Couldn't get the kettle past 180, no boil

First of all, are you sure you didn't get a boil? Your thermometer could definitely be off....

 

How does the flame look?

I've seen propane tanks freeze up at full throttle with similar problems...try a warm bath for the tank

 

I assume you were outside, was it very windy? Also, a water bath has helped me in the past if it is a cold day and I am doing a 10 gallon batch.

 

In addition to the air intake adjustment near the burner itself, there should also be a propane flow control knob near the attachment to the propane tank. Did you adjust that at all?

 

it is possible that the valve wasn't fully opened. there is some process, safety shit with propane you know...

turn off the flame, the propane tank and the needle valve. open the tank fully. open the needle valve and light. shut it down and do it a few times until you get full gas flow. I'm not certain how the mechanism works, but if you don't have a huge flame going it is probably the valve.

it might be the needle valve as well. make sure there is not a spiders nest in that blocking gas flow.

the SP10 will boil 10 gallons no problem.
Cheers.
yes, what Krusty says. Do that.

 

proper lighting sequence (tank value off - regulator valve off - hook up gas hose - open tank value FIRST - then crack regulator value and light). If you do not follow this sequence there is a safety devise that prevents the gas from flowing. If this happens to you, do the following to reset the devise. Close all valves, remove the hose from the propane tank, open the regulator valve (you can hear the device reset), close the regulator value and reattach the hose to the tank and start the lighting sequence as above.

 

Just a shot in the dark -- did your new burner come with a second valve orifice? I forget which type of valve orifice is larger/smaller, but you may have an orifice installed in your burner that is for natural gas and not LP.

 

Yep.

Also, go ahead and ferment away. It may turn out well, it may not. Please report back with results.
A lot of historic beers were never actually boiled, more of just a low simmer, although for much longer than what we tend to do. You probably got really crappy hop utilization. What style of beer was it?
180*F would still be a high enough temperature to kill any nasties, though.

 

I think the NG orfice is larger as it's designed for lower pressure

 

I've got a bayou classic and I notice that sometimes when I connect the gas line to the propane tank, I won't hear a steady stream of propane coming out on the burner side. I usually have to do this a few times until I get it just right and hear it rushing out. Were all your connections snug? As long as you have a steady stream of propane on the burner side you'll get enough flame to produce a boil, guaranteed.

You could also have brewed a no-boil berliner, but by the sound of your post it doesn't sound like that's the case...

 

Was your regulator facing up? Father almost "ruined" Thanksgiving trying to fry a turkey and the oil never got up passed 180 because of the regulator on the tank line.

 

Upon further reflection, I am pretty sure @billandsuz and @GreenKrusty101 says it the problem. There is a safety feature on propane regulators that keep the gas from just leaking out, but this can cause problems in the flow. Try the steps GreenKrusty lists.

And yes, I would fill a rubbermaid tote up with about 10 gallons of hot water and float the propane tank in it. This was only necessary on the coldest days as I got to the end of the tank.

Both of these problems make me so happy I switched to NG

 

How did the beer come out?