 Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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"I was dreaming about buying an automatic mashing gizmo--then the 3 tier rack with the gas burners The first auto device was 3 thousand USD and held a max of 10 gallons The second was 800 USD just for the rack---burners and everything was extra. Here is my solution. My mash pot here is 15 gallons. I'm doing 10 gallons water with 16 pounds barley malt.. The sparge is 4 usable gallons. I should have gotten a larger sparge tank. but maybe i dont need it??? This is a first run for this setup. The fermenter is 9 gallons. A yeast starter is indoors. I want to automate the the mash tun temperature and install an automatic stirrer but thats another mess I have 50 pounds of barley malt to do. I;m dreaming.  "
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/12/2012(UTC)
Posts: 804
Was thanked: 5 time(s) in 5 post(s)
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"Scotty,
I need something that can hold temps at about 60 C for a day or two ... in the 40 L range. An internal (submerged) heating element is not a candidate. And external open flames are out of the question. I basically need something like a 10 gal crockpot.
Any ideas? Maybe a big modified coffee urn?"
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/4/2012(UTC)
Posts: 303
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What about a double boiler? My initial stab at building a still was to put a beer keg in a 55gal metal barrel, have a heating element in the side of the metal barrel, fill the barrel with water and heat the keg. Free water vapor in the garage made me rethink that.
But it might work for you. You're only going up to 140°F (your 60°C), so it should be doable. Scotty and I both use the Ranco ETC unit to hold our temperatures and it should work for you in this instance.
The only big issue with the keg is the small opening at the top. Hope this helps the creative juices.
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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" Originally Posted by: John Barleycorn  Scotty,
I need something that can hold temps at about 60 C for a day or two ... in the 40 L range. An internal (submerged) heating element is not a candidate. And external open flames are out of the question. I basically need something like a 10 gal crockpot.
Any ideas? Maybe a big modified coffee urn? How about some specifics on what you are doing and why standard heating methods are out."
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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"Muadib Is your control mounted to the pot?? Mine just leaked and i'm thinking of sealing the mounting holes with epoxy and simple mounting the control to the pot with globs of silicone.  i need ideas. I burned myself with hot sparge water. The Hot water tank needs tweaking.  At any rate i'm cooling the wurt to pitching temp. Which i consider to be about 75 deg F"
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/4/2012(UTC)
Posts: 303
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Scotty, my Ranco is mounted to a 2x4 about 11/2ft to the right of the keg.
I agree with you. Remove the Ranco from the pot. No more leaks and no worries about too much heat on the Ranco.
Mount it (or hang it) to one of the pot handles? Mount it to a 9" piece of 2x4 and hang it from the pot handle, with the 2x4 towards the pot? Let the Ranco unit just sit on the table?
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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" Originally Posted by: muadib2001 Scotty, my Ranco is mounted to a 2x4 about 11/2ft to the right of the keg.
I agree with you. Remove the Ranco from the pot. No more leaks and no worries about too much heat on the Ranco.
Mount it (or hang it) to one of the pot handles? Mount it to a 9"" piece of 2x4 and hang it from the pot handle, with the 2x4 towards the pot? Let the Ranco unit just sit on the table? I like the hanging from the handle idea. I may have to hang it from the pot because other components are under the handle. Another idea would be for me to move all components to a separate mounting/board or whateger and have nothing on the tank. grrr i thought i was finished with it."
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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"I just re tested and it doesnt leak a drop. Turns out that the table on table thing is not too strong. The pot was tilted a bit and water coming out the lid.
Solution is 2 fold
1- i will get a piece of 3/4 ply wood that is the same size of the table. 6 ft. by 30 inches. That should distribute the weight enough to avoid the table top bending.
2---- if necessary, i can run less water in the tank.
I really didnt want to do it over.
BTW 8 gallons of single malt P.A. 10% is fermenting."
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