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Message |
    
Carl Rando
New Member
Username: Carl
Post Number: 1
Registered: 10-2009
Posted From: 66.31.148.33
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 01:14 am: | 
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I am getting interested in brewing. I see a lot of systems in brewers basements using propane. I would like to also brew indoors however I did'nt think it was wise to have a propane appliance indoors. How do you do it without having a problem? Is it as simple as open all the basement windows and have good exhaust fans???
I'm looking forward to getting started. I am in the process of getting 3 1/2bbl kegs then on to building the frame. I am going with a 2 tier system with pumps. I'm sure i will have many questions.
Carl |
Tim Polster
Intermediate Member
Username: Bassman
Post Number: 305
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.95.249.239
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 01:21 am: |
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Hey Carl, best of luck with your new venture!
There is plenty to learn but it is fun and the beer just gets better and better.
WIth regards to brewing inside, I would only use an electric setup inside. Electric being with hot water heating elements inside the kegs to provide the heat. |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 10890
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.141.103.148
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 01:42 am: |
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Welcome aboard, Carl. We're happy to have you among us.
As for brewing with propane indoors, it's possible to do so, but with two major cautions. The first is that no safety codes allow the use of propane cylinders indoors. If you use propane indoors, the gas must be stored outside and plumbed into the house. This is common in rural areas without natural gas service.
It's also possible to modify many homebrew burners to use natural gas.
The second consideration is that the burners used for brewing produce significant amounts of carbon monoxide, much more than a home kitchen gas stove. This requires *a lot* of ventilation, something on the order of an exhaust hood used in a restaurant kitchen. Merely opening a couple of windows and using a box fan are not enough. Your life and those of your family are not worth the risks. If you are going to use homebrew burners indoors it requires considerable planning and construction.
For those reasons, most homebrewers who brew indoors use electricity, which has its own safety and capacity requirements but is often more manageable.
(Message edited by BillPierce on November 04, 2009) |
Tom Gardner
Senior Member
Username: Tom
Post Number: 1177
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 67.177.226.129
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 02:31 am: |
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And gallons of water turned into steam that needs to be vented out. |
Brewzz
Advanced Member
Username: Brewzz
Post Number: 740
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 67.11.214.140
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 03:47 am: |
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I brew with propane,and just leave the doors and windows in the garage open.I also move the brewstand to the front of the garage......not to say there is no hazard,I just have had no problems.I am pretty laid back though...YMMV
Brewzz |
Carl Rando
New Member
Username: Carl
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2009
Posted From: 66.31.148.33
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 11:07 pm: |
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Thanks for the replies...
I now know what to do... It will most likley take me all winter to construct, so I'll end up outside in the spring. |
Tim Polster
Intermediate Member
Username: Bassman
Post Number: 306
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.95.249.239
| | Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 02:40 am: |
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I love my electric setup.
I have two hot water heating elements that total 8000 watts in both my HLT and my Boil kettle running on 220v in my garage.
I would never go back to burners after using this setup for the three or four years I have had it.
Quick to get to boiling. I use both elements to get to boiling quickly then unplug one for the rest of the boil.
It is really set and forget as the temperature in the kettle does not fluctuate. I walk away and only return for hop additions.
And you never have to worry about running out of fuel. |
Tony Legge
Intermediate Member
Username: Boo_boo
Post Number: 474
Registered: 05-2005
Posted From: 174.116.59.12
| | Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 10:48 am: |
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You're going through a lot of trouble to do something you might not like doing .
From your first post I am assuming that you have never brewed before. |
Pete Mazurowski
Intermediate Member
Username: Pete_maz
Post Number: 395
Registered: 07-2003
Posted From: 12.173.222.115
| | Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 01:43 pm: |
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You're going through a lot of trouble to do something you might not like doing .
From your first post I am assuming that you have never brewed before.
That was my initial thought too. Most of us start off brewing with extract and minimal equipment, then move on to all-grain after they're "hooked". It's a bit of an obsession and could potentially lead to spending a lot of money, but I'd just warn you to make sure you really like it first before doing that.
Welcome to the board, BTW! |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 10894
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.141.103.148
| | Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 02:51 pm: |
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Tony and Pete make good points. Almost all of us here are committed homebrewers, so we look at brewing through the lens of the true believer. It is possible you won't be quite so enamored with it.
I'm assuming you have seen others brew. If not, this coming Saturday would be an excellent opportunity to do just that. It's Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day (also known as Learn to Homebrew Day), in which homebrewers are demonstrating their craft at dozens of sites around the US and Canada. I did a very quick search and did not find any sites in your immediate area, but I did see several in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. If you know of a homebrew shop, you could call them and they would surely be able to tell you where someone will be brewing on Saturday.
As I said, if you haven't seen it done, this is a great opportunity without any commitment other than your time. |
Paul Hayslett
Senior Member
Username: Paulhayslett
Post Number: 2302
Registered: 02-2002
Posted From: 71.234.45.166
| | Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 04:27 pm: |
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Even some of us committed true believers brew on ghetto systems costing less than a couple hundred dollars and requiring no more than a few hours to build. I'd recommend starting small and expanding as you feel the desire. |
francisco hott
Junior Member
Username: Frano
Post Number: 44
Registered: 09-2008
Posted From: 200.72.191.220
| | Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 04:41 pm: |
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I am probably one of a few in here which started with all grain, but when I started the LHB didn't have any kind of extract.
But for my first few batches my lauther tun was a spaghetti stainer and the rest of my equipment was 2 5 gallon buckets and a 30 liter pot, which I still using today (this is my second year brewing).
I think the same as most on the board star small and buy stuff you need and as you need them (good quality pays itself if you brew a lot or use it for other stuffs as well) another ways you probably will end up as me with things that you don't want to use it anymore because ....i don't now there is never the same reason(time the mess you en up with ))
Anyway welcome here is a really fun hobby and I have learn a lot by reading B & V so stick in. |
Carl Rando
New Member
Username: Carl
Post Number: 3
Registered: 10-2009
Posted From: 66.31.148.33
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 12:31 am: |
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Thanks for the input. The more I read the more I believe that I will start small and start with extract. I have had the good fortune of getting a couple of 1/2bbl kegs for free from a local metal yard. I promised the attendant some of my first batch....I think I will convert one for a boil pot and go from there.
Thanks again for the suggestions.. |
Carl Rando
New Member
Username: Carl
Post Number: 4
Registered: 10-2009
Posted From: 66.31.148.33
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 12:40 am: |
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Tim,
You have me interested in the heating elements. Are you using elements from a hot water heater or are they something different? I am in Elec. wholesale and would be able to get these type items. Would you mind posting some pics and specs of you system?
Thanks, Carl |
Tim Polster
Intermediate Member
Username: Bassman
Post Number: 307
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.95.249.239
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 06:24 am: |
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I don't have the photos anymore but I think I posted them a few years back on this board.
The elements are purchased from Home Depot and are typical hot water heating elements.
My father in law is an electrician so he helped my wire two circuits @ 220v, one for each element.
Just drill the holes on the lower part of the keg and install the hot water heating elements, wire up some plugs and you are set.
I turn them on and off by flipping the breaker!
Make sure the elements are in liquid or they will fry instantly. |
Pete Mazurowski
Intermediate Member
Username: Pete_maz
Post Number: 396
Registered: 07-2003
Posted From: 12.173.222.115
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 01:25 pm: |
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Carl, there are quite a few how-to topics on some of the other brewing websites. I'm sure you can google it and get quite a few hits.
Some are really fancy, others are more ghetto. Whichever way you might go, it still has definite advantages over propane. I don't have 220v in my garage, so I made an electric HLT with two standard 1500w 120v elements and a controller. I eventually plan to move to 220v, but for now this works great. Good luck with it. |
Paul Muth
Intermediate Member
Username: Pjmuth
Post Number: 482
Registered: 10-2002
Posted From: 66.20.174.104
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 02:44 pm: |
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Carl,
There is a thread on the BrewBoard HERE that you might be interested in. The fellow's name is also Carl & I was involved in his build. There is another article HERE on Wort-O-Matic.com that is a follow on about it.
It is about setting up an electric system and controlling it.
Hope this helps.
Note for Bill Pierce: There is a lot of silver soldering in the article.  I'm hooked on the stuff. |
Tom Burk
Member
Username: Tomburk
Post Number: 209
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 66.231.36.205
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 10:30 pm: |
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Carl, I brew indoors with an electric brewery and you can see some pics of my system in the photos section. I thinks it's brewery phase 1. I started all grain with a gas system that you see at the beginning of the photos.
The electric elements controlled by PID's gives awesome control of temp.
I've made some changes and haven't kept the pics up to date. This winter the cold room doors go on and the new bar gets built. |
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