Oven heating element in water

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I need to boil about 50 gallons of water in a custom made tub and was thinking 1 or 2 oven heating elements would be good. Elements in the water, e- connections end mounted in a jig that would hang over the edge, safely out of the water.

Would that work?

is there a better way?

[1990C4S]

Hmmm....almost sounds like an application for a heating element from a water heater....

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Hmmm....almost sounds like an application for a heating element from a water heater....

That's crazy talk, using an element from a 50 gal water heater would never work. The element would be sleepy under powered and it's not remotely designed for use in water.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

My water heater thermostat is set for 125. Are water heater elements designed to go to 250ºF at a minimum? Oven would have a lot more surface area to get to boiling faster though that's not a big issue, that said, it won't be an insulated container so maximum heating is important.

[1990C4S]

Make your life easy. Use the advantages (lots) of a water heater element and avoid the pitfalls (multiple and high risk) of the oven element.

https://www.amazon.com/EWH-02-Electric-Heater-Tune-Up-Universal/dp/B08FHZT85Q/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2IEK3XCN2B8GJ&keywords=water+heater+element&qid=1698241583&sprefix=water+heater+%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-6

Or do it your way and become famous on YouTube.

[herr_oberst]

Why are you using electricity? Why not use fire?

[911 Rod]

I would think you would need lots of heat and covered to make 50 gallons of water to boil.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

My water heater thermostat is set for 125. Are water heater elements designed to go to 250ºF at a minimum? Oven would have a lot more surface area to get to boiling faster though that's not a big issue, that said, it won't be an insulated container so maximum heating is important.

170 degrees is the highest I've seen for a water heater element.

[DerkPerk]

There is no way an oven element is designed to be used under water. I would use water heater elements. As long as you keep power to them, they will continue to heat. Now if they’re rated for that is another story. These are going to be a 208/230v element. Use at your own risk


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[rockfan4]

You're building a still, aren't you?
Lots of information on those sites.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/55-gallon-electric-brew-kettle.203011/

The consensus in this thread is 3 5500 w elements. Still a long time to heat that much "water"

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by stevej37

170 degrees is the highest I've seen for a water heater element.

Element? Or thermostat? He won't need a thermostat, his heating element will be on continuously.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

My water heater thermostat is set for 125. Are water heater elements designed to go to 250ºF at a minimum? Oven would have a lot more surface area to get to boiling faster though that's not a big issue, that said, it won't be an insulated container so maximum heating is important.

Watts, not surface area, is what you need to look at.

[id10t]

Can you do it outside or in a VERY well vented area?

propane tank crab boiler burner thing would certainly do it

[herr_oberst]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_stove

[Shaun @ Tru6]

very quick google search, water heating elements don't get very hot so a stove element would be best I think. Steve, have to do inside though I could use my Cerakote paint room that is vented of course. But, I have to make the bath out of plywood lined with EPDM so no fire.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_stove

I have a 200,000 BTU wok burner. That would do something. But no fire.

[Dixie]

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

very quick google search, water heating elements don't get very hot so a stove element would be best I think.

So a 3,500 Watt element gets to about 200F, and that's it? That's completely illogical.

I wish you luck in your adventure.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I'll google more but if I had to guess, it's either a safety regulation thing or a lifetime thing, or both.

Home beer brewers boil so will look in that direction.

From a beer forum: " The mythbusters boiled water in a hot water heater and it was really bad for the life of the element."

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Capt. Carrera

Thanks but my bath will be 7 feet long and 6 inches wide foot wide by 1 feet deep.