Hi
I noticed B&Q have this insulation that comes in a roll and is effectively 2 sheets of tin-foil covered in plastic with a layer of bubble wrap between them. Claims to be as effective as 55mm of polystyrene.
I was going to ask if anyone has used it - but just bought some and have wrapped my enamelled steel Brupaks boiler in it. I saw on this forum that the enamelled steel makes the boiler shed heat and reduces it's effectiveness as a mash tun. There is more than enough to insulate my fermentation barrel too.
Anyway - anybody used it or have a better suggestion? I shall see if it works myself this weekend.
Babble babble ramble-on.
Pete
I just noticed a very similar post not that long ago - so nobody feel the need to reply if they don't wish to.
Insulation for boliers a la B&Q
-
oxford brewer
- Under the Table
- Posts: 1289
- Joined: Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:00 pm
- Location: oxford
-
Seveneer
-
Pete
-
Pete
Good old gaffa tape, but you could simply use straps (come to think of it, I have some suitable ones somewhere I could have used).
My results are a bit inconclusive, but using double thickness on the sides, triple on the top...
1. I am using lots of water for my high grain recipe, 20ish litres. It was 67degC when I turned the boiler off and 2 hours later there was no noticeable drop. So OK for mashing although would it be as good with less liquid? 12 hours from the beginning it was at 50degC.
2. It seemed to get to temperature quicker (say a third quicker), but I have not accurately measured it so take that info with a pinch of salt.
3. The outside still feels warm (not like a hot water tank which are often so insulated there is no heat) so it clearly lets heat through and is not as good as 50mm of polystyrene.
4. When the boiler is on it still feels the urge to turn the element on every 5 minutes to keep the temperature correct - I assume this means there is enough drop in temperature that the thermostat (or whatever) turns on the boiler.
My conclusion is - it is worthwhile because it is:
1. cheap as chips.
2. easy to apply to the boiler in a way that can be left on when not in use.
3. bound to work a bit (in fact probably good enough that the boiler can be turned off duriong mashing, which was my objective).
4. good looking.
However, if you can think of a better alternative, go for it.
Incidentally my mash worked lovely.
Pete
My results are a bit inconclusive, but using double thickness on the sides, triple on the top...
1. I am using lots of water for my high grain recipe, 20ish litres. It was 67degC when I turned the boiler off and 2 hours later there was no noticeable drop. So OK for mashing although would it be as good with less liquid? 12 hours from the beginning it was at 50degC.
2. It seemed to get to temperature quicker (say a third quicker), but I have not accurately measured it so take that info with a pinch of salt.
3. The outside still feels warm (not like a hot water tank which are often so insulated there is no heat) so it clearly lets heat through and is not as good as 50mm of polystyrene.
4. When the boiler is on it still feels the urge to turn the element on every 5 minutes to keep the temperature correct - I assume this means there is enough drop in temperature that the thermostat (or whatever) turns on the boiler.
My conclusion is - it is worthwhile because it is:
1. cheap as chips.
2. easy to apply to the boiler in a way that can be left on when not in use.
3. bound to work a bit (in fact probably good enough that the boiler can be turned off duriong mashing, which was my objective).
4. good looking.
However, if you can think of a better alternative, go for it.
Incidentally my mash worked lovely.
Pete
-
guildofevil
-
Pete
-
Kev.
Think it's a bit like breather foil....http://shurl.org/vFkwb I used to rent some lockup space from a joiner and he used tons of the stuff. I blagged some from him as I thought it might prove usefull. Never got round to using it though! 