Hi,
I figured I would provide some information to the other forum members on heating elements.
When I originally built my electric brewery in 4/2013, I used the ss element without the stainless base from High Gravity brewing because that was what was available. After 10 months and 26 batches the element bases were rusted.
This thread shows what the elements looked like when I replaced them:
http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24644&start=180
I used these elements for 90 batches until 9/2017. I pulled the elements this weekend because I noticed my HLT water was a little cloudy and wanted to inspect the elements.
The boil kettle element was pretty much like the day I installed it. It has held up well and shows no signs of rust.
My HLT element however was showing signs of rust. The ss base shows rust as well as the element filament.
A few months ago, I accidentally turned on the HLT burner at the end of a boil. I use one switch on the control panel to control the boil kettle or the hlt. When I turned off the boil kettle, I must have moved the switch to hit on instead of off. I noticed the indicator light was on when I came back to the panel a few minutes later. The element was on for a few minutes and was cherry red when I turned off the switch. I let the element cool and it functioned properly during a test to boil water later that day.
My mistake probably caused the damage to the element and allowed the rust to form.
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