Electric BIAB

1. My first biab in my 40lt urn

   22 Replies 23077 Views

   First post by Crusty, 12 years ago

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   Well, today was the day to try a few firsts. My first biab in my urn, my first no chill & the first time using BrewMate software. I have gone from a 3V temp controlled rims system to biab & here's how my brew day went.
   I aimed for a simple APA, hopped with cascade & centennial, 23lt into the cube @1.049, 70% efficiency. My recipe called for a 30lt strike in @69.2deg for a 90min rest @66deg. Once at temp, I added the grain bag, crushed grain & the mash settled in @65.7, close enough. Lid on &...

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   This tea hop cafetiere thing/idea is....genius!
   
   I think I will be trying this out instead of dry hopping (or maybe as well) - think this could even be done after my 21 day maturing - it will give such a fresh flavour right before racking....funny because BrewDog are developing an instant hop infusion system which happens at the dispense stage, in front of the customer!!!!
   22 Replies
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   Last post by TurnDevil
   10 years ago
2. Buffalo boiler cutting out during boil

   11 Replies 13695 Views

   First post by Lars, 12 years ago

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   Just used my buffalo 40l boiler for first time today. I noticed that it was cutting out during the boil and cycling back on when it had cooled a little. There turned out to be a buildup of scorched 'stuff' on the element. I've 2 questions about this
   1. Should I be overriding this cutout and how do I do that ?
   2. Will this buildup screw up the flavour of me beer and how do I avoid it?
   
   Thanks
   
   L

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   I use this boiler and had the issue of cutting out - that is why I started to use the the BIAB method. Simply using a bag with a pizza screen inside and tying the bag on the handles means it doesn't hit the bottom and scorch. When I spoke to Buffalo they said there might be a weight switch in the bottom (depending on age) which stops it being over filled, which would mean adding 5Kg of grain is going to stop you filling it full of water.
   
   Still I don't have any issues (at least not recently)...
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   Last post by TurnDevil
   10 years ago
3. Low power to step or maintain mash temp

   6 Replies 7911 Views

   First post by alexnharvey, 10 years ago

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   I have a little ssr widget to adjust power to my elements. Can I turn them on at low power without scorching my bag?

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   If you are worried, you can find a pizza pan that has hole in it, put a few stainless bolts to hold it up off the bottom above your element. Cheap solution if you can find the right size. Otherwise, just keep the power low and brew on...
   6 Replies
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   Last post by lonetexan
   10 years ago
4. Bag lifting during boil - help

   6 Replies 7357 Views

   First post by aamcle, 10 years ago

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   I've just tried my first test boil on my semi automated rig, a Burco with a concealed element, bag, stainless mesh and stirrer and I have a problem.
   
   The force of the boil is causing the bag to lift taking with it the stainless mesh that holds the sides of the bag away from the impeller. Then because the base of the bag has come up it catches on the impeller a and jams the stirrer!
   
   Now I did this test with no grain or any other solids just water, will the grain hold the bag down or is there...

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   I think so :-) but I'm on holiday from next week so it will be about 3/4 weeks before I will be able to brew :-(
   
   Aamcle
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   Last post by aamcle
   10 years ago
5. First BIAB - bad efficiency - bag to small?

   26 Replies 23366 Views

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   First post by Aries, 11 years ago

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   Hey guys,
   
   on monday i had my first BIAB batch. Positiv things were the very easy method and the short brewday. But i only got 9.5 litres with 13°P (~ 1.052) from about 2.5kg. Thats a bad efficiency. My first thought - my bag is to small for my vessel.
   (other problem was a high vaporisation, but thats something easy to handle with).
   
   Is it the small bag? My vessel is 30cm in heights and abput 37cm diameter. My bag got a smaller diameter. Got it from a local shop (in Germany, they git just one...

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   Yes, thats it :)
   
   By the way you KNOW your FG by lettig a small sample ferment faster at higher temperature.
   
   Back to topic:
   
   Made my new bag and i´m just brewing with it. After removing the bag from the kettle, i got 18L with about 10.2 °P (thats 1.041) - would be a 73% efficiency into boil. Thats better than before :)
   (But i dont trust my measurements yet)
   Made a 90 minute mash at 66-67 °C which i had to correct at 60 minutes when temperature fall down to 65 °C. Also made the mash out at...
   26 Replies
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   Last post by Aries
   10 years ago
6. Help with Simple eBIAB Setup

   12 Replies 15430 Views

   First post by BrickBrewHaus, 11 years ago

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   I'm moving to a new house in a couple of weeks and I'm interested in building a SIMPLE eBIAB kettle. By simple I mean:
   
   1) No pumps
   2) No PID controller
   3) Variable (turn knob) power controller
   
   My goal is to replace the beautiful simplicity of a propane burner/kettle (without spigots)/bag with heating element/kettle (without spigots)/bag.
   
   I've started to look around (and I know there is some info around this sight, I'm being slightly lazy here), but was hoping someone could point me in the...

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   Mally,
   
   I guess that the real prob with a 4500 or 5500 240V element is it gives you to much boil with out a controller. Boil overs are rough and I dont want to have to stand by pot the whole boil.
   
   Ive investigated the two element idea, and I like it. I may eventually go that way, but you do need separate circuits close by. Some say that the circuts really should have nothing else on them. Also in my case, My house was built in the '80s, and my wiring may be a lighter guage than is iteal for a...
   12 Replies
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   Last post by 2trout
   11 years ago
7. Bag n urn ready to go!

   4 Replies 6274 Views

   First post by aamcle, 11 years ago

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   At last it seems to have take forever to get this far. I have a PWM to case up as a boil controller.
   Then I can get my 1st BIAB brew on :-) I'll be doing 10l batches at first, there is only me drinking it and small batches will give me a better range of types of brews.
   
   Atb. Aamcle
   
   2013-04-16 19.30.30.jpg
   2013-04-16 19.30.56.jpg

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   looks gr8 ...
   i like the pan idea... :cool:
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   Last post by uk brewer
   11 years ago
8. Crown urn ready to go.

   12 Replies 11423 Views

   First post by Natdene, 11 years ago

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   With all this rain around, I am going to give my new crown urn a run tomorrow. Copied the insulation off some photos from the site. Cross fingers all goes well!

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   Natdene,
   
   A quick update on the black IPA - only 3 weeks old and it's tasting fantastic! Thanks Bob! I will be doing this one again
   
   Good at 3 weeks! you are on track for a train ride to paradise! It does get better with time but it rarely makes it that far. I use it as a sipper at night and I miss it dearly once it's gone. Keep us informed as to how it holds up with time and if you sense the changes as I do? I am a crackpot you know! :argh:
   12 Replies
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   Last post by BobBrews
   11 years ago
9. Best eBIAB pot

   9 Replies 11925 Views

   First post by johns, 11 years ago

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   Greetings from the Land of Lincoln!!
   
   So I am new here and I would make my virgin post. I am eager to start my first BIAB, but I have a newbie question.
   I am in the market for a BIAB pot and I am not sure which one to get. There are some requirements I would like to include. I am looking for an 80, 82, or a 100 quart pot. That’s at least 75 liters I think. I have looked at the bayou, classic 82 quart pot with the basket for about 175 usd but I was having second thoughts on it. The first...

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   :drink:
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   Last post by johns
   11 years ago
10. Fitting kettle elements ?

    4 Replies 7749 Views

    First post by aamcle, 11 years ago

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    Hi all.
    
    I new to AG brewing so I've been getting the equipment together, there were some items on the bay that I was interested in but I thought I would take a walk around the local car boot sale
    
    I came back with a 38l heavy walled aluminium stock pot and two kettles so considering that the wall of the pot is curved what's the best way to fit the elements?
    
    Thanks for you help aamcle

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    i installed 2 kettle elements in my keggle using only the parts that came with the kettles and they hav'nt leaked,have a look on the english site The HomeBrew Forum under installing a tesco kettle element. this is how i fitted mine...cheers..spog...
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    Last post by spog
    11 years ago
11. Electrim 30L MaxiBAB "Heart of Gold IPA" [Pic Heavy]

    5 Replies 7586 Views

    First post by Jeltz, 11 years ago

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    Well I had planed to document my last brew as another member was asking about using an Eectrim Boiler for BIAB I but didn't have my camera with me. So today (well starting off last night) I brewed a single hop IPA which I am calling Heart of gold (the recipe is untested so I'll report back if its any good)
    
    I use Brewtarget software and here is the recipe
    I do an overnight mash so I started at 1am last night (or this morning if you prefer).
    Grain weighed out and ready to go
    
    Water is on...

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    Jeltz, I was caught in a fight er... discussion on here recently about tap water, and even using hot tap water for added assurance that it might be sterile. I was pro tap water. It's sterile in most places. Others were opposed.
    
    I won’t say anything to anyone!
    
    It’s interesting to hear you haven’t had problems with the few batches, and I like the way you reason things out.
    
    Cover up your chips for a little while though :)
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    Last post by GuingesRock
    11 years ago
12. Burnt wort

    3 Replies 5760 Views

    First post by sdsratm, 11 years ago

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    Think I posted this in the wrong forum so I'll try again.
    
    After much research and loads of questions i finally got round to brewing my wheat beer on Sunday night. Everything went fine, mash, boil, cool, pitch all good. However when I transferred from boiler to fv I noticed that the 2 heating elements in my homemade boiler were coated with hard black stuff which didn't come off easily but I didn't really worry about it. Just assumed that some of the trub had burned onto them during the boil and...

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    Good day, I am not trying to be a Smart Ass (I really am Already) Please check you other post at onclick= window.open(this.href);return false;.
    
    Yeah I know I reposted here because I thought I'd posted in the wrong forum previously!
    
    :headhit:
    3 Replies
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    Last post by sdsratm
    11 years ago
13. Simple Question From the New Boy.............

    8 Replies 8439 Views

    First post by aamcle, 11 years ago

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    Evening All.
    
    I have obtained a 40 litre or so pot and a circular 3KW heating element to mount through the bottom, I don't expect to brew over 40 pints at a go so it should be OK.
    
    When I fit the element it's ass and the electrical connections will be hanging out of the bottom of my stock pot, I need some sort of box to provide protection to the connections and generally keep me safe.
    
    One of the cast aluminium electronics enclosures seems a good choice, how would I go about fitting it?
    
    The...

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    There ya go Todd.2000 words.
    
    Mmmmmm....brew porn!
    8 Replies
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    Last post by thughes
    11 years ago
14. Element power for a 35l pot

    2 Replies 4614 Views

    First post by aamcle, 11 years ago

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    Evening All.
    
    I have just obtained a 35l pot thick walled aluminium, my choices seem to be:-
    
    Use a couple of kettle elements through the side wall, but the walls are very rigid so I worry about sealing the element.
    Or I could use a Burco 2.5kw or 3kw element fitted through the bottom .
    
    To use a pot that size conveniently what is the minimum Kw size of heating element I need?
    
    Many thanks aamcle

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    I've got a problem, at 200 wats per litre I'd need 7kw and I don't have that.
    
    The only 30A supply I have is to the cooker and if I mess with that I die!
    
    The ring main has a 32A breaker so 2 sockets might work but the supply to the garage is 16A :( and that is were I want to set up my kit.
    
    So what should I do? I could use gas I have some burners and propane bottles but gas is hard to automate and I want this run by an Arduino.
    
    Thanks. Aamcle
    
    Panic over I've found the boil calculator and it...
    2 Replies
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    Last post by aamcle
    11 years ago
15. Induction Heat for Maintaining Mash Temp ?

    2 Replies 5230 Views

    First post by GuingesRock, 11 years ago

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    Merry Christmas to everyone!
    I’m getting this Kettle/BIAB mash tun and a bag for Christmas.
    
    I am thinking of investing in an induction hob similar to this one.
    
    My thinking is that it would heat the large mash tun/kettle more quickly and efficiently firstly, but secondly you can set the induction plate to maintain the pot at a constant temperature (designed for making sauces, melting chocolate, keeping food warm etc). So my question is…has any one used this feature of an induction plate to...

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    Hi Joshua, I'm up before the family this christmas morning. Chilling before the excitement of the day. Just wanted to say thanks for the friendly and helpful messages.
    Hope you have a good Xmas Day.
    Mark
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    Last post by GuingesRock
    11 years ago
16. Maximum batch size.

    2 Replies 5067 Views

    First post by robwalker, 11 years ago

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    Hi all!
    
    I'm a somewhat experienced brewer, and I've recently aquired a 29 liter boiler with all the trimmings - controllable temp, high quality hop filter, ball valve tap etc. I've been using it to brew just over 10 litres of beer at a time for now, as I've been experimenting with recipes, and using it for full size extract batches the rest of the time.
    
    without maxi-biab, what's the biggest batch size I could make here? I'd like a totally self-contained brewday if possible rather than...

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    Another quick option (scroll down to Can I mash it ):
    
    ---Todd
    2 Replies
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    Last post by thughes
    11 years ago
17. Whirlpooling in a crown 40l urn

    8 Replies 10194 Views

    First post by aydanrogers, 11 years ago

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    Just wondering if anyone has any tried successful methods to whirlpool in these urns. I have tried doing it at different times without success. I recently changed over to brewbrite to see if it makes a difference but its still the same. I get no cone in the bottom and it just looks like a murky mess when other gets low enough to see it.
    
    Could anybody shed some light.
    
    Cheers

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    Ok maybe I'll try 3g next time and see how that goes.
    8 Replies
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    Last post by aydanrogers
    11 years ago
18. First all grain brew done and fermenting!

    22 Replies 17946 Views

    First post by Jeltz, 11 years ago

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    Well I'll say at the start it was a catalogue of errors!
    
    When formulating the recipe I took Hashie's Old Speckled Hen clone as a starting point I used the percentages without thinking, which aren't quite right, and over did the crystal malt making it 18% when in fact it should have been about 10%. Looking back its so obvious that its a wrong in the recipe that I should have noticed it.
    
    Brewday was put back several times due to family stuff, so the yeast had cultured from a bottle, bottle...

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    I'm not worried about what went wrong, there are so many possibilities that trying to establish what led to the odd flavour is neigh on impossible.
    
    Wednesday will be a better brew.
    22 Replies
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    Last post by Jeltz
    11 years ago
19. Polarware vs. Blichman for 5500W single-vessel BIAB

    9 Replies 11838 Views

    First post by UncleBuckO, 11 years ago

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    I am considering moving my BIAB to a larger vessel. I currently use a 9g (34L) pot with an electric element in the bottom. I have now done 2 batches & am quite taken by this simpler method.
    
    I may have access to a Blichman 15g (56L) or a Polarware 15g (56L) brew pot. I would be able to install an element in one of these, as well. Just wondering what the benefits are to these pots to help make a sound decision.
    
    Cheers!

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    Don't forget to post pictures and feel free to ask questions.
    
    ---Todd
    9 Replies
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    Last post by thughes
    11 years ago
20. Picked up a cheap electric boiler

    2 Replies 4966 Views

    First post by Jeltz, 11 years ago

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    Well I did visit the shop which thinks kits are better than AG and they did have an Electrim boiler in, which had obviously been in stock for a long time. It was £60 cheapest I have found it elsewhere was about £80 but because it had a coffee splash on the side I asked him to give me his best price, after all I was going to have to wipe it with a damp cloth!
    
    £50 brand new :thumbs:
    
    Its only a 25L boiler so I'll have to do Maxi BIAB but looking at all the options it seemed to be the best...

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    The thing that made me laugh was that while he was serving me he continued to tell me how much better kits were than AG, if I had believed him then he'd have lost a sale :idiot:
    
    Just measured the capacity and I make it just under 30L to the rim, I think that I'll use my 19L stock pot to sparge and then add to the boil.
    
    On the down side Mrs J will have to knock me up a bigger bag, but that won't take her long.
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    Last post by Jeltz
    11 years ago
21. 50L Keggle and 2200W element - will it do the job?

    33 Replies 38598 Views

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    First post by kuzzy, 13 years ago

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    Hi All,
    
    First Question....
    
    I have a spare legit 50L keg that I wish to BIAB with after I modify it. On eBay I have noticed a few elements that are weld less construction and screw into the side of the keg when a hole has been drilled. They are 10A and are 2200 Watts - will this allow a rolling boil after a time, or do I need a bigger element (15A 3600W) or two of the 2200W?
    
    I Plan to do double batches with the setup by adding more water to the keg before boil (once I remove the bag I want to...

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    i tried using my 1500W X 2 elements on a 10 amp plug. it melted...
    
    Hi Shibolet
    
    Yes , it would do:
    
    maximum voltage in NZ ( which all certified appliances & systems must be able to cope with ) is 230v + 6% = 243.8 v
    
    3000W / 243.8v = 12.31 amps on a 10 amp plug = 23.1 % over spec' = meltdown.
    
    My heavier element is 2500W / 243.8v = 10.25 amps = 2.5% over spec' , which is within safety limits as I'd expect, as the over the side element is sold prewired with a 10 amp plug as a NZ certified...
    33 Replies
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    Last post by mbm
    11 years ago
22. 40lt lid hack

    3 Replies 5719 Views

    First post by rens, 12 years ago

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    I have just made my brew day a lot easier so I'm sharing this with you.
    
    The last 6 months I've been messing around manhandling the bag, creating ungainly frameworks for hanging a pulley, etc. I had also read (on the US site hbt) that some people were putting BBQ grill surfaces over their electric urns for BIAB draining. This sounds good, but I. Didn't want another bit of kit knocking around, not to mention burnt steak in my mash!
    
    So I drilled a couple of holes in the lid of my kettle, and...

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    Will do when I get home; I'm afraid it will be a simulated photo (will stuff some fabric in the bag),
    as I have got all my cornies full for the summer already!
    
    On the draining topic.....I dont know my thread count but I think it is very high; its a synthetic voile curtain that I sewed up on SWMBO's machine. I recently did a very wheat-intensive witbier (which came out amazingly well!!!! the recipe is in the conversion thread) and although I was prepared for pain and suffering, it drained just...
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    Last post by rens
    12 years ago
23. Pot Size Question - 60qt or 80qt

    1 Replies 4061 Views

    First post by jtcweb, 12 years ago

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    I'm looking to go BIAG and will mostly be doing 5 gallon batches. To start with I will have my pot on a burner but want to install a heating element through the side of the pot in the future. I'm afraid that with a 80qt pot there will not be much liquid over the element when I do a 5 gal batch.
    
    I realize that installing the element as low as possible will help with this, but I suspect that 90% of my brews will be 5 gal batches and am wondering if the 60qt pot would be better.

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    I have a 60qt pot with an element installed as low as possible and do primarily 5 gallon batches. It takes @ 1.5 gallons to submerge the element safely in my pot. I would have to assume that an 80qt pot would likely take 2-2.5 gallons to submerge the element. Either way, it is a non-factor as you will normally have 5-6 gallons of liquid in the pot post-boil.
    
    My recommendation? Get the 80qt pot. It will work fine for 5 gallon batches and give you the option of comfortably doing 10 gallon...
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    Last post by thughes
    12 years ago
24. Switching to Biab

    23 Replies 21310 Views

    First post by Crusty, 12 years ago

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    Hi all.
    I have recently sold my 3V PID controlled rims setup & am going to biab in an urn. The simplicity of biab & the tedious brewdays of 3V are over. I made a simple process way too complicated & am looking forward to the switch. I am looking to get my urn this week & am looking at a Crown exposed element & using a simple cake cooling rack over the element to protect the bag.
    Very excited.
    Cheers

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    I didn'k know the bowl trick, sound like a good idea.
    
    When the urn was boiling last night, it was extremely hot & I assumed anything wrapped around that might melt. Any suggestions on the tried & tested stuff & where to get it?
    Cheers
    
    I wrap a camp mat around my urn, about 1cm thick that you put between your sleeping bag and the ground. Costs about $8 from BCF. I'm on my second one. The first one got dirty from spills etc but had no trouble getting it off. If you like you could put a layer...
    23 Replies
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    Last post by BobtheBrewer
    12 years ago
25. Video: BIAB on Youtube

    4 Replies 6941 Views

    First post by carsunn, 12 years ago

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    Gday guys. I've recently posted a video on Youtube showing how I went about a BIAB using my crown urn recently. I tried to keep it simple, hopefully to encourage others to give BIAB a go. I'd be appreciative of any feedback as I plan to put together others during my next few brews. Here's the link:
    onclick= window.open(this.href);return false;
    Cheers,
    Carsunn

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    Hey Lars,
    Cheers mate. My urns wattage is 2400. No, i got no build up of anything on the bottom- wiped off very easily actually and the boil time was 90mins :)
    4 Replies
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    Last post by carsunn
    12 years ago