New Canadian Needs Help!

New to distillation, or simply new to the HD forums.
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snowboybrown7
Novice
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2009 8:17 am

New Canadian Needs Help!

Post by snowboybrown7 »

Hi guys,

I'm new to this hobby; started a little less than a year ago, and have been reading these forums for much of that time. Being a poor college student, it started out a a way to enjoy some decent spirit, while avoiding the absurd tax levels that they slap on alcohol in this part of Canada. ($26 CDN for 750ml of Capt. Morgan)

Anyway, my first still was a 20 litre SS Stockpot, rigged up on the top of a stove. It was a shabby setup, but it got the job done.

Now, no longer a student, but still poor, I've opted to build an electric keg.

Most of the info on the forums seems to be geared up with an Australian/European 240V mindset, and I just don't have that kind of power in my average wall socket.

I want to put 2 elements in the keg, as that seems simpler than 1 big one. I want to be able to plug it into pretty much any US/CAN wall socket. 110V at 15A.
Can I simply wire a standard 3-prong to the elements, and plug them into the wall? Without a controller/any kind of switch? I really don't think I need that much control over this...

I'm confused. :(
scotty
Swill Maker
Posts: 487
Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2007 1:36 am
Location: west curacau

Re: New Canadian Needs Help!

Post by scotty »

hot water heater elements in the usa are 110 volts if you buy ones that are made for mobile homes
teach me and correct me if you are my friend
Dnderhead
Angel's Share
Angel's Share
Posts: 13666
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:07 pm
Location: up north

Re: New Canadian Needs Help!

Post by Dnderhead »

you can but you are limited to less than 1800w (less is better) total for each circuit.
rad14701
retired
Posts: 20865
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:46 pm
Location: New York, USA

Re: New Canadian Needs Help!

Post by rad14701 »

You can also use US 240V electric water heater elements with 120V... The output on 120V will be 25% the 240V rating, so a 5000W 240V element will only produce 1250W on 120V... You may still need a controller such as a triac based controller or a variac...

Welcome to the forums and good luck...
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