I'm looking to move my boil to my garage from my stove top. The wife wants her kitchen back. Im looking at teeing off my 1/2 npt gas line in my garage from my water heater to a ball valve with quick disconnect. Then a 10 ft hose to a nice burner with stand. My gas is much cheaper than propane and I would love not having to refill the bottles. Does anyone have experience with a similar setup. I would prefer a natural gas setup instead of buying a propane with a conversion setup.
It's always easier to not do something than it is to do it. Selection of ready-made burners seems to be better with propane, probably because there's a bigger market for propane than NG. If you're going to buy a burner and build your own stand, it's not as big a deal. This is what I use: http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Group-IRBR002CN-Natural-Chinese/dp/B0042QKY9A You might be able to find it cheaper if you shop around. I built the stand using off the shelf steel from my local Home Depot clone. It looks a lot like an Erector Set project. 1/2" NPT, 10' hose, and a nice burner is just about right. I brew on the patio. I use a Quick Disconnect and share the connection with my grill, so that didn't cost me anything. You're absolutely right about the price of NG compared to propane. The price varies, but based on last month's price, I get the BTU equivalent of a 20 lb tank of propane for under $2 ($1.58 for the gas, plus the distribution charge, which is a fraction of that). But I use it strictly for the convenience. The 90% price saving is icing on the cake. That's a lot of icing!
I did not "T" off of my water heater as it is only a 1/2" line and could be running also when brewing. I have a 3/4" " T" just downstream of my gas meter. http://caloreequipment.com/products...ck-disconnect-natural-gas-hose-connector.html and: http://caloreequipment.com/products.../model-5-3-4-ball-valve-quick-disconnect.html
My set up is hard plumbed in. I might be a little worried with a quick disconnect. You are making the right decision with NG. Take care.
ball valve in line is standard but a QD sounds like a very bad idea. I'm just a regular plumb-trician but that just doesn't sound like a good idea. maybe they have that part. Just noting that it would be worth the effort to research the proper procedure now. Good luck. Happy wife happy brewer.
These are not your standard QDs...they are made for gas, ANSI certified, and can actually be used INDOORS or outdoors and as the link I supplied above states (scroll down and look at "details"), they are made for high volume use such as a brew stands (among others). Another nice feature of the hose is that it has a swivel on one end for moving your brew stand around.
I don't do photobucket, etc., but nothing much to see...3/4" hose connected to 3/4" black pipe that runs horizontal on outside/back of brewstand with (3) 3/4" to 1/2" Ts for 3 burners. 1/2" nipple length measurements are key for center and vertical placement of 1/2" restaurant burners (like Mike Hartigan's pix above).
I used the jet style burners, then switched to these. Much better, and much quieter too. http://www.brewershardware.com/10-Low-Pressure-Burner.html
What kind of problem were you having with the jet/ring burners that made you seek out a single orfice NG burner? My ring burners are quiet unless turned up full throttle (which they never are).
One problem with the jet burners is that they get very dirty (sooty) and it's easy for the flame to blow out at low throttle. The only way to fix that is to mount it a bit lower to cool it down. As to the noise, I like the audible indicator that it's still lit. I brew outside, so it's not too bad.
My burners get dirty/sooty...but it's usually due to spilling wort or grain...I can't blame the burner for that. : ) They stay at about 50% throttle and are audible, but not noisy...and have never blown out. I think you are correct on the mounting distance between burner and bottom of vessel...this cannot be too close or they won't burn right.
Well I bought the jet 23 tip jet burner.After reading a lot of posts here :http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=91020 about how its too big and hard flame control I cancelled that order and went for the 10" Low Pressure Burner. This guy seems to get a good flame and control.
Yes sir, you did the right thing and since your NG burner is better and more sensible than mhartigan's beloved wok burner, you can now claim the natural gas burner throne here.
I moved my old gas stove out to the garage for 5 gal batches, but for big ones you can't beat "my beloved wok burner"...best upgrade I've ever done.
Well I mounted the burner in an old table saw stand and plumbed my water heater line with a tee and ball valve and disconnects. My first garage boil was a success and had one small boil over. The boil over is much less of a stress when its not on your wife's immaculate stove and kitchen. Still burning the paint off As you can see I can now start doing much larger boils I just need a better chiller.
If your wondering this is what I brewed https://www.homebrewing.org/Zythos-Summit-IPA-Recipe-Kit_p_2966.html It was cheap and fit the bill for my IPA craving. It's in the fermenter now and should be ready in 3 weeks. 2 to ferment and 1 for carbing. I keg but don't force carbonate. It seems to take about 6 days for proper carbonating at 10 psi.
