Looking at my new brewery build and I'm keen to make things as slick as possible to reduce brew day length.
For a lot of experimental batches I'll be down at 12-15 litres brew length (although I'll build for a capacity of 30). I'd imagine that a 2.7-3kW element at full power is going to get to the boil quickly, but will be wasting energy once it hits the boil.
Is there a way I can control the voltage of the element to avoid this?
Can you control voltage of element?
- Jocky
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Can you control voltage of element?
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast, Seaweed, Blood, Sweat, The swim bladder of a sturgeon, My enemies tears, Scenes of mild peril, An otter's handbag and Riboflavin.
- thepatchworkdoll
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Re: Can you control voltage of element?
Hi Jocky
Have a look on ebay under voltage controllers. Theres loads of controllers.
Regards
Patch
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC-220V-3800W ... 43cb070064
Have a look on ebay under voltage controllers. Theres loads of controllers.
Regards
Patch
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC-220V-3800W ... 43cb070064
- Jocky
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Re: Can you control voltage of element?
Ok.
Is using an element at less than full power going to shorten its life at all? Does anyone else do this?
If not I may use electric for the HLT and propane for the boiler.
Is using an element at less than full power going to shorten its life at all? Does anyone else do this?
If not I may use electric for the HLT and propane for the boiler.
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast, Seaweed, Blood, Sweat, The swim bladder of a sturgeon, My enemies tears, Scenes of mild peril, An otter's handbag and Riboflavin.
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Re: Can you control voltage of element?
alright. might be worth researching pulse width modulation (PWM) control. there's examples on the net where people have used it to control boiler elements. something i'll definitely consider if/when i change my current setup
dazzled, doused in gin..
- thepatchworkdoll
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Re: Can you control voltage of element?
Hey Jocky
Its not a problem Ive been using my ebay controller on the element for over 4 years.
Regards
Patch
Its not a problem Ive been using my ebay controller on the element for over 4 years.
Regards
Patch
- jmc
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Re: Can you control voltage of element?
Glad your setup is working Ok.thepatchworkdoll wrote:Hey Jocky
Its not a problem Ive been using my ebay controller on the element for over 4 years.
Regards
Patch
What controller did you use and what is max watt of your element?
Jocky- Many power controllers are for max 10A so only OK for smaller elements. Electrical noise can be an issue too.
Many articles on this if you search on Jim's.
- thepatchworkdoll
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Re: Can you control voltage of element?
Hi Jocky
I got a 10 kilowatt controller and a 3.5 kilowatt element from ebay. As Ive already sais over 4 years now all is fine. Hope this helps.
regards
Patch
I got a 10 kilowatt controller and a 3.5 kilowatt element from ebay. As Ive already sais over 4 years now all is fine. Hope this helps.
regards
Patch