Cost of switching to E-brewing?

[CTolino]

Was considering switching my rig over to electric from propane. Does anyone know the costs involved in doing so? I have 2 blichmann 15 gal kettles and a 15 gal aluminum hlt. How easy is it to install the heating elements, and how costly is the control panel, and how hard and costly would it be to make one myself? Any advice will help.

 

[MercMan]

Here is one step-by-step article for installing a heating element in your brew pot.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Installing-a-water-tank-heating-element-in-a-Polar/

If you want to build you own controller you really need to check-out this site.
http://www.stilldragon.com/diy-controller.html

If you want to buy something ready made then you need to check-out these sites.
$295.00 - High Gravity EBC II
http://goo.gl/0Cju2S

$285.00 - RBS Controls
http://goo.gl/yCSOsS

$249.00 - High Gravity Electric Kettle Controller
http://goo.gl/wZvK6P

$219.95 - Kegkits 240V Electric Brew Pot Controller
http://goo.gl/TI6XM3

 

[OMJ]

There is a huge range in what it could cost. Without knowing exactly what you want to do its hard to even give you a range of price.

 

[phlipot89]

As an example, my "to buy" list is currently at just shy of $3K and that is only the panel, ball valves, table, and pumps.

 

[milldoggy]

I built a kal clone, prob 1500 Into the panel after tools, parts, cables etc. Pumps another 250 with parts. Took me 3 monthes to build. Time is money

 

[BadNewsBrewery]

I went all out, spent around $3k for everything, soup to nuts. I've helped people spec out simple e-brew setups where they're in for $100 or so in control panel equipment and whatever additional costs their kettles are. Do you want a dial that you use to set your element output and guess on temperatures? Do you want a fully programmable multi-element PID controlled LED illuminated dual pump system? There's a HUGE range of possibilities and features - and thus a huge range of cost.

-Kevin

 

[waffle418]

I'll agree with the answers above. If you want to be big control panel, all the bells and whistles, you easily could run it nice and high. However, there are guys who build control panels out of toolboxes and with the necessities which don't spend nearly as much. Its all about personal preference.

 

[CTolino]

Thanks for all the input guys,I might stick with propane for now. The system is brand new, I just upgraded to 15 gallons, the only thing that isn't blichmann is the brew stand and the HLT, so adding another grand might drive my wife to divorce me haha. This is something I will keep in mind for the future.

 

[mrwizard0]

I was able to do mine for around $675 for the control panel. I you buy slowly and wait for people on here to sell something you need then it can be pretty cheap. Plus your wife may not realize it's so expensive if it's done in lots of small purchases

 

[Begin2Brew]

For me it was about $900 but I used a lot of my existing equipment in the EHERMS build.

 

[shuckit]

I kept track of my costs in my build thread. It's in my signature.

 

[Rivenin]

here is my small control panel - it was cheaply done.
2 amazon SSRs = $26
1 amazon cash box for a box = $14
1 pid from auber = $45
4 lights from auber = $16
1 RTD probe from auber = $16
2 elements from a-boy plumbing $25
2 nuts from bargain fittings = $10? i think?
a bunch of misc switches from ebay = $10
extension cords (only needed if you're not close to the outlets) $70 (i brew on the back deck and plug into the kitchen outlets)

$162 without the extension cords
$232 with the extension cords
i had everything else from brewing before.

You could always go with some more bells and whistles for more money, or go without lights and go with less, etc.

this is about the best closest shot i have of the controller at work.

 

[milldoggy]

here is my small control panel - it was cheaply done.
2 amazon SSRs = $26
1 amazon cash box for a box = $14
1 pid from auber = $45
4 lights from auber = $16
1 RTD probe from auber = $16
2 elements from a-boy plumbing $25
2 nuts from bargain fittings = $10? i think?
a bunch of misc switches from ebay = $10
extension cords (only needed if you're not close to the outlets) $70 (i brew on the back deck and plug into the kitchen outlets)

$162 without the extension cords
$232 with the extension cords
i had everything else from brewing before.

You could always go with some more bells and whistles for more money, or go without lights and go with less, etc.

this is about the best closest shot i have of the controller at work.

What the heck is on your ipad

 

[Rivenin]

Haha I was watching chop and brew. The fresh hop episode