Boiler dead space and recipe quantity

[sladeywadey]

Guys,

built my new boiler today and due to a little cockup I didn't put the tap as far down as it should . My dead space is 2.5 litres.

Do I add 2.5 litres to the recipe liquor quantity (ie 27.5l with a 25l recipe) or do I still just put the recipe water quantity in ready to boil?

Cheers.

[EoinMag]

What software are you using? You can either add it in there, or just calculate the recipe with the extra 2.5l accounting for loss. You'll have at least that much with hot and cold break and hops anyway.

[OldSpeckledBadger]

If you search through the brewing equipment section you'll find out how to modify your boiler to generate a syphon effect which will reduce dead space to a trivial amount.

[sladeywadey]

cheers guys. am going to try using Beer Engine and am lookign at beersmith and beermate

[EoinMag]

cheers guys. am going to try using Beer Engine and am lookign at beersmith and beermate

Beersmith is about the best of them, I tried a few and that was the easiest to use and the best.

[floydmeddler]

If you search through the brewing equipment section you'll find out how to modify your boiler to generate a syphon effect which will reduce dead space to a trivial amount.

Yes, you should follow this advice. Look how high my tap is - over 10cm:





When I connect the tubing and turn the tap, the syphon effect kicks in. You'll put a big dent in your efficiency by leaving that much precious wort behind... in other words, that's 5 bottles worth!

[sladeywadey]

hmm - looks like I have a bit of plumbing to do...

[micromaniac]

try using a flexi tube connected to your strainer so it can rest on the bottom of your boiler and just tilt it slightly forward when the wort is nearly at the bottom this is what i do with my burco

[sladeywadey]

thanks for that - will look into doing that. Just deciding on a suitable wort chiller now. Anyone got any experience of the £30 one at Leyland HB or the Brupak one?

[floydmeddler]

Extremely easy to make and you'll get much more for your money. You can make a really good sized one for around £25.