlerface · Apr 28, 2019

BeerCat said:
One of these inkbirds You run them in manual mode then you can control the output voltage. You set the temp a few degrees over boiling. Most people change the sensor for something like this npt100.

Is it a faff on the Inkbirds to change and adjust in manual mode to control the boil ferocity. I was thinking of just having a switch so i could set the Inkbird pid to heat to almost boiling with an alarm, then just flip a switch to one of those voltage regulators to control the boil from there.

Alside101 · Apr 28, 2019

DavidHatton said:
I recently converted my SS Brewtech 37.5l pot, with a 2.8kw element I to was having a over rapid boil.
So not wanting to wire anything further than my element, I bought a Grainfather connect controller and added the spare thermowell from TMM and it has been working great reducing the power via the controller has been perfect for what I needed.
All in all it cost about £120 which I found reasonable compared to the other options, and can control everything from my android tab. Not the cheapest option, but for me the least messy one.

How did you manage this as it sounds pretty good

DavidHatton · Apr 28, 2019

Alside101 said:
How did you manage this as it sounds pretty good

Done 4 brews in it now, I find the grainfather app is great for copied recipes from beersmith...then you just press start session and off you go, the 2nd time I used it as a brew in a bag with the grainbasket added, that was a very smooth brew day with everything controlled from the app.
got a few things to figure out, i.e the grain basket legs aren't long enough to clear the element.
Then I am fully set up for a one vessel system.

Boiler Voltage Controller

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