Building New Boil Kettle

[Brian Dempsey]

I am in the process of building my first all electric setup. It will be a 15/16G kettle with a ball value, temp prob, and heating element. I am most likely going the 240 route, with one of these 3 options:

https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/elementkit_tcrip_wl.htm

http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/Camco-02963-5500W-240VAC-ultra-low-watt-density-ULWD-RIPP-element

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BPG4LI/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Each one has pros and cons, but i was looking not to spend 130 or 140 on something. The element itself would be a DIY type effort and cost a lot less. Any opinions are welcome, looking to see who has used the above and thoughts on them. Also, how did everyone make he hole in the kettle (a hole saw or punch).

Gimp

 

[BeardedBrews]

The Brew Hardware kit is the easiest and a very effective route. Buy the power cord from them too, it's nice and clean.

Brew Hardware has a hole saw bit that would work just fine, otherwise you can get a step bit from harbor freight and then expand the opening as needed with a file or a Dremel.

I went with silver solder for my element, was not particularly hard at all.

 

[mongoose33]

I have the Brewhardware element, and it works great. Go 240--if you don't, you'll forever be wishing you had. I can take 8 gallons of 50-degree water to boiling in under 30 minutes with mine. You bring the wort to boil faster, the strike water is heated faster....your brew day is shorter.

I sent my kettle back to Spike to have a TC port welded on at the 9:00 position low and the 4:00 position high. In the end, I have the following:

TC Port at 4:00 and 2" from the top; this is for Brewhardware's Steam Slayer.
TC Port 2" high at 9:00 for the element.
1/2" NPT ports at 5:00 and 7:00 2" off the bottom, and one at 6:00 4" off the bottom. The 5:00 is for the ball valve, the 7:00 is for the thermometer/temp probe, and the 6:00 is for the whirlpool arm.

If you're going to want those extra ports, consider allowing for them now, or at a future date.

 

[4of7]

Yup got the one from bobby.working grest