Did I miss a thread someplace? Electric heating

[Bushman]

I searched several places and found a number of topics on controllers and built in heaters. Here is what I want to do! I currently have an outbuilding that has two garage door openings one is 12' high. I do my current distilling just inside the garage door that has a lot of ventilation and faces my house so I am not too concerned about neighbors. I currently have a VM still and a keg as a boiler using propane as my heat source. In the winter it can get a little cold with the door open as I am from the NW. I am about to wire a 220 v plug for a table saw I just purchased and would like to find another use for the power source. I have very little background in electronics but would be willing to try and make something if I had good plans. Does anyone know of a good heat source I can purchase that would work for my set-up? I have read that you have to be careful as some of the sources cycle on and off and so I would want something that has a constant flow of heat.

[rubber duck]

I think this is what your looking for. http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 83&start=0

Mule kicker also sells them.

[bgrizzle]

If you are using a keg, you will need an internal element. A hot plate just wont get the job done! You will need to install a 1" threaded bung to the side of your keg about 3-4" from the bottom. Then you can screw a water heater element into the bung. This is the most efficient way to heat a wash! You can pick up your element as Lowes for about 12 bucks. Then you need to get MK to build you a heating controller...

Search through my posts... I posted a topic called: "My Insulated Electric Keg". I think this will help you.

With electric, you can close that garage door and try to stay warmer!!

Let me know if you have any questions, I will be happy to help you out.

[Bushman]

Thanks all for the advice. MK did you want to comment, how much are your controllers. I will have to research at Lowes the equipment you are talking about bgrizzle. Not sure what a bung is but will find your thread and do some research may have more questions later! Figure with the price of propane and the possible safety issue this might be a better alternative. It is hard to switch when I have the heating figured out with the propane but I love challenges and the opportunity to learn something new.

[rad14701]

Bushman, please PM MuleKicker to negotiate requirements and pricing... Publicly quoted pricing would not be beneficial as, to the best of my knowledge, all units are custom made by MuleKicker to suit individual needs... If this was not the case he would have them listed in the Classified Ad's forum...

[Bushman]

Bushman, please PM MuleKicker to negotiate requirements and pricing... Publicly quoted pricing would not be beneficial as, to the best of my knowledge, all units are custom made by MuleKicker to suit individual needs... If this was not the case he would have them listed in the Classified Ad's forum...

Thanks rad, MK got a hold of me and you are right that is the way I should have approached it, I was just responding to previous posts and not thinking at the time. Thanks MK for the quick response.

[Coyote]

Bushman

I run a 15 gallon keg boiler that has a 220 volt on a 30 amp breaker ( from my welder) water heater element in one side
and a 110 volt on a 15 amp circuit in the other side both are about 4" from the bottom

I fire up and run both elements until the first drops then unplug the 220 and continue the run on just the
110 volt - no special controllers works fine

If I were to build again I would put the elements down a but deeper

Coyote

[Coyote]

Bushman

I run a 15 gallon keg boiler that has a 220 volt on a 30 amp breaker ( from my welder) water heater element in one side
and a 110 volt on a 15 amp circuit in the other side both are about 4" from the bottom

I fire up and run both elements until the first drops then unplug the 220 and continue the run on just the
110 volt - no special controllers she works fine Run a 10 to 12 gallon load in about 3 to 3 1/2 hours

If I were to build again I would put the elements down a bit deeper

Coyote

[Bushman]

Bushman

I run a 15 gallon keg boiler that has a 220 volt on a 30 amp breaker ( from my welder) water heater element in one side
and a 110 volt on a 15 amp circuit in the other side both are about 4" from the bottom

I fire up and run both elements until the first drops then unplug the 220 and continue the run on just the
110 volt - no special controllers works fine

If I were to build again I would put the elements down a but deeper

Coyote

Thanks, I am currently in the research stage. I will look at all the possible designs. My propane works great but since I just wired the building for 220 I thought it might be a more economical and safer way to go in the future.