Need confirmation on internal heat source

[ScottL]

First, thank you for this forum. Though I just registered, it has been indispensable in starting me out, but now I am in an area that has me nervous enough I have to just ask.

I have a boka reflux keg I will be putting 10 gallons of wash through. I finally decided to go high tech with an internal heat source.

Here is what I bought:

4000W AC110V 220V High Power SCR Silicon Controlled Electronic Volt Regulator
http://amzn.com/B00G2TKOHC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

And

Camco 02362/02363 5500W 240V Screw-In Foldback Water Heater Element - High Watt Density
http://amzn.com/B0006IX8AK" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Not wanting to blow myself up or burn down my home, can anyone confirm if these two items will work together?

If so, my next question is wiring. I bought a dryer cord to go from the volt regulator to the wall, and was wondering if a 14 gauge extension cord cable (sort of an educated guess on gauge as it's a regular indoors extension cable) would be able to go from the regulator to the heat element? My initial thought is no, it should be a 220 volt 8 gauge wire, but I have seen much smaller wires for sale in kits.

I hope I posted this in the right place and would deeply appreciate any feedback or suggestions!!

Thank you!!

[sambedded]

- No that controller will not handle 5500Watt element. You need at least 6000watt controller but 10000Watt is better.
- For 5500Watt element you need 10Ga power cord.

[ScottL]

Thank you!

[meatheadinc]

You also want ULWD element. Ultra low watt density to avoid scorching.
There is one at the site you linked. Curved ULWD fold back $27.

[ScottL]

I found another solution, and wanted to post it in case anyone else ran into this.

The regulator I bought would not handle the full power of the 220v, but the regulator that would work was not economically an option. Luckily, I do not trust anything made in China, so I bought two (giving them a 50% chance to get something right was giving them a bit of credit in my book). So, I bought another (exactly the same) heating element, and hooked them up to a 110. As per the posts in this forum, that will give it 1/5 of the power a 220 would, which seems to bring the power into a safe range for these regulators. I sit here now, shining, with no heat to my cords, and a perfect 174 F consistent temperature. Of course, if someone sees something here to suggest I am about to blow up my house, please post it now (:^o), but as far as I can tell, all is well!!

I want to emphasis the importance of research for anyone like me starting out. I am a researcher (literally) and still have had no success in running this. This is my 8th try, and I think it is working great now (will test some later), but as it is pointed our over and over again in this forum, this is not as easy as people may think at first. It is my second still, and I have messed up everything from mash to process. I have only tried to consume it once, got a headache, and per WebMD, followed it by consuming high proof alcohol to wash out any methanol from my system. I am not blind, but more cautious now. While I will not read for 6 months before trying, I will read for 6 months before drinking. Do your homework, or suffer the consequences!

Thank you again for this forum!