Thermo pot boiler conversion

[andyCo]

Hi folks looking for a bit of advice

I have a just purchased a 50l thermo pot (thanks matt) and I'm about to convert it to a boiler.
I brew all grain biab style but I'm struggling with where to put the drain.
I have all the tools and bits and bobs for either making the drain off in the bottom or through the side.
I will be fitting a bottom fitting 3kw element.
My current boiler has a side fitting tap which works well enough but does leave me with bit of dead space thus leaving a few litres of wort but also leaves behind a large portion of cold break.
I also use a hop spider so the hops wont be acting like a filter.
If I go down the bottom drain off route with a thru the deck fitting I'm a bit worried that I'll be dragging all the cold break into the fv ?

What d'reckon folks ? bottom or side (all the the gear no idea)

Thanks

Andy

[killer]

I'm also a BIABer. I don't worry too much about getting some break material in the fermentor as I tell myself it feeds the yeast. My tap is also side mounted so most of the break material does stay in the boiler (with the hops). I think putting a bottom drain in a BIAB vessel might be pushing it just a little too far. Were I to make a new pot, for BIAB I would be inclined to side-mount the tap with an elbow that would allow you stay just above the precipitated crud when you are ready to transfer to the FV.

[joe1002]

Personally I would false bottom and bottom drain. I'll take pics of my thermopot mash tun and show you when we meet later.

[andyCo]

Yea nice photos Joe !


Andy

[Fil]

If you have access to a belt sander go for a bottom drain concealed in the base, you will need the patience to sand/grind down the fittings especially if you use Stainless Steel bits, a front/side bottom drain is my preference over the common central bottom drain, its cheaper and easier to fit (less pipe and bits) and a quick tip helps eliminate deadspace

[Andy]

It's possible to fit a bottom drain into a thermobox without the need for any grinding down of fittings etc.

[barneey]

I would think carefully if you want to use the boiler at a later date in say a 3V system.

If you are just wanting it for your BIAB current system IMHO a bottom draining thrudeck fitting , off -centred (use a barrel nipple connected to an elbow connected to the thrudeck).

If however you might want to use the pot in a 3V system later on / want to use a hop filter a side outlet would prove more useful as it will enable the "easy" fitment of filters etc.

HLT / Mash Tuns = My preferred method off or centred bottom drains.
Boilers = as my comment.

[Fil]

It's possible to fit a bottom drain into a thermobox without the need for any grinding down of fittings etc.

yes but you will probably need to add feet or a supporting skirt to accommodate the extra depth of the fittings.
you coiuld look at smaller sized fittings like 3/8" or 1/4" bsp but that may result in a slower flow out.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

I have a bottom drain thermopot with 1/2 inch fittings and bottom draining. I didn't have to grind down any fittings and it all fits fine.

[Fil]

I have a bottom drain thermopot with 1/2 inch fittings and bottom draining. I didn't have to grind down any fittings and it all fits fine.

what did you use?? i had to chop off and grind down all but about 3 thread loops on the SS skin fitting i used, and about 2-3mm off the top edge of the 1/2" bsp 90 degree elbow it screwed into..




the grinding down of the bits also aids squaring the skin fitting flange in the bottom skin with little or no stress and centralising the exit through the bottom rim giving clearance allowing a 3 peice ball valve to sit above the base bottom, if you use a less bulky valve that may not be an issue but if i had not ground down the receiving elbow too the valve base would have sat lower than the pot base,, and sitting flat on a surface would not have been possible unless the valve was to overhang the edge .. ( which it does so perhaps thats a moot point ??)

and of course you could just sit on 2 planks either side of the drain point

[bobsbeer]

I did mine like yours Fil. I ground off a bit of the thru skin fitting to raise the outlet pipe so it went thru the skirt of the thermopot, but was above the base, so it sits nicely on a flat surface.

[Andy]

My thermopot conversion uses 1/2" fittings and no added skirt/feet. It's possible with the right selection of bits and pieces.

[andyCo]

Thanks for the input lads, think I'm going to go for a bottom drainer , if I move over to a 3v system the thermo pot will become a mash tun.

Thanks again

Andy