"Smoked" my electric element i think

bf514921 · Post by **bf514921** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 2:58 pm

good news i finished my brew and was cleaning when i see a wisp of smoke, yes smoke and i din't mean the grains coming from my element on the ousie. it looks like my covering, (plastic coupler, liquid electricians tape, and jb weld)seperated a little bit, and either something got on it or something got hot. luckily, i caught it right away, 2nd the beer is in the fermentor and all i am doing is heating up cleaning water.

but on to the question - Anyone who does electric brewing do this before?

prieff · Post by **prieff** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:59 pm

Brandon,

Which element do you have?

Where did the smoke come from?

Did liquid get into the electrical connections?

I have read that the super low watt density like the camco 5500w could be briefly dry fired. Don't know if that is true.

If there was a short in the wiring I thing you would blow the breaker or gfi if you have one before any wiring damage would occur.

Did you box it up and seal it like Kal's instructions? While I think that setup is still a little sketchy....I don't think liquid has any chance of entering the box.

Hope its all ok and you just saw some steam or vapor.

Paul

bf514921 · Post by **bf514921** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 9:15 pm

smoke came from where my element was potted, with liquied electricians tape, the seal brok and i think some water got on it. And yes it is the camco ultra low densiity 5500 watt. i have a new one on the way and will figure hout how i want to install it. i was pondring http://www.brewershardware.com/TC15F10NPSCOV.html wife has given the okay to fix it however i want.

DrPaulsen · Post by **DrPaulsen** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 3:21 pm

bf514921 wrote:smoke came from where my element was potted, with liquied electricians tape, the seal brok and i think some water got on it. And yes it is the camco ultra low densiity 5500 watt. i have a new one on the way and will figure hout how i want to install it. i was pondring http://www.brewershardware.com/TC15F10NPSCOV.html wife has given the okay to fix it however i want.

Did water get on the outside or leak from the inside of the kettle? I built a simple shield for each of my elements from the bottom of an old plastic pop bottle. The purpose of the shield is to direct away drips, but it will not stop splashes or leaks. I don't have anything else directly protecting the wire leads and have never had an issue.

bf514921 · Post by **bf514921** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 4:21 pm

dripped on it, basically the leads were slightly eposed and water dripped on it from cleaning, or a splash, not leaking from inside kettlte to outside