Hybrid system question

E8ton · Joined: 27 Feb 2019 Posts: 5 Location: SE PA

Hey guys new to the form and 2 electric brewing I have been brewing with LP for 8 years now

I'm looking to make my system a hybrid and I was wondering if a 30 amp panel would be able to maintain a boil for 1BBL I'm not looking to bring to a boil was going to continue to use my LP set up for that but would like to be able to shut off the gas and maintain the boil with electric to cut down on heat in the summertime as it gets very hot in the garage

Thanks
Evan

**kal** · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 8:56 pm Post subject:

Hi Evan,

Yes, no problems there. I know of many using a single 5500W element in the boil kettle producing 1 bbl.

Now that said, if you're going to go electric already, why bother with propane to get to boil? 50-80 of the heat of that flame bounces off the kettle and is adding to the heat in your garage. A heating element is submerged so 100% of the heat goes directly in the boil.

To save time you could do both I suppose: Heat with both propane and electric and then turn off the propane and enjoy the absolute silence of electric once at boil. Wink

Ideal would be to ditch propane ocmpletely and go with a 50A panel for 30+ gallons. See: https://shop.theelectricbrewery.com/collections/control-panels

It would give you fast heat times, less heat in the air, and no noise at all.

Good luck!

Kal

E8ton · Joined: 27 Feb 2019 Posts: 5 Location: SE PA

Thanks for your response KAL, we have been thinking of doing a full convertion to electric out budget just doesn't allow for it yet, we currently have a 3 vessel LP single tier with 2 banjos and 1 600k jet tip which is where most all that heat and nois comes from.

My main thought of doing the hybrid is i found one of your 30A diy kits forsale unopened for a reasonable price as he didn't have time to build and bought the turn key 30A panel. And i was thinking i could upgrade the internals later as the budget alowes,

If upgrading the 30A to 50A expensive compared to the panel coast it self?

**kal** · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 10:03 pm Post subject:

E8ton · Joined: 27 Feb 2019 Posts: 5 Location: SE PA

Thank you for all the info, sounds like its worth saving for the 50A panel in the long run

**kal** · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 10:54 pm Post subject:

At the end of the day that's completely up to you of course! But I think most people would agree that it's not obvious going from 30A to 50A unless you don't mind a lot of extra work. Cheers!

Kal

E8ton · Joined: 27 Feb 2019 Posts: 5 Location: SE PA

Well out of curiosity how much would the upgrade parts coast? I wouldn't mind the extra work but if the upgrade parts are not to bad i could get this 30A DIY with unpunched thats forsale and maybe be able to afford to build a 50A from the start

**kal** · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 11:36 pm Post subject:

A complete breakdown of the parts required to do this is not something we've ever done I'm afraid.
You'd probably be looking at a few dozen parts plus a bunch of wiring and other tie-in parts.

The 50A Electric Brewery Control Panel for 30+ gallon build FAQ is here: http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24918

It lists all the part changes required. You'd have to go through the list and add up the numbers.
If you need a new enclosure you'd have to include that as well. There would also be a bunch of new wiring needed (6 ga, 10 ga, some 14 ga, various colours). Unknown how much you'd need as a retrofit like this is not something we've ever planned out. Sorry!

Kal

E8ton · Joined: 27 Feb 2019 Posts: 5 Location: SE PA

Not a problem just exploring options thank you for all your information

**kal** · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 11:46 pm Post subject:

Good luck with your conversion to electric!

Kal