Floating Stock tank de icer...

[Mudturtle]

Ran across one in tsc today, 1500 watt. Has an internal thermostat.....any of you tinkerers ever messed with one? Maybe disable the thermostat and attached a control box?

[still_stirrin]

Why would you need a floating water tank heater? I don't understand. Trying to keep your pond from freezing over?
ss

[Hank Reardon]

Rough crowd Mud. No, I haven't. I use $8 5500 w elements from a home supply store on a stilldragon element converter to a 2" tri clamp. It is a cool setup.

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

Don't mind still_stirring. He so badly wants to be like Rad. Picks on the little guys to try and fit in.

I noticed that you posted it in fermentation forum, and not electric boiling. Does that mean you were thinking along the lines of regulating your ferment temp in the up coming winter with it? THAT sounds like a good plan.Though you would want to leave the thermo in for that.

If you were thinking of stilling with it, just sounds like to much work. Element needs no modification.

[shadylane]

Ran across one in tsc today, 1500 watt. Has an internal thermostat.....any of you tinkerers ever messed with one? Maybe disable the thermostat and attached a control box?

The ferment might scorch on the 1500w heater element.
You would need to lower the average voltage powering the heater.
If you already have a controller for your still, you could use that and a thermostat.

[rad14701]

Don't mind still_stirring. He so badly wants to be like Rad. Picks on the little guys to try and fit in.

That was uncalled for on multiple levels...!!!

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

That was uncalled for on multiple levels...!!!

Yes, perhaps it was. Didn't really think of the offense you would take. I didn't intend offense.

Truth is, I know you are quite aware of your hard nose approach to teaching around here, and most are grateful for it. Sometimes I think others try to emulate your style, but then forget to be helpful while doing it.

I take issue with being an ass, just for the sake of it. Bassassery may be a style, but it's not a club. Sorry if I went overboard. May have been building up. There needs to be balance. For every person you are negative to, you should help 5 more.

I'll go poke around the novice forum.

[Mudturtle]

I was thinking along the lines of maybe tinkering with it to see if it could be made to heat water up to a mashing temp without having to worry about scorching. Probably not but that was just a little thinking out of the box. I saw another that sinks. Again, thinking if it could be redone to fit our craft.

[still_stirrin]

I was thinking along the lines of maybe tinkering with it to see if it could be made to heat water up to a mashing temp...but that was just a little thinking out of the box...saw another that s(t)inks...

If that's your intentions, I think this heater is better suited for you: http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/produc ... _vc=IOPDP1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Mudturtle]

Hey yea that may just do it, could suspend it above the grain bed, wonder if it could handle heating a insulated 50. I'll pick one up next week or so if I have any spare funds and experiment, if it doesn't work I can always repurpose it for the camp shower. Thx SS

[Mudturtle]

. Or this although I'm pretty sure folks may have tried them. Has an adjustable thermostat up to 425f. I would think it wouldn't have an issue keeping a 55 at mashing temp at all.

[USACelt]

How about a fish tank heater and a water bath around the ferment vessel, works for ME/

[skow69]

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. Or this although I'm pretty sure folks may have tried them. Has an adjustable thermostat up to 425f. I would think it wouldn't have an issue keeping a 55 at mashing temp at all.

" Thermostat up to 425" doesn't really tell you anything. You need to know the wattage of those heaters. I use a 1000 watt band heater on a corney keg. It works great but that is only 5 gallons. You are going to need some serious power for 50 gal. They make those in high power but they get very expensive. Being on the outside they are extremely inefficient compared to a submerged element.

[Mudturtle]

Ah OK this one is 1200 watt 120 volt, so not too good I guess. Ah well heh

[skow69]

You could use 5 or 10 of them.

[skow69]

That is just a lot of volume. Any way you try to heat it is going to take a lot of power.

[Mudturtle]

Yea, I think I'm just gonna bite the bullet and build that steam system out of that keg I've got squirrelled away.