Buffalo Boiler Cutting Out

[Addled Jim]

Hi,
I'm half way though my first BIAB and the boilers playing up - Can anyone explain how I override the thermostat on the Buffalo, it’s cutting out at 84 degrees, I'm going to transfer the wort into 2 FV and hopefully sort out the override to continue
Any speedy responses appreciated
Cheers, James

[Dave S]

Hi,
I'm half way though my first BIAB and the boilers playing up - Can anyone explain how I override the thermostat on the Buffalo, it’s cutting out at 84 degrees, I'm going to transfer the wort into 2 FV and hopefully sort out the override to continue
Any speedy responses appreciated
Cheers, James

Is your element plate clean? These boilers can cut out if the plate is gunked up with burnt-on wort. When you say cutting out, is it showing a green light or an orange one? If it's green the thermostat thinks it's up to temperature. If it's orange it's the over temperature trip. I wouldn't recommend by-passing the thermostat, as it is useful for mash/sparge water heating.

[Addled Jim]

About a 1/3 was when I drained wort to FV's - I'v just scrubbed with clean/new metal pan scourer - its com up clean now?
Will that be sufficient to continue or should I override the cut out too?

[Dave S]

About a 1/3 was when I drained wort to FV's - I'v just scrubbed with clean/new metal pan scourer - its com up clean now?
Will that be sufficient to continue or should I override the cut out too?

You should definitely NOT override the cutout! it's there to protect you and your house. Try it again with a clean plate. It's happened to me only once when I hadn't properly cleaned it after a brew.

PS a more gentle way of cleaning it is by soaking it in lemon juice for 30 minutes.

[Addled Jim]

Its only boiled some water to rolling boil as a trial run, and today heated water to 70 degrees for mash
I didn't ever get up to the boil today just cut out at 84

[Dave S]

Try it with a clean plate first. Then if it's still playing up send it back as it sounds like you've only recently bought it.

[Addled Jim]

Cant send it back after cutting and fitting new tap!

[Dave S]

Cant send it back after cutting and fitting new tap!

Ah! You haven't said what colour the light was when it cut out.

[Addled Jim]

just went off on switch, thermostat light was still on?

[Dave S]

Was that light green or orange?

[Addled Jim]

orange

[Dave S]

That's the over temp cutout and not the thermostat. There's a good chance it'll be OK now you've cleaned the plate. Is it a high gravity wort?

[Addled Jim]

target ABV 4.6%
I've cleaned and put the wort back in but its still playing up, turning on then switching off - up to 86.3 now
Not much chance of reaching a rolling boil then...gutted

[Lars]

AJ, to get through today's brew do the following.
First check that you have the temp control dial up maximum(I recently had similar problem where it was just turned down)
If its not that then you've 2 options, override the cutout and the temp control stat or just physically move both further from the element. They're easily over ridden.
The overtemps cutout is fitted to the underside of the element by 2 small nuts. The temp control one is in a clip and is long thin and metallic. They both use spade connections so with some tape an be easily bypassed.

[Lars]

I have mine several inches from the element held with cableties, they're still in there to protect in the event if a meltdown but buildup on the element doesn't cause cutouts anymore