Electric brew kettle controller

Hi,

maybe this has been answered elsewhere, but I’m trying to find a pre-made 240V 5500W electric kettle power output controller. I’m not running pumps, and am trying to find the least expensive one that’s pre-built. I don’t have the tools to build one from scratch and was looking to buy one similar to the one’s from keg kit (where I purchased my last one, that broke without cause) that just have the dial to control output.

Does anyone have a good link or know where I can buy one of these?

Thanks!

They sell SCR’s on ebay. Search for SCR 10000W and you’ll find some with a built in fan. They sell for about $20.00. I bought one and plan to install it hopefully
this weekend. I’ve been working bit by bit on my system since May. Can’t wait to try it out.

I don’t know of an off-the-shelf controller, however I have a controller that you can build with a pair of wire cutters and a screwdriver.

Connect a 240V power cord to a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MFE … ge_o00_s00): the two hot leads go to the two posts on the “input” side. The neutral and ground go to the chasses screws. For the load, the two hot leads go to the two posts on the “output” side with the neutral and ground wires going to the chasses screws. Mount the SCR on top of a fan - I actually just set the SCR on top of the fan. Be sure the fan is running when the SCR is in use! If you don’t, the SCR can overheat and be damaged.

I use this to boil about 7.25 gallons of wort. Once it reaches a boil, I typically crank it down to 30 - 50%.

You can add an STC-1000 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KA4 … ge_o01_s00) to activate a relay (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Z0 … ge_o02_s00) and control the temp of a water bath/HLT. Still using only the wire cutter and screwdriver.

I’ve got one of these:

It works very well and is reasonably inexpensive. Wire it up to your SSR and you are in business.

High Gravity Brewing

http://www.highgravitybrew.com/