Morrisons Kettle Elements - good value or false economy?

[Fingar]

Hi Folks.

Apologies if this has been covered before:

My boiler comprises of 1 x 33L barrel with 2 x Morrisons (2.2 or 2.4kW) kettle elements, from kettles you can buy for a fiver. This setup has served me well, however, in 27 boils I have ‘lost’ two elements, the first at around brew #16 and the second at brew #26.

These are cheap elements, however, is it false economy to use these or would it be better to use immersion heater elements which are more expensive? Do the immersion elements have a longer lifespan?

[Hairybiker]

How have you "lost" them?
I have had a couple of elements fail after several years of brewing, as long as you clean them using acetic acid to remove the brew stone they should last for years.

Given the cost of replacing them, I will continue to use them. Especially as replacing them would be a major project for me.

[Piscator]

Not sure about immersion elements but my "proper" kettle element in my copper has been going for 10 years. I have a Tesco value kettle element in my HLT which has been going for about 6 years, but it doesn't have such a hard life as it would in a copper. Have a look at the kettle elements on the HBS sites - they should fit into the hole that your value elements sit in but I'm pretty sure you'd need to open the holes up for immersion elements.

Cheers
Steve

[simon12]

I have the same setup as you but 1 argos element only £4.99 thats identical to morrisons have done around 15 batches and no problems yet. If it was a single element I may consider it a risk as I could lose a batch but unless they both go at the same time the worse that can happen is I spend another £5. I imagine decent immersion elements will work for longer even though they are not designed with boiling in mind but just the fact there bigger should make them last longer as its spreading the heat. I will be sticking with the £5 ones anyway.

[Fingar]

Thanks for the replies.

As for cleaning the elements, I give them a scrub with nylon brush and a scouring pad each time - they don't look grimy, but maybe I should put some acetic acid in to do the job a bit more thoroughly.

I imagine that the Morissons value kettles are similar if not the same as Tesco, Asda and Uncle Tom Cobbly's. The two elements I have replaced were 28mm diameter holes, however, the newbies are 26mm, so I now have to keep the old ones insitu. I am contemplating building a new and bigger boiler/HLT (dual purpose, due to storage) which will have 3 elements, tow of which will maintain the boil and account for failure of one and provide rest periods.

Maybe I have just had a bit of bad luck with my elements or I'm just a ham fisted oaf!

[Piscator]

Just a quick thought - are you disabling the safety cut out when you fit them?

[JamesF]

I agree with the other posters. The element in my boiler has been going for at least fifteen years and outlasted the thermostat.

If you can happily draw the power required I can see the benefit of immersion heaters, but kettle elements seem to work fine too. Personally I'd just avoid the ones that will be awkward to clean.

James

[GeeThom]

I have used Tesco kettle elements for 20 -30 brews with no problems.
I always clean after use and before next use to remove deposits. I find that Citric acid is best

for my latest SS pots I moved to shop bought Haden elements but same performance .