Why you shouldn't use Camco 5500w elements

[raketemensch]

This shouldn't really be limited to the 5500w models, but those do seem to be the most common.

After maybe two years in my keg, the internally exposed part of the element not only rusted, but it rusted so badly that the threads were gone and the element came loose in the keg and fell out.

Here's a pic of the "threads":

As you can see, there are none left. Fortunately this didn't happen during a run...

I'm only buying fully stainless elements from now on. Amazon has them with Prime for $30 now.

We go a long way to talk about our boiler and column material requirements, but we don't talk much about heating elements. Knowing that this thing was rusting in my boiler makes me very nervous.

[Swedish Pride]

I thought it was common knowledge that its shite.
Mine has rusted and fused with the ferrule so I'll have a bastard of o job to fix it once it breaks.

I've been looking at stainless ones on ebay with integrated twist lock.
I don't have a proper element guard so they may save me a few bob.
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Brewing-Heating ... 1438.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[raketemensch]

I thought it was common knowledge that its shite.
Mine has rusted and fused with the ferrule so I'll have a bastard of o job to fix it once it breaks.

I've been looking at stainless ones on ebay with integrated twist lock.
I don't have a proper element guard so they may save me a few bob.
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Brewing-Heating ... 1438.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Ooo, nice. It's more than I spent on mine, but if I added in the cost of the wire and plug on mine it'd be equal.

This is the one I picked up:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0183 ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

The threaded part of it is also much longer than on the Camco, so it's more stably mounted to begin with.

[Swedish Pride]

looks the goods
hoping this won't rust on ya

[NineInchNails]

I thought it was common knowledge that its shite.
Mine has rusted and fused with the ferrule so I'll have a bastard of o job to fix it once it breaks.

I've been looking at stainless ones on ebay with integrated twist lock.
I don't have a proper element guard so they may save me a few bob.
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Brewing-Heating ... 1438.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Ooo, nice. It's more than I spent on mine, but if I added in the cost of the wire and plug on mine it'd be equal.

This is the one I picked up:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0183 ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

The threaded part of it is also much longer than on the Camco, so it's more stably mounted to begin with.

Those Dernord elements are not UL listed like the newer Stainless Steel Camco elements are. I saw a review where a guy's Dernord element melted with normal use in a hot water heater. Just a heads up.

[NineInchNails]

Camco Stainless Steel Element is relatively new and made specifically for anti-corrosion.

The Camco 2955 (4500w) and 2965 (5500w) are the stainless steel models if I'm not mistaken.

[StillerBoy]

Not sure why your ended out the way it did.. but my has been in use for almost three years now, it's ok thread wise, but they do rust if left with water in for a day or so.. also about every six months or so, I take the element out, clean it, and put about 12 turns of ptfe tape on the thread, and good to go..

Mars

[Expat]

Camco Stainless Steel Element is relatively new and made specifically for anti-corrosion.

The Camco 2955 (4500w) and 2965 (5500w) are the stainless steel models if I'm not mistaken.

I'm using the 2965 without any rusting issues.

[Oldvine Zin]

Camco Stainless Steel Element is relatively new and made specifically for anti-corrosion.

The Camco 2955 (4500w) and 2965 (5500w) are the stainless steel models if I'm not mistaken.

I'm using the 2965 without any rusting issues.

I'm now on my third Camco 2965, the first one toasted do to a bad scorch when I was experimenting with steam mashing, totally my fault. The second I thought was OK but after building my new controller that now is GFCI protected it would pop the breaker every time, upon meter inspection it was passing a bit of current to ground visual inspection it was definitely corroded, once again maybe my bad - sometimes after shutting down I would leave backset in the boiler for a few days before draining and cleaning. Bought a third and it's first run was today, cleaned and ready for the runs tomorrow. I'm going to try to be more diligent on draining and cleaning the element, but for a back-up I now have one of those "non UL listed" all stainless Denords, not worried about the non listing .


OVZ

[Desvio]

I ended up with a Camco 4500w element that appeared to be a stainless element on a steel body, screwed in with a healthy wrap of Teflon tape, I've been using it for four years now with no corrosion issues. But cleaning my stuff down every time, and once dry the element body gets a dab of coconut oil to keep it from corroding till next time.

One of these days it'll give up the ghost, and I have a stainless bodied replacement waiting to step in.

[bluefish_dist]

I have used 10 stainless camco elements for the last 2 years with 0 corrosion. Now with that said, I used one with a plated base and it quickly corroded. From then on it was all stainless elements. I have used them in fermenter, mash tun and still. No issues even letting them sit for weeks with acidic washes.

[HDNB]

I have used 10 stainless camco elements for the last 2 years with 0 corrosion.

jesus christ. i'd hate to pay your power bill.

[bluefish_dist]

I have used 10 stainless camco elements for the last 2 years with 0 corrosion.

jesus christ. i'd hate to pay your power bill.

Wasn’t bad. Only $200-$300/ month. Stills ran 2-3 times per week, fermenters were on heat control and only pulled 1kw.

[DetroitDIY]

I'm using a stainless Denrod with a tr-clamp connection. Been happy with it so far. Occasionally let it sit with back-set for a day or so. No issues. Only done 10 or so runs with it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MT ... 5NVFP7DUSD" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[ttocs]

Isn’t this expect if you don’t have a sacrificial Metal? I thought that’s why Camco also sells Magnesium Anode Rods. Electric water heater already have it so Camco doesn’t add anything to their elements. I feel like the issue is more using the element different than it was designed rather than poor quality.


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[Bombo80]

I just recently got this heating element.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078M ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Fits perfectly, and works very well with my cheap ssr/pot controller.