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I melted the diffuser plate. Now what?
 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/21/2012(UTC)
Posts: 2
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"I just received the PSII High Capacity today. I was doing my initial run just boiling water to test all the weld points for leaks as per the direction from the user manual. I am using a propane burner. The set up for the initial test is everything except the hoses and column fill. I turned the burner on medium-high to get the water to a boil and about 15 minutes into it a piece of the aluminum diffuser plate melted off and fell on the ground.
Do I have the burner turned up to high?
After researching a little bit Bayou-Ruler's set up has insulation on his kettle and column, should I look at doing the same thing? What kind of insulation is it and does he use a diffuser plate?
I cant find the Diffuser Plate on the Brewhaus website...Is it an essential item or can I go without it? And How much is it?
I will try to post pictures."
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 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/28/2011(UTC)
Posts: 12
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I'd shoot them an email. Rick should point you in the right direction.
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 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/16/2010(UTC)
Posts: 453
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That's weird, I would think that with a boiler full of liquid on top of the diffuser it couldn't get hot enough to melt. Heck I've boiled water in a paper cup on a Coleman stove.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/4/2010(UTC) Posts: 360   Location: Louisiana
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" Originally Posted by: wolffv25  I just received the PSII High Capacity today. I was doing my initial run just boiling water to test all the weld points for leaks as per the direction from the user manual. I am using a propane burner. The set up for the initial test is everything except the hoses and column fill. I turned the burner on medium-high to get the water to a boil and about 15 minutes into it a piece of the aluminum diffuser plate melted off and fell on the ground.
Do I have the burner turned up to high?
After researching a little bit Bayou-Ruler's set up has insulation on his kettle and column, should I look at doing the same thing? What kind of insulation is it and does he use a diffuser plate?
I cant find the Diffuser Plate on the Brewhaus website...Is it an essential item or can I go without it? And How much is it?
I will try to post pictures. The diffuser plate is included with all Brewhaus kettles. It is primarily meant to be used with hot plates to prevent ""Hot Spots"" on the bottom of the kettle and evenly distribute the heat. I do use one but have never had any melting issues..................you must have one hell of a burner..lol. There is a nice write up on them on the Brewhaus Blog located here: http://www.brewhaus.com/blog/" |
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/10/2012(UTC)
Posts: 64
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I've used the BH Pot Still 4 times now, twice without the plate and twice with the plate. The first 2 times with a hot plate and no diffuser plate(had not arrived on backorder) hot plate was a lot slower than I expected ( used copper before) no problem with the pot without the diffuser ran fine just slow. When the diffuser arrived ,switched to propane and started real slow just to get the feel of the pot with the diffuser and propane. I got hooch at 1 hour and 5 min, ran real even with the diffuser plate. Based on my limited experience I'd say the diffuser is a good thing, if you keep it at a simmer on the propane
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/21/2012(UTC)
Posts: 2
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" Originally Posted by: Shinejunky I've used the BH Pot Still 4 times now, twice without the plate and twice with the plate. The first 2 times with a hot plate and no diffuser plate(had not arrived on backorder) hot plate was a lot slower than I expected ( used copper before) no problem with the pot without the diffuser ran fine just slow. When the diffuser arrived ,switched to propane and started real slow just to get the feel of the pot with the diffuser and propane. I got hooch at 1 hour and 5 min, ran real even with the diffuser plate. Based on my limited experience I'd say the diffuser is a good thing, if you keep it at a simmer on the propane Thanks for the input. I ran the test again without the diffuser at a much LOWER heat input. It ran just fine no problems. However, I think on the first run I wasn't patient enough and wanted it to boil now and thats why i turned it up so high! I will have more patience now. I really wasnt expecting 1hour 5 minutes for it to start boiling."
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/10/2012(UTC)
Posts: 64
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I'm going to try to run it again tonight I will keep up with my times and such to post. May take a little longer cause temps outside are dropping. Also wind might get in the way. I do think you will like the BH products and the diffuser.
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 4/14/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,666
Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 15 post(s)
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" Originally Posted by: Shinejunky I'm going to try to run it again tonight I will keep up with my times and such to post. May take a little longer cause temps outside are dropping. Also wind might get in the way. I do think you will like the BH products and the diffuser. Shinejunky, remember to block the wind from your cooker cause it WILL creat a stillin issue. Happy stillin.  "
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/21/2012(UTC)
Posts: 7
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dont feel to bad i melted mine too...and it is totaly useless once it is saggin in the middle 
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 143
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I've melted two of them ,one made from 3/8" aluminum the other from 1/4"! I just carried some scrap Al. plate to a friend and he cut them on our water jet at work, cleaner than the store bought version.
I've learned that if I can hear the burner hissing it is too hot, although my hearing is quiet bad, but I light it and slowly back off the gas until I can no longer hear the burner and no more issues.
I do plan to have a diffuser made from copper or bronze as either will conduct as well as aluminum and have a much higher melting point, the big problem is finding some I can get hold of.
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I melted the diffuser plate. Now what?
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