Hot Rod Heat Stick powered Brewery

[jtmwhyte]

I wanted to share the (slow) process of wiring this thing into my existing eBrewing infrastructure. I'm planning on setting it up in a 20-25 gallon pot and doing the "Guinges-patented" ferment in the kettle option for 10-15gallon batches. I'll start with some pics of the unit and a link to the seller's site. I'll update as I build:

http://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/hotrod.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jacinthebox]

Impressive. ..we have been designing and gathering stuff to make a shared ekettle...it would have been nice to have something ready this weekend...brewing in a blizzard will be challenging lol

[CorneliusAlphonse]

I am looking at getting one of these! Only part I wasn't confident in was removing the casing from a10 gauge wire to fit it through there. If someone can tell me that's fine I'll likely be ordering one next week.

[mcgster]

I have one of these in my cart now and have been putting it off. I have a heat stick I built myself that works great but I wanted a second one for back to back batches! What is your overall impression. I spent 90$ on the parts from still dragon for my first one and this would work out to be about the same.


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[jtmwhyte]

It was 77 bucks total and arrived in 6 days, which is impressive. The overall impression that I have is that it's a very elegant piece of equipment. The welds are beautiful and the reviews are great. I can get more close up pics if you like

[mcgster]

Awesome, what are you running for an element?

Any chance you could post a close up shot looking at the element housing from the side?

Thanks!

[jtmwhyte]

1.) I use a Camco 6000w lwd element in my current eKeggle and would likely go with that again. I contemplated an all stainless element, but then realized that it won't be left in the pot and will be cleaned and dried each time.

2.)
Does this work?

[mcgster]

Yes that looks solid!

[jtmwhyte]

Picked up some 10/3 from Nedco today and slid it through with some fishing line and keg lube. Element should arrive on Thursday or Friday.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

Picked up some 10/3 from Nedco today and slid it through with some fishing line and keg lube. Element should arrive on Thursday or Friday.

Did the 10 gauge slide through with the outer casing on? The site said it wouldn't. If it did, I'll be starting a group buy.

[jtmwhyte]

No. The casing had to come off

[jtmwhyte]

Here's the beast all slung together with the 6000w camco lwd element.

[jtmwhyte]

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/CONCORD-Large-St ... RTM1963929" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm gonna pick up the 80 qt version of this mother to support the grain bag for 10G BIAB

[CorneliusAlphonse]

if anyone else is looking at doing this, we've got a group buy happening right now:

http://brewnosers.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=7937" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mckay75]

Trevor...I'm thinking of getting one of these for my keggle. Would you recommend the 90 degree bend?

[jtmwhyte]

Trevor...I'm thinking of getting one of these for my keggle. Would you recommend the 90 degree bend?

It was moderately difficult to get the three 10/3 wires past the bend, but not anything overly complicated imho. I got the bend, so I can't really recommend keeping it straight as I've not seen it. I like the idea of the cord hanging over and away from the steam.

[mckay75]

Trevor...I'm thinking of getting one of these for my keggle. Would you recommend the 90 degree bend?

It was moderately difficult to get the three 10/3 wires past the bend, but not anything overly complicated imho. I got the bend, so I can't really recommend keeping it straight as I've not seen it. I like the idea of the cord hanging over and away from the steam.

Yeah that's what I was thinking too, glad I ordered it with the bend.

[Jayme]

I've been looking at this and pondering about it (don't think it's something I need right now), but one word of caution - watch the insulation temp of your wire. If you're using a 5500W element at 240V, that is 23A in essentially a 100C ambient. A typical conservative rating is 10 to 35C rise in your wire. For 10C you would need 8awg and 110C insulation minimum, and for 35C you would need 10awg (technically 11 if it were common) and 135C insulation minimum. Bundling is another consideration, but for 2 conductors, the de-rating should be 1. So if you're doing 10awg, you would probably have to go with 200C wire (typical ratings are 80, 90, 105, 125, and 200), which is frankly not all that common. Anyway, that's my 2 cents, take it for what its worth (part of my day job is designing cable harnesses).

[jtmwhyte]

I've been looking at this and pondering about it (don't think it's something I need right now), but one word of caution - watch the insulation temp of your wire. If you're using a 5500W element at 240V, that is 23A in essentially a 100C ambient. A typical conservative rating is 10 to 35C rise in your wire. For 10C you would need 8awg and 110C insulation minimum, and for 35C you would need 10awg (technically 11 if it were common) and 135C insulation minimum. Bundling is another consideration, but for 2 conductors, the de-rating should be 1. So if you're doing 10awg, you would probably have to go with 200C wire (typical ratings are 80, 90, 105, 125, and 200), which is frankly not all that common. Anyway, that's my 2 cents, take it for what its worth (part of my day job is designing cable harnesses).

For my purposes for now (to get cooler BIAB strike water to temp in the cooler) it should work fine with my 100C wire, but if I ever do decide to go with the full boil with this sucker I'll certainly be upgrading the wire.

[Jayme]

Yup true - unless you decide to do a REALLY hot mash haha.

[mckay75]

I've been looking at this and pondering about it (don't think it's something I need right now), but one word of caution - watch the insulation temp of your wire. If you're using a 5500W element at 240V, that is 23A in essentially a 100C ambient. A typical conservative rating is 10 to 35C rise in your wire. For 10C you would need 8awg and 110C insulation minimum, and for 35C you would need 10awg (technically 11 if it were common) and 135C insulation minimum. Bundling is another consideration, but for 2 conductors, the de-rating should be 1. So if you're doing 10awg, you would probably have to go with 200C wire (typical ratings are 80, 90, 105, 125, and 200), which is frankly not all that common. Anyway, that's my 2 cents, take it for what its worth (part of my day job is designing cable harnesses).

Where would one source 200C wire? My intention with the heat stick I ordered was to use it for the boil.

[Jayme]

Search high temperature wire. Honestly I've never purchased it personally, just designed with it. Something Teflon insulated would work.

[mthibodeau]

Try anixter in Burnside, my only concern with them would be the possibility of a minimum order

[Jayme]

http://www.alliedelec.com/Images/Produc ... 110128.PDF

Likely the same issue as Anixter.. massive quantities

[Jayme]

Folks could consider a group buy?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/10-AWG-37-SRAND- ... 3386173535

Or this is probably within reason:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/ANY-COLOR-10-AWG ... 2a49fc1850

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Military-Teflon- ... 2a4bf77280