Is 4.5kw enough to boil my wort

TOOYOUNGTODIE · 08-05-2012 3:46pm #1

Hi

I have another thread where Im looking for help designing my new brewery.

I got two 4.5kw elements today from amazon and I will have one in my HLT and one in my boil kettle, do i have enough power.

oblivious · 08-05-2012 3:49pm

It should so a lot of systems use 2 2.4kw elements, but it depends on you volume you are using?

Also is your electric up to handling 2 4.5kw draw?

Mashtun · 08-05-2012 8:43pm

Just saw the new thread, I use a 4.5Kw and its more than enough

TOOYOUNGTODIE · 09-05-2012 9:03am

i'm using a keg as my hlt and boil kettle, i will have them wired up to a 32 amp breaker running through a thermostat for a burco boiler

Mashtun · 10-05-2012 11:43am

Technically the 32amp breaker should trip with both of those on the go at the same time, not sure if you will have them on at the same time depends how you go about it. May not trip tho ya never know!

Shiny · 10-05-2012 2:22pm

Yeah it would depend on the derating value of the breaker. It would *eventually* trip with 40A going through it, but that mightn't happen for a period of minutes to hours.

I would also have a concern about the thickness of the wire that is running to the breaker box if it is going to be carrying 9kw for periods of time.

rubadub · 10-05-2012 4:37pm

Power=Voltage x current
230Vx32A=7.36kW max

max for a standard 13A is 2.99kW but I have heard of a case of a 4.2kW machine unknowingly running for years on a 13A socket.

When you say 4.5kW elements what was the voltage rating. As 4.5kW designed for 240V will be lower than 4.5kW @230V, it is ~4.13kW its the difference of the squares of the voltages.

I used to have 2x3kW ones with different wiring going to 2 different sockets.

1kW will heat about 10L of water in 1 hour. So 9kW would do 45L in 30mins.

Is 4.5kw enough to boil my wort

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