My Insulated Electric Keg

[bgrizzle]

I just completed my electric keg. I insulated it by wrapping it 4 times with some reflective bulb wrap insulation I bought at Lowes. If you look at my other posts you will see that I was able to solder in a drain on the bottom, 3 legs to raise the keg enough for drain clearance, a threaded fitting for the 5500W heating element, and a filler neck on the top... I used the Harris Liquid flux, MAPP gas (becareful NOT to burn flux-heat inderctly), and plumbers solder.

I bought a 2 gang electric box at Lowes and cut the back out of it. I then used JB Weld to glue the box on to the keg. It feels VERY secure, and according to the box it can handle up to 300+ degrees. I have a cover that I am going to put over the box for safety.

I grounded the keg on the bottom, and I secured the plug on the keg with a 3/4" n/m connector.

I bought the heating controller from our very own MuleKicker! I can go from 0 to 5500 watts with simple turn of a knob! I attached a female outlet where the keg will plug in to it, and I installed 20ft of 10AWG flexible cable with a male plug that plugs in to the wall. This gives me plenty of room to run my still anywhere in my garage...

Finally, I installed a 40AMP power outlet where all this plugs in.

Here are my pictures... I look forward to feedback, questions, pros/cons...

-bgrizzle

[still crazy]

Very very nice
I got to skinsulate mine soon

[rad14701]

Looking good, bgrizzle... I see that MuleKicker forgot to put the decal on that controller to show the power settings between "Off" and "DAMN!!!"... Real nice insulating job... "Where are my sunglasses?"

[bgrizzle]

RAD, thats funny! Thats the only thingI would knock about the MK5500W... But I hear he has a critter crawling around his house... I know that probably takes some time away from the R&D (and the hobby)...

That being said... I think I prefer making my own notches on the knob so once I learn how to run my rig with this controller I can mark my own settings...

I have two little critters crawling around here... at midnight they will be 1! Boy and a girl... I've been blessed...

I tested the controller last night with no insulation, and it kicked MULE! I cant wait to run this thing with the insulation and my new flute from K.S.

cheers...

bgrizzle

[LWTCS]

sweet

[Kentucky shinner]

Dang brother she looks good... Your new flute should be at your house right after Christmas.. I will ship on the 23rd.. Looks really good man...
KS

[MuleKicker]

Sweet man. Like the insulation.. Nice and shinny.

[MuleKicker]

Sweet man. Like the insulation.. Nice and shinny. Sorry I never raw the need to put power marks on. You crank it up to start, and tune it down by sound and stream when the time comes. The amp meter upgrade is kinda nice if you need a guideline.

[scotty]

Ill easily give that setup a double wow!!!.. How did you finish the job where the insulation ended--

[beelah]

I love the keg insulation. I was wondering what to do with a whole role of the bubble insulation. I am going to do the same with mine in the new year.

Hey MK, I may be PMing you in the new year after I get my tax return to get me one of your controllers.

[bgrizzle]

I used Duct Tape to hold it together at the end... Thats one continous peice of insulation. I cut the square hole each time for the electrical box... When I got to the end I put some duct tape on the seem in the back to hold it in place. I think it should hold fine...

[Braz]

I used Duct Tape to hold it together at the end... Thats one continous peice of insulation. I cut the square hole each time for the electrical box... When I got to the end I put some duct tape on the seem in the back to hold it in place. I think it should hold fine...

Hi-temp hot melt glue works a treat to stick the flappy end of the Refletix to the rest of it. Though duct tape is fine too. They make that insulation about a half mile from my house but you think they'd sell me some? Ha! I have to go to Lowe's too.

You are going to have a great rig when it all comes together.

[scotty]

I used Duct Tape to hold it together at the end... Thats one continous peice of insulation. I cut the square hole each time for the electrical box... When I got to the end I put some duct tape on the seem in the back to hold it in place. I think it should hold fine...

I saw that insulation at lowes. it is excellent. my boilers are not cylinderical and requireed a lot of scissoring so i elected to use sticky back insulation.
When i make a 100 qt boiler from a stock pot, i shal use that style. Perhaps some sort of paint on adhesive with it.


thanks for the reply.

[MuleKicker]

That foil heating/AC tape works excellent too. Sticks really well, and matches the shinnyness.

[bgrizzle]

I think I'm going to try some epoxy or high temp glue... use duct tape while it cures to hold in place. The insulation looks better in person then in the pictures. My keg was old and dirty and dented... now it looks great... I think I would do this again even it was just for aesthetics.

[scotty]

That foil heating/AC tape works excellent too. Sticks really well, and matches the shinnyness.

i USE THAT NOW mk-- I JUST WAS THINKING OF USING an epoxy to bond it

[MuleKicker]

Yeah, I like it. I dont want to use anything to glue it to the keg hardcore, cuz the insulation gets banged up after a while. I want to make it easy to change out.

[scotty]

Yeah, I like it. I dont want to use anything to glue it to the keg hardcore, cuz the insulation gets banged up after a while. I want to make it easy to change out.

I was just thinking of gluing insulation to insulation in this case, the stuff used to bond formica to a countertop.

The insulation i use now has sticky back and is glued to the boiler as well as to itself.

I wasnt even thinking of the mess it will be when it is time to pretty it up again.

This is another reason why the type of insulation used by BGRIZZLE should be better not only because it seems heavier but it will be easily repairable..

[Braz]

The only problem with contact cement (the stuff that bonds Formica to countertops) is that when it touches, it sticks. No room for error. That's why they call it "contact" cement. (I used to build countertops for a living.)

[LWTCS]

Stone killed that market aye Braz.

[bgrizzle]

Right on scotty... I didn't glue anything to the keg. The insulation holds up because it is wrapped tight.. it ain't goin nowhere but I could easily take it off. What I like about this insulation is how easy it was to put on. It took me about 20 minutes.

[scotty]

Right on scotty... I didn't glue anything to the keg. The insulation holds up because it is wrapped tight.. it ain't goin nowhere but I could easily take it off. What I like about this insulation is how easy it was to put on. It took me about 20 minutes.

Your electrical box and drain valve also help to keep the insulation lined up properly.

I intend to install 3 heater elements on the 100 qt boiler which will assist in a faster heat up time but also will help to hold that insulation in place


Putting insulation on the other 2 odd shaped boilers was a pain at best.

[staggerlee]

@bgrizzle - I've been using gas for the last few years and decided to switch to electric because of -30 outdoor temps. I actually just wanted to thank you for the info and the pics which made my research a Hell of a lot easier. Warm basement here I come! Nice job. -stagger

[scotty]

@bgrizzle - I've been using gas for the last few years and decided to switch to electric because of -30 outdoor temps. I actually just wanted to thank you for the info and the pics which made my research a Hell of a lot easier. Warm basement here I come! Nice job. -stagger