Going Electric!

[Boda Getta]

After several years of wanting to go electric I have finally pulled the trigger; a member here is building a 5500 - 240 controller for me and i need to get started on the mods to my SS keg and have a couple of questions:

How far off the bottom of the keg should the element be?

I have seen here that most folks use a step bit to drill the hole for the flange/element, but I cannot locate a step bit that steps up to 2 inch. The largest I've found locally or on-line is 1 1/4'ish. Any suggestions on the above and any other tips.

Thanks,
BG

[pfshine]

About time boda.
I always put mine as far down as possible. Use a 1-7/8" hole saw for the ferrules, it leaves a bit of meat to it that you can get off later if you so choose but it won't interfere with anything if left.

[jedneck]

the lower the element the smaller the charge can be. it sucks cookin a element dry.

[raketemensch]

I went with 4" from the very bottom on both of my legs, and have been very happy with both.

[freefall]

I'm about 4" from very bottom of outside as well. That puts it about 1 1/2" off the bottom of the inside of the keg.

[pointhunter75]

Are y'all measuring 4" from the bottom of the keg rim to the bottom of the bung or the center of the bung hole?

[Danespirit]

Your element has just to be so far from the bottom as it is practical.
Excessive height will just mean you have to fill more liquid in or risk a boil dry.
I used a hole saw and some lubricant (WD 40 will do), to cut a hole in my milk can.
The few millimeters that were still left, were taken out with a Dremel tool.
If I had the big brother of a Dremel at hand, I would have used a carbide rotary grinder (I believe it's called a carbide rotary burr in English).
Be careful with that thing, it takes a lot of material in no time and can shatter like glass if maltreated.

[pointhunter75]

Thanks, I just marked it at 4" from bottom of the keg Rim to the bottom of the 1" bung and dropped it off at my cousins for tigging. That'll have to do it. Looks pretty close to pics I see on here.

[masonsjax]

Use a bi-metal hole saw and a good variable drill. You want to go very slow and use oil. If the SS heats up too much it will work harden and you'll never cut through it.