Internal Heater vs Boiler Size
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Internal Heater vs Boiler Size
Hi Everyone,
Just purchased 2 new boilers from Mile hi, this year I will plan to use internal heating element, I am now using these boilers with a band boiler, searched the site, and got some results but not very satisfied, I am living in Turkey and here we use 220 Volts, so if I only use a 5500 Watt with a heater controller, would that be ok for both boiler sizes, or should I really need to get a 2000 Watt for the small 3 Gallon Boiler, I do not have experience with internal heaters therefore I wanted to get your opinion also I could not find a small 220 Volt 2000 Watt 2" ferruled internal heater, what do you think ?
Thanks
Arto
Just purchased 2 new boilers from Mile hi, this year I will plan to use internal heating element, I am now using these boilers with a band boiler, searched the site, and got some results but not very satisfied, I am living in Turkey and here we use 220 Volts, so if I only use a 5500 Watt with a heater controller, would that be ok for both boiler sizes, or should I really need to get a 2000 Watt for the small 3 Gallon Boiler, I do not have experience with internal heaters therefore I wanted to get your opinion also I could not find a small 220 Volt 2000 Watt 2" ferruled internal heater, what do you think ?
Thanks
Arto
- der wo
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Re: Internal Heater vs Boiler Size
Are you sure in Turkey the electric lines are suited for something like 5500W? At least in my country (Germany) over 3600W will blow the fuse.
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Re: Internal Heater vs Boiler Size
İt is no problem in İstanbul but need to know if I can run 3 and 8 gallon with 5500 watt internal heater ?
- still_stirrin
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Re: Internal Heater vs Boiler Size
You won't need 5.5kW throughout the run. It will bring the wash to boil quick, especially in the small boiler. But, once producing vapor you will reduce the power to produce the vapor rate necessary for your still head.artooks wrote:İt is no problem in İstanbul but need to know if I can run 3 and 8 gallon with 5500 watt internal heater ?
Vapor speed is driven by power input and the diameter of the column. You can use the calculators on the parent site to determine the power needed to run the still, be-it in potstill (stripping) mode or reflux (spirit) mode.
As stated, the 5.5kW element will draw approximately 22 amps when powered by a 220-240 VAC circuit. Make sure your house wiring and all circuit wiring is properly designed to support that power.
ss
My LM/VM & Potstill: My build thread
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My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
Re: Internal Heater vs Boiler Size
Yes but if I have a heater controller csn use it as 2000 watt even I have 5500 watt element
- still_stirrin
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Re: Internal Heater vs Boiler Size
Of course you can.artooks wrote:Yes, but if I have a heater controller can (I) use it as 2000 watt even I have 5500 watt element?
My LM/VM & Potstill: My build thread
My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
- shadylane
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Re: Internal Heater vs Boiler Size
You could, but I'd recommend using lower powered heaters.artooks wrote:need to know if I can run 3 and 8 gallon with 5500 watt internal heater ?
Is this for a pot-still or a reflux column
Re: Internal Heater vs Boiler Size
Hi, as I said I use 2 boilers 3 and 8 Gallon, I use 8 Gallon mainly for stripping run as a pot still and 3 Gallon for spirit run as a reflux.
- shadylane
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Re: Internal Heater vs Boiler Size
How many amps can the receptacle supply ?
How easy is it to scorch what's in the 8 gallon stripper ?
How big of a reflux column is on the 3 gallon pot ?
How much patience do you have
Just a guess, but I'd say around 1,500 to 3,000 watt heater would work
On a side note, since your having trouble finding a 220v heater
Look for heaters rated for 208v and 240V
How easy is it to scorch what's in the 8 gallon stripper ?
How big of a reflux column is on the 3 gallon pot ?
How much patience do you have
Just a guess, but I'd say around 1,500 to 3,000 watt heater would work
On a side note, since your having trouble finding a 220v heater
Look for heaters rated for 208v and 240V
Re: Internal Heater vs Boiler Size
The full 5500w would be nice for heatup in that 8 gallon but you will need to lower the power input when running. Even for stripping that's serious overkill.shadylane wrote:You could, but I'd recommend using lower powered heaters.artooks wrote:need to know if I can run 3 and 8 gallon with 5500 watt internal heater ?
Is this for a pot-still or a reflux column
For the 3 gallon I'd get a 1000-1200w element.
First couple months I was into the hobby I Stripped 12 gallon batches at 5500w full power. ~12 gal spirit runs were done with the same heater element wired up to run @ 1375w.
Swedish Pride wrote:
get a brix reading on said ball bearings and then you can find out how much fermentables are in there
get a brix reading on said ball bearings and then you can find out how much fermentables are in there
Re: Internal Heater vs Boiler Size
I am trying to make up my mind, read the forum especially find out that NZ Chris and SS are using two internal heaters, in my case I will be having an element controller, so basically I need 2500 watt element for the 8 Gallon and 1000 Watt element for the 3 Gallon boiler, reading about the internal heaters they need to be Ultra low density to avoid or minimise scorching and these two elements need to be 220/240Volt as we use 240V in Turkey, but so far was not very lucky finding them all I could find is 110Volt for the 1000 Watt element, also the diameter of the boilers are 15" and 12" so the element should also need to be 10" long asking for a lot I guess appreciate is anyone could direct me to a shop which sells them.
- still_stirrin
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Re: Internal Heater vs Boiler Size
The 220/240 VAC ULWD elements are too long...the 4.5kW element is 13.5" long from thread to the end of the element.
I guess what you could do is use 2 of the 1.0 to 1.5kW 110/120 VAC elements and connect them in series. That would potentially give you up to 3kW power and neither element would actually "see" full rail voltage (220/240VAC).
But, it would require you to have 2 installation locations on the boiler, which I believe comes from Mile-Hi with just one.
ss
I guess what you could do is use 2 of the 1.0 to 1.5kW 110/120 VAC elements and connect them in series. That would potentially give you up to 3kW power and neither element would actually "see" full rail voltage (220/240VAC).
But, it would require you to have 2 installation locations on the boiler, which I believe comes from Mile-Hi with just one.
ss
My LM/VM & Potstill: My build thread
My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
Re: Internal Heater vs Boiler Size
Yes that is true SS, I only have 1 port in this case I think I will stick with 1500-2000 Watt, from what I read they are not %100 SS so what to check to be on the safe side.