Do you need a thermostat?

Get advice on making beer from raw ingredients (malt, hops, water and yeast)
Post Reply
Shoit

Do you need a thermostat?

Post by Shoit » Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:19 pm

Try to get a list of things to get started with all grain. Looking at the 10 gallon kit from H&G. Going for the twin element - do i need a thermostat?

Kev

Parva

Re: Do you need a thermostat?

Post by Parva » Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:25 pm

Shoit wrote:Try to get a list of things to get started with all grain. Looking at the 10 gallon kit from H&G. Going for the twin element - do i need a thermostat?

Kev
Nope, save your money and go for the twin-element setup instead. I never bothered with a thermostat when I got mine, it just wouldn't get used.

alefric

Re: Do you need a thermostat?

Post by alefric » Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:08 am

I have a stat on mine but rarely use it.....as Parva says save your money, a 5 gallon brew won't boil over in a 10 G bin running at full tilt and if you're using it as an HLT just turn off one or both elements when you reach you're chosen temperature.

User avatar
Horden Hillbilly
Moderator
Posts: 2150
Joined: Mon May 08, 2006 1:00 pm
Location: Horden, Co. Durham
Contact:

Re: Do you need a thermostat?

Post by Horden Hillbilly » Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:41 am

Shoit wrote:Try to get a list of things to get started with all grain. Looking at the 10 gallon kit from H&G. Going for the twin element - do i need a thermostat?

Kev
For the boil no. However a thermostat is handy, but not essential for maintaining the sparge water temp. I have a 5 gallon bucket with a thermostat fitted as a hlt.

Shoit

Re: Do you need a thermostat?

Post by Shoit » Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:05 pm

Thanks for the advice - I'm thinking of getting the following kit:

33l container with element and thermostat as a HLT
10 gallon boiler with double element
Brupaks mash tun
Immersion chiller adapted for use with 10 gallon boiler.

I already have all the gear for kit brews. Anything else I should be thinking about?

Kev

Parva

Re: Do you need a thermostat?

Post by Parva » Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:44 pm

Sounds like you have it all sewn up to me. :)

Flaming Barrel

Re: Do you need a thermostat?

Post by Flaming Barrel » Sun Nov 23, 2008 3:41 pm

Why not build the kit yourself? Should save yourself money, and have satisfaction of DIY. There are plenty of threads in the equipment section. Also when it goes wrong on a brewday(my boiler packed up recently), you'll know how to fix it. :idea:

Kristoff

Re: Do you need a thermostat?

Post by Kristoff » Sun Nov 23, 2008 4:30 pm

Shoit wrote:Thanks for the advice - I'm thinking of getting the following kit:
33l container with element and thermostat as a HLT
10 gallon boiler with double element
Brupaks mash tun
Immersion chiller adapted for use with 10 gallon boiler.
Kev
Good compromise, I think a thermostat on a HLT is very sensible, going to fit one to mine eventually :)

Shoit

Re: Do you need a thermostat?

Post by Shoit » Sun Nov 23, 2008 7:15 pm

Flaming Barrel wrote:Why not build the kit yourself? Should save yourself money, and have satisfaction of DIY. There are plenty of threads in the equipment section. Also when it goes wrong on a brewday(my boiler packed up recently), you'll know how to fix it. :idea:
I'd love to build it myself but I'm seriously no good with diy and water and electricity are 2 of the things I wouldn't like to get wrong. I think if i get this kit, i can do a few extract kits first and then build up to the all grain experience.

Kev

Scooby

Re: Do you need a thermostat?

Post by Scooby » Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:26 am

I have twin elements in a 50l hlt/boiler, one element has a thermostat, it's from my
original Bruheat circa 1977. I find it useful set to about 80C and put that on a timer
so that I can come down in the morning and be all set to go, but knowing that it is safe
if I oversleep.

Also useful to maintain sparge temp as HH said, once the mash is under way and the
thermostat is set I can walk the dog :wink:

Flaming Barrel

Re: Do you need a thermostat?

Post by Flaming Barrel » Mon Nov 24, 2008 11:33 pm

Just an idea, H&G stuff is good, get set go.....make sure you get 10+ gal boiler to stop boil overs, makes life alot easier.
On the thermostat front im in the 'you dont need one school' especially with a big boiler , no boil over and a great rolling boil.
All the best, go straight in at the deep(ag) end, i did & cocked it up quite a bit to start off but im pretty good now(after 10 months) hitting OG & volume every time. The best teacher is practice / trial & error so dive in......... :wink:

Shoit

Re: Do you need a thermostat?

Post by Shoit » Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:47 pm

Thanks for the advice - I'm going to go for a thermostat on the HLT and not bother on the boiler. I'm certainly going to give it a go and see what happens!

Kev

Post Reply