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boiler elements touching - does it matter?
Posted:
Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:18 pmby toil
I have a new yet to be used keg boiler. I've drilled the two 32mm holes for the 3600w and 2400w weldless 5 star elements. They are touching when installed. I was wondering if this is an issue or not. Keen to fire it up but don't want to damage the elements. Any thoughts?
Re: boiler elements touching - does it matter?
Posted:
Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:23 pmby 8-ball
Can you get your hand into your boiler if you can gentaly bend your elements apart
Re: boiler elements touching - does it matter?
Posted:
Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:31 pmby 1 2many
I have had the same problem and what I did was tap the edges of the hole with a hammer between both elements to help splay the apart and it worked great. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Re: boiler elements touching - does it matter?
Posted:
Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:40 pmby toil
The keg has a standard 2" keg ferrule so no inside access. I agree I need to remove the elements and hammer the keg to change the angle. The alternative would be to drill a higher hole for one element and use the extra hole as a drainage port (got fittings to suit already). I am being a lazy bastard and would rather leave it as is if it won"t damage the element. I figure the water qillprevent any significant transfer of heat from the 3600w element to the 2400w one. Could be wrong though
Re: boiler elements touching - does it matter?
Posted:
Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:52 pmby Geeps
1 2many wrote:I have had the same problem and what I did was tap the edges of the hole with a hammer between both elements to help splay the apart and it worked great. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
:text-+1: easy as it wont take much at all.
Re: boiler elements touching - does it matter?
Posted:
Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:55 pmby 1 2many
When you say they are touching, is it just touching or is there a fair amount of pressure on the elements?
Re: boiler elements touching - does it matter?
Posted:
Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:02 pmby toil
I will check out how tightly they are pressed against each other when I get home.
Re: boiler elements touching - does it matter?
Posted:
Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:36 pmby toil
Was a fair amount of pressure. I pulled the elements out. A bit late for the hammer but will give it a go tomorrow.
Re: boiler elements touching - does it matter?
Posted:
Wed Jul 23, 2014 10:51 pmby Brendan
To answer your question which doesn't seem to have been covered...yes it most probably will damage that point on the elements...
Re: boiler elements touching - does it matter?
Posted:
Thu Jul 24, 2014 1:22 pmby CH3CH2OH
Reach in with a hook and give one a little pull upward. Not too much just enough to seperate them a bit and not cause damage
Re: boiler elements touching - does it matter?
Posted:
Thu Jul 24, 2014 2:04 pmby P3T3rPan
Yeah they bend quite easy if you use a steady, even pull.
Need to be solidly mounted tho
Re: boiler elements touching - does it matter?
Posted:
Fri Jul 25, 2014 6:33 pmby toil
The elements can't be bent as they solid tubular rod. I spent a bit of time with a hammer and managed to get one to point slightly up and the other down. Was a bit of a pain in the arse as it ended up leaking when I put them in the first time. After some mucking about I managed to get them sealed. I dropper it off to an electrician mate. Just got to wait for him to wire it up.