Keg to Electric Boiler

[Butterman]

I made a document that I hope some people will find use in. It is the documentation with lots of photos and explanations of turning my pony keg into a electric boiler (including how to solder stainless steel).

Keg to Boiler 3.pdf

(38.87 KiB) Downloaded 1821 times

Here is the end result.

All comments, questions and criticism welcome.

Butterman

[Condensifier]

Wow, awesome tutorial.

Thanks Butterman.

[LakeLover]

Nice clean work. How are you adjusting the heat?

[bellybuster]

Very nice, I'm going to attempt this very soon and will try the solder routine. If I mess it up I can always go see my local welder.

[Spamgel]

that is extremely helpful. thank you for taking the time to make that. pictures are worth a thousand words some times.

[Theo]

Very nice, I'm going to attempt this very soon and will try the solder routine. If I mess it up I can always go see my local welder.

Me too!

[WalkingWolf]

Great Job butterman -- I'm sure that tutorial will be referenced by many. Your "element cover" is a really nice DIY fix for a chronic, nagging problem we all encounter when converting to electric.

[Bushman]

+1 great job I did mine a little differently but did use the 1" half coupler which is a lot cheaper than a ferrule and tri-clamp fitting.

[RumRunnerGuy]

Very nice setup.

[Grux]

How are you adjusting the temp? Also, is the single element enough for the pony keg?

[Butterman]

Thanks for all the encouragement, it has been a fun learning experience and since Ive gotten so very much info from this community I feel it is my pleasure to try and give something back.
As to the 2000 Watt 120V element it will bring 5 gallons of cold water (50 degrees) to a full boil (steam blowing out) in about 80 minutes at full power, I have not yet measured the amperage this draws yet but I will soon. Im controlling the power with a Harbor Freight Router Speed controller that Ive torn apart and Im in the process of modifying until I jump up to the Phase Angel Controller and move up to 240 volts. I think Im going to put another coupler and element in just to use 2 elements for the initial heating and then turn 1 off and use the other for control.
I have a couple more photo explanations that I think some will find helpful that I will put together in the next week or so.

Thanks,
Butterman

[Butterman]

Here is how Im controlling the element, I used the guts of a Router Speed Controller from Harbor Freight that I modified a bit, Ok a little more then a bit.
I used an old 4 way serial port switch as my case (really easy to find and cheap) and put in a Amp meter (I didnt know what the draw of the element would be so I got a 30 Amp meter), 2 outlets on a on/off switch, Indicator light for the element outlet, and a few cosmetic things to make it look good.

The 2000 Watt 120 Volt hot water heater element will bring 6.25 gallons of Mash to a boil in about 70 minutes and it draw 15 Amps, which is why I didnt have a problem putting in the extra outlets which runs my fountain pump for the condenser and a possible fan for a radiator to cool my condenser water. Anyhow both of these item dont draw much in the way of additional Amps, if your thinking about making something like this make sure to not plug anything substantial into these outlets while running your still.

The control is pretty amazing! Adjusting the Potentiometer will change the flow of the output/distillate in about 5 seconds after the adjustment. After the Mash is up to boiling temp I adjust the controller down to 10 Amp which gives a good steady flow, at 8 Amps it flows about 5 drops a second and at 6 Amps I get a nice slow pace of about 2-3 drops a second.
I personally think that the Harbor Freight controller is a pretty good, easy and inexpensive choice for the new/novice distiller, one only needs to add a better heat sink to the the unit and your up and running and with a little bit of work it can be upgraded to a decent boiler controller.

All Comments, Questions and Criticism Welcome,
Butterman

If anyone would like some images on the guts of the controller I would be more then happy to open it up and explain what is what.

[RumRunnerGuy]

Great job

Would love to see how you set up the inside of your box.

[bellybuster]

nice job on the controller, mine's almost done.

[Butterman]

Did you solder your coupling to your keg bellybuster? and if so how did it turn out? you mentioned you where just about to try it.

[bellybuster]

ha, no I cant get Stay-clean flux here without going mail order route or eBay. I think I'll just pay to have it tig welded.

[Stainless dude]

Wow, good job

[Johnny Vegas]

Hey butter love your setup! After reading up on a lot of setups was thinking of going this way then saw yours. Would you be able to post some pics of the interior of the box to give some setup ideas? Looks great! Thanks.

[Butterman]

Sure thing Johnny.
Im actually just finishing up another controller with better/more reliable parts and also the ability to be switched to 220 volts if I want or need. So Ill post some photos of that build in the next couple days.

Butterman

[vanilla gorilla]

Great PDF! Thanks for putting it up

[Halfbaked]

Nice PDF. What solder did you use? I may be mistaken but I thought that most people inserted the npt coupler(or triclamp ferrel) with part inside and part outside? I guess if it don't get knocked off or leak who cares, huh

[Pooyan]

Hmm, if i click on the pdf file i see the same picture as below the link in de file, nothing else, is the link to the pdf file still working?

[S-Cackalacky]

Hmm, if i click on the pdf file i see the same picture as below the link in de file, nothing else, is the link to the pdf file still working?

Same here. I was really looking forward to seeing how this was done. Could someone who got a good copy earlier on upload it again?

Thanks,
S-C

[bobrock99]

Has anybody gotten the instructions for this in a while? It only gives you a photo. Thanks

[WooTeck]

Has anybody gotten the instructions for this in a while? It only gives you a photo. Thanks

seconded

[Time]

Has anybody gotten the instructions for this in a while? It only gives you a photo. Thanks

Same thing...

Maybe someone has an old copy?

[Poitin]

Try This:

Keg to Boiler 3.pdf

(612.82 KiB) Downloaded 331 times