Recent content by humulus1

My local grocer used to stock port butts/shoulders which were great for sausage making. When I went to get some today for my next batch (summer sausage), EVERYTHING they had was "injected with up to 12% solution containing sodium phosphate, blah blah blah". Is this meat OK to use for sausage...

I'll try to post a pic later but I'm questioning whether this is the issue. I was under the impression that with a LWD heater, I should be able to run at full power without scorching. The only influence probe location could have is limiting the power, meaning that I CAN'T run at full power...

I'm sure I must have an air pocket at the top, but the temperature sensor extends into the liquid, so it shouldn't be an issue.

I've never measured flow rate; I'll try next time I mash. It varies a lot though, depending on what, and how much, I'm mashing. I could lower the power, but that would make step mashes (which is one of the reasons I added the element) pretty slow.

Thanks for the replies, all. The tip of the thermoprobe is a couple inches above the tip of the element. I get the flow going, first - I can see wort coming back into the tun - before I turn on the heater.

Tough to get a good pic right now... This is the element: This is the heater: It's a vertical copper pipe, 1.5" ID. The inflow comes in from the right, about 3" above the bottom where the element screws in. The outflow is straight out the top. The element goes all the way up to the...

I've been RIMS brewing for years with my 1/2 barrel gas-fired system. Maintaining mash temperatures has always been a pain in the rear though, so recently I put together a PID-controlled electric inline heater for the recirc. The heating element is this: DERNORD 240V 5500W Foldback Heating...

Interesting - will you make one for 5gal corny kegs as well?

Well, that's an great idea... I'd never thought of CPU cooling stuff. I could rig this up fairly easily and inexpensively. Probably less work than a forced-air system. So, my next question is about the quality of the tower components. I had splurged and picked up all stainless components...

I'm in the process of building a keezer. Gotten lots of great info by reading through the threads here - what a great resource! I'd like to go with a tower instead of a collar; I just like the look and feel better. At a local restaurant supply store, I found a brass, 4-tap Perlick tee tower...