How to hang immersion chiller in a kettle so it doesn't rest on anything?

[hezagenius]

I do electric brewing so I have an element on the bottom of my kettle. I use an immersion chiller to chill so what I've been doing is putting in a false bottom grate towards the end of the boil to keep the chiller off the element. What I would like to find is a way to suspend the chiller above the element so I don't need the false bottom. I would need some sort of upside down U-shape to hang on the kettle and find a way to attach that to the chiller. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[tellyho]

For many years, I had a piece of perforated stainless that I had bent to make a "tent" above my element for my immersion chiller. I've eliminated it and haven't looked back. Just pop your chiller on the element, no sweat.

 

[day_trippr]

A worm clamp and a hook-shaped piece of metal (preferably both stainless) should solve the problem...

Cheers!

 

[Abhishek Dewan]

Use this, it will protect the heater. The chiller can rest on it.

 

[hezagenius]

Here's what I came up with. It actually turned out more elegant than I expected. I might get around to trimming off the extra threading but it'll work for now. I initially tried a J bolt but it had the shepherd style hook so it wouldn't sit flush.

 

[day_trippr]

There ya go. Easy peasy

Cheers!

 

[cubalz]

I bought the stainless steel false bottom for BIAB from Brewhardware.com (Bobby M.) in the leg elevation you need to have it slightly over the electric element. It will give you a place to sit your immersion chiller on. Works great and is well made for under $40.00

 

[sicktght311]

I just rested my immersion chiller on the element. It wasnt anything heavy or robust so i never worried about it. Moved to CFC now

 

[FloppyKnockers]

I'll be the first to ask... Why the fear of it resting on the elements? I used an immersion chiller for years in my eBIAB and never worried about it resting on the element.

 

[Unicorn_Platypus]

Here's what I came up with. It actually turned out more elegant than I expected. I might get around to trimming off the extra threading but it'll work for now. I initially tried a J bolt but it had the shepherd style hook so it wouldn't sit flush.

View attachment 668250

Do you know the name of the hook peice you used if I want to order similar from a hardware store or Amazon?

 

[hezagenius]

@Unicorn_Platypus

It's called a u-bolt.

Something like this:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/National-H...-L-x-1-4-in-Dia-Zinc-plated-U-Bolt/1000390261
I used 2 nuts to hold a spacer in place like this:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-6-...Zinc-Plated-Standard-SAE-Flat-Washers/4487506
Then a worm clamp to hold it to the chiller.

I don't recall the exact sizes but probably it wasn't super thick, so probably 1/4".

 

[micraftbeer]

what I've been doing is putting in a false bottom grate towards the end of the boil to keep the chiller off the element. What I would like to find is a way to suspend the chiller above the element so I don't need the false bottom.

What is your concern with the false bottom, sounds like you already had a solution. I could see if you were thinking you wanted something simple/cheaper, but since you already have it... And maybe that helps filter hop debris to some degree to keep it out of your fermentor?

 

[Unicorn_Platypus]

@Unicorn_Platypus

It's called a u-bolt.

Something like this:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/National-H...-L-x-1-4-in-Dia-Zinc-plated-U-Bolt/1000390261
I used 2 nuts to hold a spacer in place like this:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-6-...Zinc-Plated-Standard-SAE-Flat-Washers/4487506
Then a worm clamp to hold it to the chiller.

I don't recall the exact sizes but probably it wasn't super thick, so probably 1/4".

Thanks!

 

[Deadalus]

Mine is almost similar to hezagenius but I don't use a spacer between the nuts. I just have a space there. I can understand wanting to cover the threads but if you have to pay ~$12 for the spacer, you can go without. The nuts on my get pulled in snug against the u-bolt so they don't move. A piece of silicone tubing could work there too if you have a little extra if you wanted to cover the threads.

I did go with stainless steel though instead of the zinc and that surely cost more. Maybe that was just a quick picture though that was linked.

 

[crazyjake19]

I've been using the setup shown above for a few years and it's worked great. Stainless steel u-bolt, stainless nut, and stainless hose clamp.