KJB5200
Active Member
Hi All,
I'm working on a major overhaul of my brewing platform - I'm switching to an all-electric 5gal RIMS system that is loosely based upon theelectricbrewery.com's rig. Originally I had planned on a three element design with two 1500W/120V elements: one heating my strike/sparge water and another heating the RIMS tube. A third 4500W/240V element would handle the boil after the mash had finished. Now my dilemma:
I've read about underpowered elements being a poor choice for a RIMS tube, especially for step-mashing because of the inability ramp up temps quickly. So, in the design I mentioned above, would a single 1500W/120V element in a 5gal system be effective?
The alternative I've considered is putting 4500W/240V ULD element in the RIMS tube and wiring a 120/240 switch so I can ramp up the temps quickly in 240V mode for steps but bring the wattage back down for maintaining temp (and heating my sparge water as necessary). I've read that voltage output can be controlled through the BCS-462 I just purchased too, so I'm not sure if a physical switch is necessary but I've read comments that this type of design will be problematic for the controller (i.e. - every voltage switch will require changing specs in the BCS software?).
This may all seem a bit disjointed and lacking direction, but this project has gone on for months with little progress and I need to get back to brewing. Any suggestions?
I'm working on a major overhaul of my brewing platform - I'm switching to an all-electric 5gal RIMS system that is loosely based upon theelectricbrewery.com's rig. Originally I had planned on a three element design with two 1500W/120V elements: one heating my strike/sparge water and another heating the RIMS tube. A third 4500W/240V element would handle the boil after the mash had finished. Now my dilemma:
I've read about underpowered elements being a poor choice for a RIMS tube, especially for step-mashing because of the inability ramp up temps quickly. So, in the design I mentioned above, would a single 1500W/120V element in a 5gal system be effective?
The alternative I've considered is putting 4500W/240V ULD element in the RIMS tube and wiring a 120/240 switch so I can ramp up the temps quickly in 240V mode for steps but bring the wattage back down for maintaining temp (and heating my sparge water as necessary). I've read that voltage output can be controlled through the BCS-462 I just purchased too, so I'm not sure if a physical switch is necessary but I've read comments that this type of design will be problematic for the controller (i.e. - every voltage switch will require changing specs in the BCS software?).
This may all seem a bit disjointed and lacking direction, but this project has gone on for months with little progress and I need to get back to brewing. Any suggestions?