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I just finished up my new Brew Kettle. It is a 9 gallons pot from Everwood, a Brewhardware.com element adapter and a 1500w water heater element. Using the stove burner as well as the element i was able to get a boil pretty fast. Around 20 minutes once all the wort was in the pot. I didn't get any build pictures but here is the finished product!

Good job

jacinthebox wrote:Good job

Yes! I use the same stove/element heating combo to get to the boil and turn either the stove or the element off when it starts boiling. It works well for me. You have a GFI somewhere on that?

I think he's just got it plugged into the regular kitchen outlet (which should, hopefully, be GFCI).

Depends on the age of the building. My kitchen isn't from what I know.

If your kitchen doesn't have a gfci you could always replace the outlet, fairly simple to do, usually only needs a screw driver.

Or if you and electricity are not the best of friends, you can always buy a gfci that just plugs in, basically it's like a extension cord that has a gfci built in

My house is so old I ran grounded wire to the Kitchen, bath and any new outlets I put in. Gfci's are in the basement at the panel and wired out to regular plugs.

Sandy

Yes it is plugged into a GFCI protected outlet. Wouldn't want to risk not having that!

I have a new kettle coming in so I can do stove top brewing during the winter so I figure I'm going to have to do this too.

That's the $10 camco element, right? The price is right, but I can't find any information on whether or not the element and the base are stainless steel. Any worries about corrosion?

evanisnor wrote:I have a new kettle coming in so I can do stove top brewing during the winter so I figure I'm going to have to do this too.

That's the $10 camco element, right? The price is right, but I can't find any information on whether or not the element and the base are stainless steel. Any worries about corrosion?

BrewHardware is carrying all stainless elements now: http://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/element2000.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Does the element plug straight into the wall? no controller?
I have been looking into this set-up myself as I'm moving into an apartment.

As long as you have a GFCI outlet in your kitchen you can plug directly into that, and control the boil using the stove element knob. I didn't have any GFCI outlets in my kitchen and it's a rental so I didn't want to change out the outlet. I made a small control panel that is basically just a switch, indicator light, and GFCI outlet that I plug the element into.

jeffsmith wrote: BrewHardware is carrying all stainless elements now: http://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/element2000.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Even though shipping is $35 I might spring for this. Probably worthwhile to avoid changing out the element after every couple of brews. I think I hate corrosion more than paying for shipping.

I think that Camco element is nickel-plated. Still don't know what the base is made of. @MarkPower: Keep us posted after you've given it a couple of uses

evanisnor wrote:

jeffsmith wrote: BrewHardware is carrying all stainless elements now: http://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/element2000.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Even though shipping is $35 I might spring for this. Probably worthwhile to avoid changing out the element after every couple of brews. I think I hate corrosion more than paying for shipping.

I think that Camco element is nickel-plated. Still don't know what the base is made of. @MarkPower: Keep us posted after you've given it a couple of uses

I think the Camco elements have a steel base.

jeffsmith wrote:

evanisnor wrote:

jeffsmith wrote: BrewHardware is carrying all stainless elements now: http://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/element2000.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Even though shipping is $35 I might spring for this. Probably worthwhile to avoid changing out the element after every couple of brews. I think I hate corrosion more than paying for shipping.

I think that Camco element is nickel-plated. Still don't know what the base is made of. @MarkPower: Keep us posted after you've given it a couple of uses

I think the Camco elements have a steel base.

They are.

I'm still using my camco element with the plain steel base and it's in the conical during fermentation. I haven't noticed anything negative due to this, and with a triclover connection, it's simple to take the element out after every brew and give it a thorough cleaning.

evanisnor wrote:Even though shipping is $35 I might spring for this. Probably worthwhile to avoid changing out the element after every couple of brews. I think I hate corrosion more than paying for shipping.

I think that Camco element is nickel-plated. Still don't know what the base is made of. @MarkPower: Keep us posted after you've given it a couple of uses

Do up a group buy and see if the shipping goes down. I would buy one or two.

Sandy

Yeah I'm buying 1-2 for heat sticks so a group buy may be doable

Maritimer wrote:Does the element plug straight into the wall? no controller?
I have been looking into this set-up myself as I'm moving into an apartment.

Looks like a good solution.

CorneliusAlphonse wrote:Yeah I'm buying 1-2 for heat sticks so a group buy may be doable

I'm interested too

Just checked out their site. Totally want one of those heat stick kits

Jimmy wrote: I'm still using my camco element with the plain steel base and it's in the conical during fermentation. I haven't noticed anything negative due to this, and with a triclover connection, it's simple to take the element out after every brew and give it a thorough cleaning.

Knowing this I'll probably just get 2 1500w camco's from Amazon (1 for backup, I can be clumsy), ring/washer/nut from Dave, and a weatherproof aluminum box from Home Depot. I'll steal the rest from my dad's shop. That should do 'er.

This is my first winter brewing all grain. This would be a good option to stay in out of the cold garage.

I am getting more and more tempted to try grain brewing... Perhaps I will do this sooner than I thought.

Well, I've gone and done it. Popped a hole in my brand new 8 Gallon Tall Boy kettle with my dad's hydraulic punch tool. I purchased the 1500w camco element from amazon and the 1" lock nut from Everwood. Dad's an eletrician so he had everything else lying around already.

My immersion chiller doesn't fit quite right with the element in the way now. It'll fit, but it's just awkward. Also kind of worried about boil overs. Maybe I should've ordered a bigger kettle, but this one fits perfectly on the stove top. I've got fermcap and I'll try a 5 gallon batch once and ease into the boil by turning down the stove. I might dial back the volume on future batches if I have problems. No big deal. Brew more often.

Single-gang box with a switch:


View on the inside:


Going to re-purpose my keggle as a mash tun. Soaking the new false bottom and dip tube in oxyclean: