Cedar Rapids Brewing Society

Thats it, I have had it with the burners I am using now.

I just takes too bloodly long to get these things up to a boil.

Could you all give me some recommendations for a couple of burners.
Also an indication of how long it takes you to get to boil and where you purchased if possible.

Thanks guys!

BrewHound wrote:Thats it, I have had it with the burners I am using now.

I just takes too bloodly long to get these things up to a boil.

Could you all give me some recommendations for a couple of burners.
Also an indication of how long it takes you to get to boil and where you purchased if possible.

Thanks guys!

http://www.ronshomeandhardware.com/4500 ... 565426.htm

It takes me about 20 minutes to get up to a boil after the sparge. When I run the HLT in manual mode, it takes about 45 minutes when I start with hot water from the tap.

Those numbers reflect brewing a 6 gallon batch.

Do you control the electric element, or just let it run full tilt?

TappedOut wrote:Do you control the electric element, or just let it run full tilt?

I control the elements. Both of them used to be run by a high power dimmer switch. However, I've recently re-wired the control box so that the HLT is run by a PID and the BK is run on what amounts to a more precise dimmer switch (technically, an astable 555-timer based PWM drive for an SSR).

I've heard of people building "heat sticks", which are basically 120V, waterproof heating elements. They can be dipped into the kettle and run wide open to help the burner get up to temp quicker. Once you're up to a boil, just unplug the cord (FYI -- never try this without GFCI). At 120V, you're probably going to get another 1500W of power (approx 5000 BTUs), which will help your burner along. Homebrewtalk.com has several contributors that have built them and seem happy with them. I think Nothernbrewer sells a commercial version, but it's pretty expensive and I've heard it's prone to failure. I would think you should be able to build something like that for less than $50.

I have really liked my Hurricane burner. I can run it for you at the next brew club meeting. I start heating my boil kettle once I have about 10 gallons of wort collected. By the time I have collected about 13 gallons. the kettle is at 200 degrees at the end of the sparge and just takes a few more minutes to reach boiling. It has nice flame control to so I can fill it up and not have a boil-over. Yesterday I heated up 7.5 gallons of water from 64 F to 170 in about 10 to 15 minutes. Banjo burners look the same but are rated at much higher IBUs if you are really looking for some power.

Yeah, those high-IBU burners are great for brewing IPAs.....

On Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 2:13 PM, Matt F <brew-equipment@crbeernuts.org (brew-equipment@crbeernuts.org)> wrote:

I have really liked my Hurricane burner. I can run it for you at the next brew club meeting. I start heating my boil kettle once I have about 10 gallons of wort collected. By the time I have collected about 13 gallons. the kettle is at 200 degrees at the end of the sparge and just takes a few more minutes to reach boiling. It has nice flame control to so I can fill it up and not have a boil-over. Yesterday I heated up 7.5 gallons of water from 64 F to 170 in about 10 to 15 minutes. Banjo burners look the same but are rated at much higher IBUs if you are really looking for some power.

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Dave and I have been tossing around the idea of new burners as well. I think we would like to go to the hurricane burners. The problem is, we can't use out existing stands if be buy them so we would ahve to build new stands to hold the larger 10 inch burners. Let me know what you go with. Also, what do you use now for burners?

You need new stands Brian. Those are kinda scary with a keg of hot water on them.

Ok, finally broke down and order new burners last night.
Sorry Matt, didn't go with the Hurricane's. Thanks for the advice though.
I did consider it.

It was a toss up between the Kick a Banjo and the hurricane.
advantage of the Banjo is that it is high pressure and the hurricane is low pressure. However, the hurricane is designed to be used with Natural Gas too, so that is the advantage of the hurricane. Though not planning on hooking into Natural Gas.

So, I ordered 2 Banjo burners.
210,000 BTU's baby, should be able to fry a 50 lb pig in 20 mins (not sure why I would want too, but hey never know).

Brian, I had an old camp stove type. with 2 burners on the same line.
Several problems with this. Keg kettles won't fit on them side by side. So I can't center the kegs. could cause some heat loss. Also another problem is the 2 burners on it share a line. So when you run both at the same time performance is cut in half. These could be modified probably to work better, however, I am always scared to screw around with gas as there is that possibility of explosion. I actually have a hurricane at home I think, I may just have the wrong orafice on it becuase it just puts out these little blue lights on it. If you are interested I cut you a deal on it after you inspect it.

Brain if you are interested in the banjo, here is a link to them.
They seem to be the most commonly used burner for large batch brewing.
Probably because of the BTU rating.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/b ... stand.html

Note: They also sell just the burner without the stand as well.

Tom, you making fun of our burners. That is extremely safe. I believe its even OSHA approved. Dave wouldn't you agree.

However, brewing should always be a risk reward process and what better way to have risk the thinking 13 gallons of 170 degree water can fall on you at any given moment.

I went hurricane because I run natural gas. I have loved the switch to natural gas. Never have to worry about swapping or filling propane tanks. Of course the main reason I switched to natural gas was because I was brewing indoors. From my research, natural gas floats so is easier to vent while propane sinks to the floor which can cause pooling and boom. Also, I purchased my burner with no stand or regualtor so it only cost about $40. You could put the money you save from buying the entire burner unit in to welding a new stand. You can get the Banjo like this too. If I never planned to use natural gas I would get the Banjo too for the higher BTUs.

Brian, what ya need is something more stable like this.

Tom I am willing to experiment, I am willing to own.
Are you offering to build?