Home Distiller

My set up at the moment uses an old 20L tea urn with a 2.4 kW element as a boiler. I have a copper flange connection to the lid which has a stainless clamp fitting to swap it between my 40mm column and my condenser coil. It works great. Or rather it did. As the element just burnt out - and there are no replacements available (the thing is ancient).

I don't need a larger boiler - this size works just great for me. Keeps me and the family and friends in gin and I'm experimenting with rum and whisky. So, what do I do now...

I could build a boiler but first I checked out what was available off the shelf. And I'm looking at a Turbo 500. And here are the pluses as I see them:

1. All I would need to do is drill some holes in the lid to take my existing flanged connection and I'd be good to go.
2. The power seems to be on or off - but I have an SCR which will allow me to adjust the power input.
3. The element seems to be protected in the base of the boiler which seems to offer protection against a scorched element. So if (more likely when) I restart my beer brewing, this will be a plus.
4. It's 2.0 kW which would be ample.
5. It's only AU$216 delivered.
6. The lid is clamped so easy access to cleaning - and I've found that really necessary when stripping a molasses wash. Although it's got a silicon gasket, which I'm not sure about. I currently make a flough dough 'rope' to seal my current lid and that seems to be safer and takes a few minutes to make and clean up.

So...any comments? Am I missing something that would make me reconsider?

If your set up works why not get a new style element to either fit the old hole if it is an internal element, or simply blank it off and hole saw a new hole and fit the element that way, might save you some dollars

Sporacle wrote: ↑Tue May 10, 2022 9:47 pm If your set up works why not get a new style element to either fit the old hole if it is an internal element, or simply blank it off and hole saw a new hole and fit the element that way, might save you some dollars

If the existing element was just fitted on the side of the boiler then that would be a great option. But it's screwed through a slightly raised portion in the base with raised ribs running out from it. It would be extremely difficult to patch it for someone who really knew what they were doing. I'm pretty certain I wouldn't be able to do it.

Ok so could the old element just be left in place and a new element fitted somewhere else with a 2inch SS bulkhead fitting or something similar, if not I would go for something that has the ability to be controlled by an SCR, good luck
Edit if it is screwed through it may be on a standard 1inch bsp fitting, a lot of elements have that thread

digiboils 35l are only $159.
if you restart your beer brewing the brewzilla 35l is $399 (version 3) with pumps, malt tubes, false bottom etc.
the latest brewzilla 35l (version 4) is about $600, so when the ver3 runs out....................

You could use use it for a thumper or a preheater for your new boiler. Both are great tools to have.

Sporacle wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 12:15 am Ok so could the old element just be left in place and a new element fitted somewhere else with a 2inch SS bulkhead fitting or something similar, if not I would go for something that has the ability to be controlled by an SCR, good luck
Edit if it is screwed through it may be on a standard 1inch bsp fitting, a lot of elements have that thread

I can't leave it there because I'd lose too much space fitting a new one above it. But...I've just checked and the element has a 40mm screwed connection. I thought I'd have to patch the hole but you've prompted me to think that I might be able to replace it with a 40mm stainless plug. Just think of a 40mmm bolt with the head of the bolt on the inside. I could get one for $10 or so. And then fit a new heater into the side as low as possible. Run through my SCR.

Hmm. That could be an option...

NZChris wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 1:48 am You could use use it for a thumper or a preheater for your new boiler. Both are great tools to have.

Good idea on the thumper. If I get a new boiler then I'll definitely convert the old one.

I'm 2nding Howie. I definitely don't know your finances, but I'm a big fan of the modern all in one brew systems. Anvil foundry for me for reasons, but there are lots of valid options. It was a bit of a surprise to me as I'm historically a build everything DIY, build it fancy, huge and as advanced and complicated as possible. But I ended up loving it.

As still boilers they are small for my preferences and overpriced, as brew systems they are affordable luxuries. Personally I'd be hard pressed to buy a T500 boiler over a brewing system if you like the size and have even the slightest interest in brewing and your gear isn't 110% dialed.

zapata wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 4:01 am I'm 2nding Howie. I definitely don't know your finances, but I'm a big fan of the modern all in one brew systems. Anvil foundry for me for reasons, but there are lots of valid options. It was a bit of a surprise to me as I'm historically a build everything DIY, build it fancy, huge and as advanced and complicated as possible. But I ended up loving it.

As still boilers they are small for my preferences and overpriced, as brew systems they are affordable luxuries. Personally I'd be hard pressed to buy a T500 boiler over a brewing system if you like the size and have even the slightest interest in brewing and your gear isn't 110% dialed.

+1 on this concept. Multi-function equip helps save $$$ and space. I'm using a Brewhaus power controller with my 35L 120v Digiboil, which is more than covered cost-wise delta vs T500. I can mash in (they offer malt pipe w/ false bottom), invert sugar washes, & distill all in same boiler. You could even go to the bigger & smarter rig in a Brewzilla.