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Author Topic: Electric brewing question  (Read 3240 times)

Offline trapae

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Electric brewing question
« on: December 17, 2018, 08:54:34 am »
Ssbrewtech is coming out with an electric  brewing system that I am very interested in converting to. (  probable Christmas present from wife 😁 ).   I was just wondering for those of you who brew with electric, what are the relative speeds that you can go from ground water temperature to say 170 for strike temperature? Or ground temperature to boiling?   I do 5 gallon batches.   Just wondering what I can expect as far as cutting down on brew day? Their element looks pretty strong — 5500 Watt Halo Heating Element.

Thanks
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Offline beerlord

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Re: Electric brewing question
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2018, 11:50:51 am »
I have the High Gravity 240v system (think its 4500 watts) BoilCoil and yesterday got 9 gallons ( brew 6 gallon batches) of 56 degree water to 158 mash in temperature in 26 minutes.  I haven't gone directly to boiling but after a mash out temp of 168, it only takes me 10-12 minutes to get to boiling.

Offline trapae

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Re: Electric brewing question
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2018, 12:17:27 pm »
 Awesome, thanks.  Just what I wanted to hear. That will definitely shorten my brew day. Anything too shorten brew day is good in my mind. I’m always so exhausted at the end.
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Offline yugamrap

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Re: Electric brewing question
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2018, 03:18:35 pm »
I have a Spike System with 15-gallon vessels.  The HLT has a 5500-watt element, and will raise the temperature of 15 gallons of water around 2 degrees F per minute when at 100% output.  The real time savings for me is not having to babysit the HLT while it's heating up.  No more worrying about overshooting the target temperature, or having a strong gust or wind blow out a propane burner.  It's also nice to brew inside when it's really hot or really cold outside - and electric needs less ventilation than a gas system.
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Offline Kevin

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Re: Electric brewing question
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2018, 11:21:14 am »
I was looking at the SS Brewtech electric systems myself but they are so slow to roll out the entire system that I bought a turnkey system from High Gravity instead. As much as I really like SS Brewtech products I couldn't be happier. AND I'm brewing already instead of waiting for the rollout of the next piece.
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Offline a10t2

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Re: Electric brewing question
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2018, 11:46:57 am »
Assuming it's reasonably well insulated* and running at full power, a 5500 W element will heat water at 73°C/L-min (35°F/gal-min if I correctly converted into Freedom Units).

*I assumed 93% heat transfer efficiency since that's about what I see on my 10 gal HLT, which is just a stainless kettle wrapped in reflective duct insulation.
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Offline BrewBama

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Electric brewing question
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2018, 12:16:41 pm »
I use a 3500W Induction cooktop under my HLT/BK. I’ve never timed it but by the time I get the mill out, run the grain thru it, and put it away, get the scales and salts/minerals out, measure them, get the MLT set up and ready, the water is about ready for me.  I image the element would be about the same if not faster.

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« Last Edit: January 28, 2019, 06:48:04 am by BrewBama »

Offline MNWayne

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Re: Electric brewing question
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2018, 06:55:58 am »
Brulosophy just posted a review of the SS Brewtech 1V.
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Offline trapae

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Re: Electric brewing question
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2018, 08:59:51 pm »
 Awesome, I just looked at his review and was very happy with it. Answered pretty much all of my questions.  Hope Santa is good to me this year.
I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.

Offline Richard

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Re: Electric brewing question
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2018, 11:01:19 pm »
I read the review, and while much of it seemed positive, the 1.5 F temperature variation during mashing seemed excessive. A properly-designed system should be able to achieve much better control than that. I can achieve 0.17 F standard deviation for a 60-minute mash, with 0.7 F max-min range.
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Offline tommymorris

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Re: Electric brewing question
« Reply #10 on: December 22, 2018, 09:38:07 am »
There’s also this: Robobrew Brewzilla 65L/16.9G. $699.

https://www.morebeer.com/products/robobrew-brewzilla-v3-grain-brewing-system-pump-65l169g-220v.html

Not for me though, I am a small batch guy. I love that my Grainfather does 2.5 and 5 gallon batches.

Offline archibeckmj

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Re: Electric brewing question
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2019, 08:12:31 pm »
I was waiting for the Spike system as well.  In the meantime, I came across Ruby Street Brewing.  I purchased Fusion 25 and couldn't be happier.  Amazing quality and customer service.

Offline BrewBama

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Electric brewing question
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2019, 06:48:15 am »
I use a 3500W Induction cooktop under my HLT/BK. I’ve never timed it but by the time I get the mill out, run the grain thru it, and put it away, get the scales and salts/minerals out, measure them, get the MLT set up and ready, the water is about ready for me.  I image the element would be about the same if not faster.

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I timed the cooktop under 9 gallons of water for today’s brew day. It took 45 min from room temp to 160* which gave me time to pour a cup of coffee, mill grain, weigh minerals and attach plumbing.


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