I ordered an "all grain brewery" from Hop & Grape in mid-October and they phoned me to say that they were having problems with the elements in their boilers so there would be a delay. I like to give people the benfit of the doubt but I've phoned them twice since and they haven't really given me any indication when the problem will be sorted out.
I'm itching to do my first all grain brew so I'd be interested to know if the problem with the elements affects all suppliers or just Hop & Grape. I've got a couple of weeks off over christmas which would give me the perfect opportunity do my first batch so I'd really like to get some equipment ASAP.
Hop & Grape Element Problem
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erebus
I phoned them up on Thursday and the guy there told me about the problem to and they where told they could expect a new order from their new UK supplier to be in stock by this weekend. He mentioned that he'd been having problems getting a firm date off his supplier previously.
Give them a ring on Monday and see what they say.
Give them a ring on Monday and see what they say.
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des
I got my brewery from H&G, just ask them to send it without the elements but with the holes - much cheaper. Buy budget kettles from Tesco, they are less than £5 each and when dismantled the elements fit in the holes in the boiler perfectly, they are about 2.4kw. I have 2 in my boiler. These kettles are cordless but when fitted to your boiler the elements connect to a standard kettle lead which you will have to obtain seperately, you could use a computer lead and upgrade the fuse to 13amp.
Bear in mind that you will also need a supply of hot liquor for sparging so you will need another vessel with heating elements for this purpose. H&G do not allow for this in their Brewery packages.
see what I mean ?
Cheers
Des
Bear in mind that you will also need a supply of hot liquor for sparging so you will need another vessel with heating elements for this purpose. H&G do not allow for this in their Brewery packages.
see what I mean ?
Cheers
Des
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steve_flack
Proper elements, with a shroud around the pins can be had from here:
http://www.heatingelementcompany.co.uk/ ... roduct=293
http://www.heatingelementcompany.co.uk/ ... roduct=293
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mysterio
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des
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des
Have you had these from this supplier? Are you sure they supply everything you need to attach them to your boiler, I ordered something similar (from a different supplier) and have not been able to use it as I found it impossible to obtain a nut or shroud to screw onto the other side, I was told these are only supplied to replace existing elements.johnmac wrote:Proper elements, with a shroud around the pins can be had from here:
http://www.heatingelementcompany.co.uk/ ... roduct=293
Hence H&G supply problems.
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erebus
Hang on are you saying that these cordless kettles actually have a 3pin socket inside the kettle? When you say dismantle, are you talking about undoing a few screws or attacking the thing with a hammer?des wrote:These kettles are cordless but when fitted to your boiler the elements connect to a standard kettle lead which you will have to obtain seperately
[edit]
Just took a look at the cordless kettle my landlord left behind, and you're right there's a standard 3pin socket in the handle.... now where did I leave my hammer?
You don't necessarily need a separate HLT, you can use a separate vessel (such as a spare fermenter bucket) to catch the sparged wort and then transfer it to the boiler. It does make it easier having two, but if you're starting out you can get by with one.des wrote: Bear in mind that you will also need a supply of hot liquor for sparging so you will need another vessel with heating elements for this purpose. H&G do not allow for this in their Brewery packages.
Yep, element, two washers and a threaded lock ring. Made by Becker, identical to Hop 'n' grape item.Have you had these from this supplier?
Sorry, it's just that my extension lead gets bloody hot if I run an element without unwinding it. I'll wind my neck back in nowhat extension only supplying one 2.4 kw element, lead and plugs still cool after 90 minutes.
Last edited by johnmac on Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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des
Start with a Tesco Value Kettle
Take it to bits
This is what comes out, note how seal is fitted when you take it out.
You dont need the auto-off switch so chop it off and pull the little wires out that supply the 'on' light
You end up with this which connects to a normal lead
And goes in a boiler thus.
Not bad for less than a fiver
Take it to bits
This is what comes out, note how seal is fitted when you take it out.
You dont need the auto-off switch so chop it off and pull the little wires out that supply the 'on' light
You end up with this which connects to a normal lead
And goes in a boiler thus.
Not bad for less than a fiver