View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
Creepy
Joined: 04 Feb 2014 Posts: 127 Location: North Chicago Burbs
|
Link Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 10:09 pm Post subject: Hop stopper modification |
|
|
I'm about to pull the trigger and order the hop stopper. I realize this has been a polarizing product, but I figure it's well worth a shot considering the cost of the system once it's all said and done...
My question is this, has anyone modified their hop stopper so it doesn't protrude quite so far into their kettle? I have a Blichmann and want to retain the quick plug and play functionality but noticed there seems to be a couple inches of stainless tubing between the connection point and the stainless mesh clamp. (Based on the pic here http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/images/IMG_1305_only_hop_stopper320.jpg ) Can the tube length be shortened? I would like to place my heating element as low as possible and the more out of the way this is, the better.
Thanks for the insight.
Creepy
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11123 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Creepy
Joined: 04 Feb 2014 Posts: 127 Location: North Chicago Burbs
|
Link Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 10:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for the quick reply Kal. I thought I had seen that you'd cut it but was having trouble finding the source. Thanks.
I know the original Blichmann dip tubes are grooved about 3/4" from the end. Is this required in the mod? Or just a simple cut?
Thanks again.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11123 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
|
Link Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 12:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
The groove is not needed. I've had no issues in the 8 years I've been using it this way. (Has it been that long?)
Kal
_________________ Our new shop with over 150 new products: shop.TheElectricBrewery.com
We ship worldwide and support our products and customers for life.
Purchasing through our affiliate links helps support our site at no extra cost to you. We thank you!
My basement/bar/brewery build 2.0
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Creepy
Joined: 04 Feb 2014 Posts: 127 Location: North Chicago Burbs
|
Link Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 12:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
Excellent! Thanks a ton. Seems like a simple fix.
Another mod I was considering was shortening the end vertical portion of the dip tube then bending the long horizontal part so it still goes all the way to the bottom. Not sure if this could/would affect the performance of it. Again keeping the hop stopper as low profile as possible is my goal. Any thoughts on that one?
On a completely separate note, the damage has officially been done. I punched a hole in a beautiful Blichmann and have water tested the seal for the element on the HLT. All's good so far.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11123 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
|
Link Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 1:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
Not sure about that one. You could try contacting the manufacturer.
Kal
_________________ Our new shop with over 150 new products: shop.TheElectricBrewery.com
We ship worldwide and support our products and customers for life.
Purchasing through our affiliate links helps support our site at no extra cost to you. We thank you!
My basement/bar/brewery build 2.0
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Tennessee
Joined: 04 Apr 2015 Posts: 116 Location: Tennessee
|
Link Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2017 1:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Another option is having one custom built!
_________________ Kal Clone (30amp),Mash Re-Circulation Manifold, Custom BK Hop Filter.
Last edited by Tennessee on Mon Mar 13, 2017 12:24 am; edited 2 times in total
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Creepy
Joined: 04 Feb 2014 Posts: 127 Location: North Chicago Burbs
|
Link Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2017 1:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Tennessee wrote: | Another option is having one custom built! |
Very nice. Did you do that yourself? How's it been working?
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Tennessee
Joined: 04 Apr 2015 Posts: 116 Location: Tennessee
|
Link Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2017 10:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Creepy wrote: | Tennessee wrote: | Another option is having one custom built! |
Very nice. Did you do that yourself? How's it been working? |
I designed it and had 'Utah Biodiesel Supply" build it for me. It's probably the last hop filter I'll ever need to buy!
Has worked flawlessly since day one and I can empty my kettle at WOT until drained, without having to worry about losing prime or sucking air. It was designed to cover as much surface at the bottom of my 20 gallon kettle and still be easy to remove from under the heating element. I added the legs to ensure I was getting full use from the bottom screen surface. I posted one picture under "Belgian Pizza". Here's a couple more
_________________ Kal Clone (30amp),Mash Re-Circulation Manifold, Custom BK Hop Filter.
Last edited by Tennessee on Mon Mar 13, 2017 12:26 am; edited 2 times in total
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
701pilot
Joined: 10 May 2016 Posts: 50 Location: northern california
Drinking: Bohemian Pilsner,Caribou Slobber, Munich Helles, Weissbier, Black Bute Porter, RIS, Irish Red Ale
Working on: Milk Chocolate Stout
|
Link Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 12:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
What mesh is the screen?
_________________ Mark
I can't change the laws of physics but with enough horse power I can chase it into submission.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Tennessee
Joined: 04 Apr 2015 Posts: 116 Location: Tennessee
|
Link Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 2:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
701pilot wrote: | What mesh is the screen? |
400/304
_________________ Kal Clone (30amp),Mash Re-Circulation Manifold, Custom BK Hop Filter.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Creepy
Joined: 04 Feb 2014 Posts: 127 Location: North Chicago Burbs
|
Link Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2017 2:34 am Post subject: |
|
|
Tennessee I love that design idea. Looks really solid. However I had already clicked purchase on my hop stopper. I did the mod this weekend and the way it sits in my 30 gal Blichmann shouldn't impeed the placement of the element whatsoever. If I have issues down the road with using this one I may reach out to you for some more details/contacts.
Description: |
The Kal designed element enclosure can now be mounted as close to the bottom as needed with no interference in this 30 gal Blichmann. |
|
Filesize: |
90.75 KB |
Viewed: |
30257 Time(s) |
|
Description: |
Cut off about 2.5" of dip tube and put a slight groove in place for the o-ring. |
|
Filesize: |
58.77 KB |
Viewed: |
30257 Time(s) |
|
Last edited by Creepy on Wed Feb 08, 2017 3:57 pm; edited 1 time in total
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Firebrewmedic43
Joined: 23 Dec 2014 Posts: 104 Location: Tennessee
Drinking: barrel-aged Foreign Export Stout
Working on: Helles
|
Link Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2017 5:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
what did they charge for the fabrication if you don't mind me asking
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
dp Brewing Company
Joined: 08 Jul 2013 Posts: 664 Location: Midwest
Drinking: Chocolate Taco, Raspberry Mango Cider, American X, Sandy Dunes
Working on: Nothing
|
Link Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2017 1:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Tennessee wrote: |
|
That's pretty cool design. Thanks for sharing!
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Tennessee
Joined: 04 Apr 2015 Posts: 116 Location: Tennessee
|
Link Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2017 7:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Tennessee wrote: | 701pilot wrote: | What mesh is the screen? |
400/304 |
I stand corrected! 300m 304ss
_________________ Kal Clone (30amp),Mash Re-Circulation Manifold, Custom BK Hop Filter.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
jonymac
Joined: 18 Dec 2014 Posts: 145
|
Link Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 4:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
Tennessee wrote: | Creepy wrote: | Tennessee wrote: | Another option is having one custom built! |
Very nice. Did you do that yourself? How's it been working? |
I designed it and had 'Utah Biodiesel Supply" build it for me. It's probably the last hop filter I'll ever need to buy!
Has worked flawlessly since day one and I can empty my kettle at WOT until drained, without having to worry about losing prime or sucking air. It was designed to cover as much surface at the bottom of my 20 gallon kettle and still be easy to remove from under the heating element. I added the legs to ensure I was getting full use from the bottom screen surface. I posted one picture under "Belgian Pizza". Here's a couple more
Just an FYI if anyone tries to build or have one of these bad boyz made, I had a support bar added to the top ring.
|
Tennessee - I love that design. I think the only area for improvement in the Electric Brewery is the hopstopper - i always leave more beer in the BK than I want. Do you find that you can run your kettle dry each time whether it is a hoppy or not so hoppy beer? Do you have the specs so Utah Biodiesel can replicate the exact on eyou had built? Thanks!
JonyMac
_________________ JonyMac's Stillwater Home Brewery Build
http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=314470#314470
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Tennessee
Joined: 04 Apr 2015 Posts: 116 Location: Tennessee
|
Link Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
[quote="jonymac"][quote="Tennessee"] Creepy wrote: | Tennessee wrote: | Another option is having one custom built! |
Tennessee - I love that design. I think the only area for improvement in the Electric Brewery is the hopstopper - i always leave more beer in the BK than I want. Do you find that you can run your kettle dry each time whether it is a hoppy or not so hoppy beer? Do you have the specs so Utah Biodiesel can replicate the exact on eyou had built? Thanks!
JonyMac |
PM Sent
_________________ Kal Clone (30amp),Mash Re-Circulation Manifold, Custom BK Hop Filter.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Mike Ellenbecker
Joined: 04 Sep 2013 Posts: 16 Location: Racine, WI
|
Link Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 1:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Tennessee - I also love your design. Can you send me the specs so I can have Utah Biodiesel replicate the one you have built? Thanks.
_________________ Mike Ellenbecker
IronWolf Brewing
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Tennessee
Joined: 04 Apr 2015 Posts: 116 Location: Tennessee
|
Link Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 9:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Mike Ellenbecker wrote: | Tennessee - I also love your design. Can you send me the specs so I can have Utah Biodiesel replicate the one you have built? Thanks. |
Pm Sent!
_________________ Kal Clone (30amp),Mash Re-Circulation Manifold, Custom BK Hop Filter.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Ben58
Joined: 14 Aug 2011 Posts: 409 Location: Hamilton, Ontario
|
Link Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'd like to know more about this design. More or less what I had considered a couple of years ago. Great minds think alike.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|