I got a very simple, cheap DIY brewkettle setup that I use for ~3 gallon BIAB brews. I installed a 2 kW heating element from a cheap electric kettle, so I assume it's high watt density. Now after a couple of brews there's some troubles I run into:
1. The BIAB bag I picked up is great (fits nicely, strong, can be pulled together by a cord) but for some reason has a coarse bottom, resulting in lots of grain particles in my kettle after the mash.
2. The heating element does a great job during the mash and gets a good boil going. Several times now however, it has stopped working during the boil, which is probably due to scorching. It doesn't burn or turn black or leave any noticeable flavor in the beer, but the element is just covered in a layer of gunk and as soon as the brew is over and the element cleaned a little, it works fine again.
I'd like to improve my brew days, and I know that most people will tell me to just install a proper, (ultra) low watt density element and my scorching problems will be a thing of the past. However where I live those aren't that easy to come by, especially one that fits in my kettle. (I'll keep looking though.) Besides that, I see mixed opinions online, with quite a few people saying that you can brew fine with high density elements in your kettle, no scorching problems.
Does my element stop working because of scorching? Any way to prevent that (other than replacing it with ULWD element)?
Is it normal to get lots of grain particles (both very small stuff and also (bits of) grain hulls) in my wort after the mash, or should I just get a better BIAB bag? Will this help with not scorching the element?
Lot of questions, for still a beginning electric BIAB brewer. Thanks!
1. The BIAB bag I picked up is great (fits nicely, strong, can be pulled together by a cord) but for some reason has a coarse bottom, resulting in lots of grain particles in my kettle after the mash.
2. The heating element does a great job during the mash and gets a good boil going. Several times now however, it has stopped working during the boil, which is probably due to scorching. It doesn't burn or turn black or leave any noticeable flavor in the beer, but the element is just covered in a layer of gunk and as soon as the brew is over and the element cleaned a little, it works fine again.
I'd like to improve my brew days, and I know that most people will tell me to just install a proper, (ultra) low watt density element and my scorching problems will be a thing of the past. However where I live those aren't that easy to come by, especially one that fits in my kettle. (I'll keep looking though.) Besides that, I see mixed opinions online, with quite a few people saying that you can brew fine with high density elements in your kettle, no scorching problems.
Does my element stop working because of scorching? Any way to prevent that (other than replacing it with ULWD element)?
Is it normal to get lots of grain particles (both very small stuff and also (bits of) grain hulls) in my wort after the mash, or should I just get a better BIAB bag? Will this help with not scorching the element?
Lot of questions, for still a beginning electric BIAB brewer. Thanks!