"After a LOT of procrastination I have started my build. I came across two 15.5 gallon kegs on craigslist rather cheaply, one will be a future propane broiler, the other I am going electric. I purchased a 4500 watt element and a 1"" copper female fitting from Lowe's, and I am planning to use this RSC from Harbor Freight:
http://www.harborfreight...speed-control-43060.html

Has anyone used this RSC before? Any thoughts? I only have 120v available to me where I have my equipment set up, though I am hoping to have 240 in the future."

Yep, that's the plan.

Doesn't quite work that way. An element will not pull power from a circuit, rather the circuit pushes to the element. A 4500 watt 240 volt element will only pull 10 amps when feed 120v, so I am well within 15 amps. The rsc/element is a rather common configuration here, I was just curious if any one here had used that particular rsc, and if so, how well it holds up.

1Biker77 I think you need to talk to an electrical engineer before you go ahead.a 4500 watt element will draw 18.75 amps at 240 volts and 37.5 amps at 120 volts.If one is to believe Ohm's law a=w/v

By the way, the correct amp is 9.375. The math is (120/240) 2=.5x.5=.25
.25 of 4500 is 1125. 1125÷120v comes out to 9.375 amps, well within 15

Some information on electric water heater elements



WE START WITH A HEAT ELEMENT THAT IS 240 VOLTS AND 6000 WATTS. WE WILL USE FORMULAS INSTEAD OF AN OHMMETER TO CALCULATE
THE RESISTANCE OF THE ELEMENT. There are more direct formulas available but let us work with the most common and easiest to manipulate.

FORMULA #1 the basic ohms law formula (((E=IXR)))
E = Electromotivr force in (((VOLTS
I = Current in (((AMPS))
R = Resistance in (((ohms)))

FORMULA # 2 the basic power/watts formula. (((P=IXE)))
P = POWER IN (((WATTS)))-- I and E are defined in formula 1

OK NOW LETS FIGURE THE APROXIMATE current drawn by THE HEAT ELEMENT.-- ONCE WE HAVE THAT WE ARE IN THE HOME STRETCH


USING FORMULA #2-- P=IXE WE HAVE 6000=IX240 or I=6000/240 which equals 25 Then I=25 amps drawn at 240 volts applied to the heat element.

using formula 1 we can find the approximate resistance of the heat element E=IXR or 240=25xR so R=240/25=9.6 ohms of resistance


(((((PLEASE NOTE)))) that the resistance of the heat element does not change when diferent voltages are applied

(((((OK NOW LETS FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR 6000WATT 240 VOLT ELEMENT WHEN ONLY 120 VOLTS IS APPLIED


USING THE BASIC OHMS LAW FORMULA, WE CALCULATE E=IX9.6 OR 120VOLTS= I X 9.6 OHMS RESISTANCE OR 120/9.6=12.5 amps


(((( FINALLY WE HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO CALCULATE THE WATTAGE OUTPUT DELIVERED AT 120 VOLTS

P IN WATTS = 12.5 AMPS X 120 VOLTS

OR 12.5X 120 = 1500 WATTS OUTPUT

SO WHEN YOU APPLY 120 VOLTS TO A 240 VOLT ELEMENT, THE OUTPUT WATTAGE IS REDUCED TO 25% OF ITS RATED WATTAGE..

DO NOT APPLY 240 VOLTS TO AN ELEMENT RATED FOR 120 VOLTS
Last edited by scotty; 09-01-2012 at 10:42 AM.

I apply both 240 and 120 to my 15 gallon ps2. I use a relay system When temperature rise is seen at the base of the tower the system switches to apply 120 volts to the 240 volt 6KW element. Now I have an applied 1500 at full power. However, I keep my rsc in this 120 volt circuit. I have found that in my application, that running the RSC at 80% eventually gives me the very slow drip that I consider best for a purer vodka or whiskey.
Since rsc controls that I have seen come in either 120 or 240 I chose to do the relay system driven by some sort of thermostat. I use PID controls mainly because I cant seem to learn PLCs.

Gonna have to keep an eye out for one of those 6k elements. My small town hardware store only had 4.5k. :-(

Mistake-- get the better RSC. Many folks had burn outs with bottom end ones Just my opinion.


Grounding from where to where???

The rsc IS A 3 PRONG PLUG.

Just wondering.......are we talking single phase power supply here?