Induction cooktops

[czubak]

Anyone use them? I've been on the never ending "how do I want to brew" quest and these seem to be gaining a lot of popularity in the homebrew community.

HLT and BK use and I'd still use my cooler for a MT

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/avantco ... 8*240.html




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[Matt F]

There was an article in BYO March/April 2014 about these. No experience myself.
http://byo.com/stories/issue/item/2967-induction-heat

[czubak]

Thanks Matt. I'm liking this


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[daryl]

I think I am liking this too.

I have a corner in the cellar...not pretty, but a concrete floor. It has plumbing (former washer faucets) and a 220 V outlet; and a window to vent the steam if needed.

The induction plate, a utility sink, and maybe a newer kettle...and I think I would be in business. AND....heat could be auto controlled with a temp sensor and controller.....just read it has temperature control...with a little calibration, might not need a controller.

It sure would be nice to have a setup where I am not carrying carboys up and down the basement stairs.

Does anyone have any experience brewing with this type of heat source?

Thanks guys!

[bf514921]

If you have the 220 you could always go electric of some kind, bow you fixed for ventalation?

[daryl]

I have the usual basement windows....could get a small fan on one to draw more moist air out.

[Matt F]

Fan in the window may be all you need. If you find condensation forming on the ceiling you can add a hood then. Could even be painted wood. I am a fan of my galvanized ductwork hood. Pretty cheap and effective. I don't think you will need it though.

[crcyclone87]

I use an induction cooktop with my BIAB method brewing 2.5 gallon batches. My unit is a 1800W 120V cooktop. I brew in the basement during the winter and out on the deck in the summer. I just plug into any 120 outlet. I have not had any problem with condensation while brewing in the basement. I usually just boil off about 1/2 gallon but that does not create a problem in a low humidity house during the winter. It makes the basement smell like hops which I think is great. The wife, not so much. One negative with my unit is that there only 10 temperature settings from 140-460F. Setting 1 = 140F, setting 2 = 180F. It has taken a little practice keeping a constant mash temperature. I looks like the 3400W 240V unit in the picture has temperature settings in 10 degree increments which would be nice. My 1800W unit does an adequate job heating up the 2.5 gallons batches to boiling and I have done a couple 5 gallons batches last summer on the deck using a mash tun cooler and batch sparged. As soon as I started collecting wort in the brew kettle, I set the cooktop to high while I heated the sparge water on the stove and carried it out to the deck which was a PITA but it worked. It saved a little time getting the wort to boiling. Another thing to remember with an induction cooktop is the kettle has to be magnetic. Regular stainless will not work. The kettle has to have a tri-ply bottom.

[czubak]

Thanks a bunch. I verified my stainless kettle is magnetic so that's covered.


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[whitedj]

Typically I think cold working in the manufacturing process is good enough for most ss pots.

[johnnyik]

Just finished my new indoor brewery, brewed a red lager two weeks ago and a kolsch last week. I use 2 Burton 220V induction burners. I use 2800 watts on the HLT to get the water heated, takes about 30 minutes to get 5 gal to 165deg. I use 2600 watts to get the boil going then keep it at a nice rolling boil with only 2000 watts. The burners work awesome!! I had to buy new pots, 2 10 gal Mega pots from NB, but perfect marriage so far. Go with the induction burners, you won't be sorry. I researched the Avantco burners as well and almost got those. I went with the Burton because I could get them directly from Amazon which has a reputable return policy. Here's pictures:

[czubak]

Haven't seen them yet. ~$80-90 more and 3000 watts vs 3500 of the Avantco. Thanks and that's a nice setup. What are you venting with or better yet, how are you dealing with the humidity?


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[Matt F]

Congrats on getting it fired up Johnny. I know you have been looking in to this for a while.

[czubak]

Someone needs to host a brew day so we can check this out [emoji106][emoji482]


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[daryl]

Thanks for the post Johnny, it has answered many questions I had.

It looks like your new kettle's diameter exceeds the recommended maximum for the induction heater.

I do not think that a few inches of overage makes much of a difference.

It seems your experience in the time it takes to heat water has been favorable.