Buying a Burco boiler in Ireland

Thrasher

Hi all,

I've been brewing for a year now, using a 15L brewpot on top of a stove. I've recently moved and my new cooker just doesn't have enough power for a rolling boil of this size, so I'm going to invest in a Burco boiler.

I've checked all the usual suppliers (for beer brewing) and eBay, but cannot find an obvious retailer. Has anyone ordered/purchased a Burco boiler in Ireland or ordered one from the UK?

Cheers,
/T

guildofevil

There are many options for full wort boils.

I use an electrim boiler. It is basically a 23 litre plastic bucket with a kettle element in it. Grape n Grain can get one for you.

Hop and grape have similar ones here:Hop and Grape boilers and here: Hop and Grape own brand boilers

Hopshop UK have a selection, including a range of stainless steel ones here:Hopshop Boilers

The best value of all, in my opinion, is from Leyland Homebrew, who do a 33l plastic bucket, with element and spigot for £34.99 Leyland Homebrew Boiler

ruprect

I had an electrim boiler too. They have simmerstats on them. I have had 50l kegs with elements in them. Powercity may have cheap buros or swans.

Cheapest option is to get one or several "travel "elements, ones you just stick into a bucket.

I work designing water boilers and have done years of testing. Under normal circumstances once boiling it should only need about 300-400W to keep 50 litres boiling in a insulated container. it will take a long time to get this boiling if all you use is 400W. better to have 2 heat sources like 2 travel heaters.

bigears

if you're determined to get a burco type boiler you could try the catering supply companies like sweeney o' rourke or caterquip, both in Dublin. otherwise the boilers mentioned above should more than do the job.

guildofevil

I use a 2.4KW element in my plastic bucket.

Those travel elements would run quite expensive, I would have thought.

If you want to make your own boiler, I think it would probably be cheaper to buy a kettle element or two.

I have even heard of people buying a Tesco Value kettle and using the element and power cable from that.

ruprect

guildofevil wrote:

Those travel elements would run quite expensive, I would have thought..

Why? as in expensive to buy or expensive to run?
Most are about 500W, it is a submersible element, I have seen them in "pound shops" cheap enough. THey will cost the exact same to run as any other submersible on a kWhr Basis. You get more heat lost heating on the hot. I do not know how long you guys are boiling for but once you are up to boiling a 2.4kW will be pumping out excess power, all you need is about 400W to keep a rolling boil. I used a burst fire controller (about €50) which allows very good control of an overpowered element. I ran mine at 5.6kW to heat then to 300-400W to roll a boil.

A cheap kettle element can work like the tesco you mention. Becareful making your own, electrics is one thing, another is seal failure and 50litres of boiling wort all over the wifes new carpet!

A burco will cost a fair bit from catering suppliers. What you can get is replacements. These will be 500W to 3kW. Some of these only need 2 13mm diameter holes to fit in. Then you screw it in place in the tank then put in wires in the terminals. Having a 500kw & 3kW will allow a quick boil, then unplug the 3kW for a steady boil. 13mm holes are easily cut in a plastic boiler. If the boiler has PP5 written on the bottom it will withstand boiling.

guildofevil

I meant to buy. I had no idea you could get them that cheaply.

300-400W to keep 50 litres boiling is bloody impressive. How have you insulated your boiler? I have been looking at insulating mine, but have been unsure of what material to use.

ruprect wrote:

Becareful making your own, electrics is one thing, another is seal failure and 50litres of boiling wort all over the wifes new carpet!

Yep. Out to the back yard with you.

Thrasher

Hi all,

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you - I've been out of the country for the past two weeks (unfortunately, far away from anywhere that has any beer or beer-brewing equipment ).

Thanks for the continued discussion with some great tips. It appears that many of you are using home-made equipment. I've been a bit nervous about heating up a large amount of sugar in solution for 90 minutes in a plastic bucket - but I'm happy to build on your own positive experiences.

/T

Thrasher

PS How are you sealing in the heating elements? Do they come with an insulated fixture with a fixed diameter - or are you using magic glue?

ruprect

guildofevil wrote:

300-400W to keep 50 litres boiling is bloody impressive. How have you insulated your boiler? I have been looking at insulating mine, but have been unsure of what material to use.

I simply use 3 old jumpers on mine, an old duvet or lagging jacket would do the trick. One thing to be careful of would be that aluminium lined fibre glass stuff, since the metal could contact the electrics. I had a plastic container and a keg. In winter the heat loss can be slightly more due to the temp difference. One thing I did like is that it acts as a radiator in the room so energy is not really wasted.

Most of the elements will come with washers already on them, some are fibre, some are silicone, the fibre ones need to be really tight, the silicone ones do not, if tightened too much they can break.

If you want more ideas check out this amazing site, it is about distilling but has lots of info that will interest you about boilers and power etc
www.homedistiller.org

under the theory section there are calculators, this one is useful you can call your "wash" 0% to be similar to water

http://www.homedistiller.org/pot_calc.htm

For sealing on metal kegs this stuff is recommend on many forums, I have never used it.
http://jbweld.net/products/water.php
http://cgi.ebay.com/Waterweld-Filler-Patch-4oz_W0QQitemZ330065755100QQihZ014QQcategoryZ11704QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

many elements on ebay too

oisinb

I bought a Burco off eBay for brewing (well its actaully made by "Marco" but is similar quality to Burco although it does sound like a cheap imitation!). I can't remember but I think it cost about €100 for the 35 litre one. Its got a 3kw element and works a charm. I attached an S shaped piece of copper piping with slots sawed into it to the inside of the tap, and this works to strain the wort from the hops and hot and cold break. I use it in conjunction with a home made immersion chiller. The hop strainer and tap got blocked once so I had to siphon out the rest of the wort but it works most times.