Manual Power Control

[kwilson16]

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All,
I have the 50A 30+ gallon panel. Is it possible to add manual power control to the BK element so that the elements would stay on at a reduced setting?
Thanks!

[kal]

Hi!

Your panel already has manual power control (% power), in addition to auto (temperature based). All of our panels do. See our BREW DAY STEP BY STEP guide for how to use it:

https://shop.theelectricbrewery.com/pages/brew-day-step-by-step

Kal

[kal]

Hi!

Your panel already has manual power control (% power), in addition to auto (temperature based). All of our panels do. See our BREW DAY STEP BY STEP guide for how to use it:

https://shop.theelectricbrewery.com/pages/brew-day-step-by-step

Kal

[kwilson16]

I would like to be able to adjust it with a rheostat-like knob on the panel rather than go into the PID each time I want to adjust the boil.

[kal]

Gotcha! Though you don't need to go into the PID settings. You simply use the UP/DOWN buttons to adjust the % power.A knob you turn may be quicker and we do get asked this question once and a while when building control panels for customers or supplying control panel kits. The customer is usually asking for an EZBoil PID instead of the ones we normally supply. These add a turn knob that can be used to adjust power. We're happy to use an EZBoil control anywhere regular PIDs are used if someone prefers in our panels, but once we explain the differences however we've never had anyone take us up on the offer.

Here's why:

If using the regular EZBoil for the boil PID and you do things like hop stands, it's more clicks to switch between auto and manual modes with the EZBoil PID than the PIDs we normally include in our control panels, though this is a fairly minor issue. Hop Stands are used a lot in newer style IPAs like NEIPAs where temperature is held after the boil at a very specific temperature for extended duration. See my Electric Hop Candy (NEIPA) recipe for more information: https://shop.theelectricbrewery.com/pages/electric-hop-candy-new-england-ipa-neipa

Some people want to be able to turn the dial up/down quickly but that ease is completely lost on me as I don't find myself ever wanting to turn the power dial up and down as I boil. I run at 100% until I hit boil then turn it down to 85% (for my kettle size). If I need to turn it off quickly, it's better to just turn the ELEMENT ON/OFF switch to OFF to cut power completely without changing the PID setting so that it's quick to get back to where you want after (you just turn the ELEMENT ON/OFF switch to ON instead of having to re-enter the boil % to where you were before). If a brewer finds themselves having to turn the boil power up and down a lot while boiling for the 60+ minutes, I would argue that something is broken with the process. You shouldn't have to do that. It will also screw up your boil off rate resulting in inconsistent beer (different ABV). Best to use one boil rate all the time. See my BREW DAY STEP BY STEP for the process I use: https://shop.theelectricbrewery.com/pages/brew-day-step-by-step

Using the same PIDs across all 3 units also simplifies the setup as the programming steps are the same and you have identical backup equipment across all 3 kettles too.

Up to you, but you may certainly replace the boil PID with a different style if you like. Be aware that the connection points on most of the EZBoil models are different from the standard PID we normally include so wiring changes will be required. Given the different feature sets the setup/programming and operation of an EZBoil PID would also be different of course. We do not provide alternate wiring instructions or detailed BREW DAY STEP BY STEP usage for the half a dozen models of EZBoil model PIDs that exist.

Good luck!

Kal

[kal]

Gotcha! Though you don't need to go into the PID settings. You simply use the UP/DOWN buttons to adjust the % power.A knob you turn may be quicker and we do get asked this question once and a while when building control panels for customers or supplying control panel kits. The customer is usually asking for an EZBoil PID instead of the ones we normally supply. These add a turn knob that can be used to adjust power. We're happy to use an EZBoil control anywhere regular PIDs are used if someone prefers in our panels, but once we explain the differences however we've never had anyone take us up on the offer.

Here's why:

If using the regular EZBoil for the boil PID and you do things like hop stands, it's more clicks to switch between auto and manual modes with the EZBoil PID than the PIDs we normally include in our control panels, though this is a fairly minor issue. Hop Stands are used a lot in newer style IPAs like NEIPAs where temperature is held after the boil at a very specific temperature for extended duration. See my Electric Hop Candy (NEIPA) recipe for more information: https://shop.theelectricbrewery.com/pages/electric-hop-candy-new-england-ipa-neipa

Some people want to be able to turn the dial up/down quickly but that ease is completely lost on me as I don't find myself ever wanting to turn the power dial up and down as I boil. I run at 100% until I hit boil then turn it down to 85% (for my kettle size). If I need to turn it off quickly, it's better to just turn the ELEMENT ON/OFF switch to OFF to cut power completely without changing the PID setting so that it's quick to get back to where you want after (you just turn the ELEMENT ON/OFF switch to ON instead of having to re-enter the boil % to where you were before). If a brewer finds themselves having to turn the boil power up and down a lot while boiling for the 60+ minutes, I would argue that something is broken with the process. You shouldn't have to do that. It will also screw up your boil off rate resulting in inconsistent beer (different ABV). Best to use one boil rate all the time. See my BREW DAY STEP BY STEP for the process I use: https://shop.theelectricbrewery.com/pages/brew-day-step-by-step

Using the same PIDs across all 3 units also simplifies the setup as the programming steps are the same and you have identical backup equipment across all 3 kettles too.

Up to you, but you may certainly replace the boil PID with a different style if you like. Be aware that the connection points on most of the EZBoil models are different from the standard PID we normally include so wiring changes will be required. Given the different feature sets the setup/programming and operation of an EZBoil PID would also be different of course. We do not provide alternate wiring instructions or detailed BREW DAY STEP BY STEP usage for the half a dozen models of EZBoil model PIDs that exist.

Good luck!

Kal