Help with vintage electric element

[Mther]

Hello guys,

I bought a 3 kW heating element off ebay and I was wondering if 3 kW are enough to achieve rolling boil for 40 L wort?

Cheers

[oakwell]

that should be fine. have a look at the heating calculator on here too
http://www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk/calc.html

[Mther]

Perfect! Thanks mate!

[Mther]

I would also like to ask for some help on how to install the element.

1) First of all which drill bit would you recommend to drill a 40 mm hole?

2) Would normal wall plugs work ok with 3kW power or will everything go off as soon as I plug it in?

3) What are the cons of using heating elements? Many people seem to change them/burn them once in a while... does it just happen or does anyone have an element which lasted for years?

Cheers

[bobsbeer]

A Q Max is the best way to get a nice clean 40mm hole. A 3kw element will draw 12.5amps so cutting it a bit fine for a 13amp socket. Best to have a dedicated 15-20 amp circuit. The only con with elements is that they do accumulate crud during the boil and need to be kept clean. But that is easily done with a soak with oxy or citric acid. Then just a wipe with a cloth. They can fail at any time, but usually they last a few years.

[paulg]

unless you do what someone who bought my thermopot did.
I sent it to him with a perforated false bottom .I had used it for a mash tun then converted it to a boiler.he boiled with the false bottom covering the element and it failed first time out .
the heat was unable to dissipate and basically turned the wort below the false bottom to steam. LOL

[scotia]

You show as being in Edinburgh, I am only 40 mins away if you want to bring it down I could cut the hole in it for you. pm me if you want to pop doon the borders.
Sam

[DeadFall]

I'm in ed, I have a 40mm q-max you can borrow. You will need a 12mm drill bit and a drill that can take it. I had to borrow those of a mate as my drill, like a lot of drills, will only take up to 10mm. Alternatively you could use a smaller q-max to get a starter hole.

[Fil]

there u go 2 offers of a cutter locally - SCORE!!

im using 3kw elements ok, Plugging into a 13a wall socket will probably result in the plug warming up so ensure u use a plug rated to 13a, (i recycled a plug off a shop bought item and was horrified to note it was only rated to 5a?? - Not all plugs are equal!!).

My recommendation is to scrub back the element to shiny metal with the scrubby back of a kitchen sponge as soon as you have rinsed out the hops from your boiler.. if caught soon after the boil its much softer and easy to get off but can set to concrete strength if left to dry on the element needing a citric acid soak or more to clean.

boilling with the last brews crud on an element will probably shorten its life, so get it orrf

[Mther]

I finally found some free time today and managed to drill the keg and fitted the heat elements (3kW and 2kW), done leak test seems to be ok.

I checked the elements' plugs they both have a 13A fuse. The house has 2 socket lines so I have 4 questions:

1) Can I have 2 elements on one line at the same time (different wall sockets but same line)?

2) Is it ok to change the cable of the elements and fit a longer one so I can reach the other room with the 2nd line of sockets?

3) Are all wall sockets rated at 13A? Or do I have to check them?

4) Can I use an extension instead of changing the cable to a longer one? (extension will use only the element plug when is ON)

Thank you very much in advance

[Fil]

1) Off a a spur line, probably not, if off the ring probably yes, check the rating on the mcb for that circuit in your consumer unit (fuse box) if rated 32a or above , its ok. HOWEVER Not both plugged into the same double socket, a double socket is only rated to handle 13a Total over the 2 sockets.. so split between 2 socket boxes.

2) yes just use cable rated to take the load, 2.5mm square should be ample but consider getting the more expensive heat proof flex as the element and perhaps its terminals will be HOT..

3) all modern wall sockets will be rated to 13a ok but remeber a double socket is rated to 13a max too.

4) yes an extension cable is ok to use just ensure it can take the load and unwind it fully, i brew with 2 x extension leads

[Mther]

Thank you very much Fil!

One questions on your 1st answer. What do you mean by spur and ring line?

[Fil]

sockets that make up part of a domestic ring main have 2 power cables attached to them one from each end of the ring, so all are daisychained together and in effect can draw a higher load off the main.
a spur is a single cable extention off the ring and as its only supplied by one cable, and while you should not have more than one power point on a spur, thats not always the case and 2 or more socket boxes could be on a spur. and just like an extention cable with a 4 x socket strip on the end its the total amp draw of all things plugged in you need to consider, hope that makes sense..

[Mther]

Thanks again Fil. It does makes sense but since I am not sure, I will get long cables and plug each element on different line. It is better to play safe rather than burning the house Cheers Fil!