I have read Elricko"s info on electrifying his 15.5 gallon keg. Thanks Elricko!...good stuff! I picked up a SS keg last week, ordered the 1/2 couplings, etc. I plan to use a 5000 watt, 220 volt and a 1500 watt, 125 volt heating element. The 1500 will be almost (not touching) on the bottom and the 5000 will be about 2 inches above it.

My question is...will the 1500 watt element keep everything hot enough to run my PS-II High Capacity (3" column) at an acceptable rate? Or will it actually overdrive it? ...requiring the need for a controller, etc. I know that having the heating element inside the liquid will greatly improve the efficiency (as compared to sitting over a flame or a heating element). ...the only heat loss would be through the keg itself.

Second question... if the 1500 is a little small...could I use a 2000 or 2500 watt 220 element and run 2 "lutron" dimmers (one for each 240/125 leg)? That would give me some control over the heat source. Trying to find a "cheap" variac to control 220/240 volts and 25 amps is next to impossible!

I used the keg yesterday, heating with propane. I noted that it took a larger flame to maintain the temps as compared to the stock PS-II cooker (7.5 gallons I think). I believe I"m going to enjoy the keg...being able to run double the volume with only one set-up/down appears to be a time saver...it just takes longer to heat!

FlyboyTR :)

There is a forum member named Elricko (I hope the spelling is correct). He also posts on Homedistillers.org and artisiandistillers.com (...again...hope I'm right on the names!). This may be the address for his site: http://elricko.741.com/ There is usually a bunch of ads that will pop up but the info is great. Good luck!

FlyboyTR :)

"

Welcome back. I was gone for a good while also, and Elricko is still gone, as is Wineo.

To your issue, if you are going electric, I would suggest 2 threaded bungs for 2 elements. Not much more to do 2 at the same time. Run 2 for heat up, both at 220 v then cut the lower one down to 120V which I am fairly sure is only 25% of the 220V power.

You could then have real quick heat up with both elements running at 220, then turn off the upper and downgrade the lower to 120V. I think most people use a 4500 W forthe bottom, which when switced to 120 should give you 1125 W or thereabouts.

I have never used electric, so am just passing on what I have gleaned. Others can be more definative on wattage, but this will be in the ballpark I think. T'will save the hassle of rheostats and such, especially with the high capacity, you can control things at the top of the column.

Great to hear from you again."

Last evening we welded three fittings into the keg. Two for the heating elements and one for a drain. Pressure tested to 25 pounds, no leaks! (although...when distilling there is no pressure on the system...other than just water weight).

Installed a 5500 watt, 240 volt element in the upper location and a 1500 watt, 120 volt element in the lower position. I installed temporary wiring, added 15 gallon of water at 74 degrees (normally I would only have 13 gallons of wash per run). It took 50 minutes to reach 212 degrees (a 13 gallon wash would be much quicker). This was uninsulated and a nice breeze moving across the patio. I am pleased with the results. As I write... it is now running on the 1500 watt element and I will watch that for a few minutes. I may change that out to a 2000 watt, 120 volt element.

I took a few pictures and I will post them later. Thanks to everyone for the input!

FlyboyTR :)

In case you're wondering about heat up time. I can bring 13 gallons of wash from 74-F to working temp in 24 minutes! Now thats FAST! Even faster than the propane burner. No heat, no noise, no bother! I did find that I really have to watch it close because the final temp jump is quick and hard! My last run I turned off the 5,500 watt element at 20 minutes and just ran on the 1,500 watt element so the last few minutes of heating were slower and more controlled. That was MUCh better...didn't run the head temps out the roof and allowed the final temps to come up slowly. At 30 minutes I had the first drip show up.

I am REAL happy with this upgrade!:)

Yes...

QT = 2 4452K316
Low-Pressure Type 316SS Threaded Pipe Fitting 1" Pipe Sz, 1-9/16" OD, Half Cplg, 13/16" L, 1000 PSI

These fit a standard US water heater threaded element.

QT=1 4452K315
Low-Pressure Type 316SS Threaded Pipe Fitting 3/4" Pipe Sz, 1-5/16" OD, Half Cplg, 3/4" L, 1000 PSI

This is for the drain valve. You could use the 1" fitting for a drain as well.

Hope this helps!:)

You're welcome.
I've ran the system 3 times since making the electric conversion. I made a switchbox that would allow me to switch one of the hot legs on the 5,500 watt, 220vac element from hot to neutral, in essence making it a 110vac element. It calculates out to be about 1,400 watts...however, there is a HUGE difference in the heat output between the 1,500 watt and the 5,500 watt (running on one leg). I really don't think it's making 1,400!

Based on my experience with my units output using propane...the 1,500 watt is a little to slow (for me...anyway...) for a polishing run. The 1,500 and the 1,375 (5,500 watt unit runing on one leg) is GREAT for a stipping run. I'm getting a steady stream of 80-85% on the stripping run. I am considering trying a 2,000 watt in place of the 1,500 watt element and see if that is just enough to increase my polishing run...it may actually be too much!

...just early morning ramblings...:)

One thing to consider is the use of two 1500 watt elements in the keg. You could not run both elements off the same circuit, but if you had another wall socket around that was on a different breaker, then you could use a heavy extension cord running to the other room during heat up. Once you are up to temp then you could disconnect the extension cord and run on only one element.

Hello Turtle!
Welcome aboard. The 1500 watt, 120vac element is working out fine. I heat up on the 1500 and the 5500. I have now completed 6 runs through this new set-up. The transition from gas to electric is like working with a different animal! Your washes MUST be clean; no lees residue floating around...it will ruin your batch! There are a lot of advantages (for me anyway&#8230 using the electric. It's quiet, clean, safer,just a LOT more finicky about what you put in the boiler!

If you reason for going electric is so you can walk away without fear of burning down the house,then your reason for electric is WRONG! The only thing missing in the equation is an open flame. I have learned to keep close vigilance over the beast. For example, I turn off the gas water heater (pilot light) and the gas furnace, just in case. Since I am now using Tin Man in the house,(looks real nice next to the bar!) I also use an anti-static pad just in case.

My cooling water is supplied via our swimming pool and pump. I have enough 55 degree water flowing that I can stop the output and hold it in total reflux. So basically I have two water hoses and my power supply cable coming in through the doggie door.


This is how easy it is for something to go wrong. On the fourth run on electric (first run in the house) everything was going great on a polishing run. My wife is very active in this hobby with me and she was sitting on the sofa watching Tin Man while I took care of a nature call. Suddenly she started hollering for me. I stepped out of the bathroom, running down the hall (trying to get my pants up,we are all adults are we?). As I entered the living room I could hear a loud hissing noise and a cloud was forming. I had no idea what had happened. Kathy said it was an instant change. Alcohol in total vapor form blowing out the outlet, Tin Man literally jumping and twitching like he was possessed was a frightening sight. It was like someone had a pressure washer blowing mist into the room! I went through the fog, hit the floor and unplugged Tin Man. Within a few seconds things started to quiet down. We opened all the door and windows and sat a fan outside to blow fresh air into the house.

OK,What happened??? I enjoy flying and mild aerobatics and so just like brewing;,while we do all we can to manage the risk,there is still the potential for disaster. ,I'm done preaching now, In the excitement of running Tin Man in the house, I forgot to switch my pool pump controller to manual so the automatic timer would NOT turn the pump off! When the pump turned off, I lost all coolin water to the head and the condenser! All of this happened so quickly and it is still a sober reminder how careful we must be playing with vaporous explosives! ,Note to self,turn the pump to manual,

1500 watts will do a good job of heating and you will need a controller to drop the heat a little, unless you have a really cold, high capacity water supply to match the heat. I would think you could get 13 gallons up to temp with a single 1500 in an hour. Not bad,and a simple system to boot!

Sorry to be so long in the tooth, but going electric so you can walk away is the WRONG reason to change. All that said,I am growing to love this electric thing! I even suggested changing his name to Mr. Killowatt...but the boss say NO...Tin Man lives!

Mtnwalker2,, Super clean wash is the secret. I haven't had any more funky brews on electric since I cleaned up my act! I think you may be next on the electric wagon!:)

"OK, Great information. Sounds like regardless if I use Propaine or Elect. I will need more man power to stand guard. My cook times have been around 12-16 hours. First cook everyone was my friend, we had a great time and the time flew. 2nd cook all by myself, made for a long day. I like the suggestion of wrapping the Keg and Head to lock in the heat.
I'll convert to elect before the new year. I've been toying with the idea of a better filtering tube, I saw your mother of all mothers Homemade 8' Charcoal Filter system, (you have way too much time on your hands), yet very impressive. Are you using std white pvc tubing? I was under the inpression PVC could put off unwanted gasses and nasty's.

Any way I'm out here in California, this entire adventure started one night with friends, we ran out of drink and no one was in any shape to drive, however we had a few bottles of some junk wine and a friend said one of his Laotian renter told him you could place wine in a sauce pan on the stove, place a cup in the center and invert the lid and capture the alcohol, and so we did and here we are.
Turtle in California"