Help setting up 50litre system

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Permalink Reply by vdog on April 23, 2014 at 8:20am

I must say that's an unusual-looking HWC - is the element placed vertical in that side-tube bit? Depending on how it's put together, that might make things difficult for using as a kettle (cleaning, direct heat etc) but could still use it as a HLT with the other half as a mash tun (although again, not sure about the impact of that bit on the side?).

For reference, here's a pic of my setup - left to right is 130L HLT, 80L mash tun with false bottom (twin-coil immersion chiller in there for storage when not brewing), 170L kettle with 2.2kw and 3kw elements. Bottom outlet only on the HLT and mash tun, with a higher outlet also on the kettle for runoff. All with stainless 3/4in ball valves, with camlock fittings. Ghetto pump hanging on the wall which came out of a washing machine, and is used for transfers but only pre-boil - just means nothing really needs to be gravity-fed, which is good for headroom in the garage.

Looking at your equipment I'd say use the cylinder for HLT/mash if you can, and add an element and pickup tube/valve to the 60L pot, provided that will do the volumes you're looking for. Hope that helps! 

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Permalink Reply by GFbeerGuy on April 24, 2014 at 11:05am

The HWC was a trade for a box of beer so i ditn ask too many questions about it but yes ive never seen it before either. My plan off attack tonight it to drill the rivets out and see whats in the side tube, (ill upload a photo to show you whats in there)  if its unusable ill just pull the element out buy another HWC and put it into that one to help get the boil up nice and quick or place it into my 60 litre like you said. Do you have sight glasses on the HLT or kettle? Is there anything in your system that you would change at all?

Cheers for the photo appreciate it! 

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Permalink Reply by Scott H on April 24, 2014 at 3:12pm

Instead of drilling the rivets out, remove that terminal cover on the bottom of the side part and by the looks of it you can remove what could be the element with a crescent or spanner. If I was a betting man i would say the under that terminal cover they may be a thermostat & an element.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Banks on April 24, 2014 at 6:30pm

Not that I have ever seen one but just at a glance I would wonder if it was a gas fired HWC with the flue running up the side like that.......

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Permalink Reply by GFbeerGuy on April 24, 2014 at 7:20pm

I had thought of that but right on the bottom of the side tube (or what ever the hell it is) it has 2 KW stamped into the metal. I should get a betting pool going to see what it is. Ill get stuck into it tomorrow and get some photos up.

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Permalink Reply by vdog on April 25, 2014 at 5:14pm

I have a sight tube on the HLT, all the rest is done with maths because I haven't got round to putting markings inside the kettle yet. Aside from that, anything I'd change?

• Maybe the size of the mash tun, for an 80L batch the 80L mash tun is basically at capacity and possibly slightly too deep on the grain bed - in saying that, we still get brewhouse efficiency of around 75-77% depending on the beer and I'm okay with that.
• Possibly would change the pump for something a bit more bling, but probably will only bother when the current one shits itself.
• Will at some stage braze some quick disconnect fittings onto the immersion chiller, as I've had the occasional leak (easily fixed with a turn of the screwdriver or a spare clamp).

Highly recommend the 3/4in fittings, just because it's so easy to get a good flow out of them.

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