Wed Jan 13, 2010 1:13 pm
i've got a b3 1550 which comes with 2 of the high pressure cast iron burners [http://morebeer.com/view_product/17245//Propane_Burner_-_55000_btu] and one low pressure one [http://morebeer.com/view_product/17252//Low_Pressure_Burner_103000_BTUs_Propane]
the odd thing is, the low pressure one is noisy as all hell when it's on. i didn't actually think it was low pressure until i saw it on the b3 site just now. it howls when its going like the propane is coming out under pressure. what do i know . . .
in any case, a buddy of mine has the banjo style burner, and that thing is great for 3 reasons.
1. very high btu output
2. quiet operation
3. wide distribution of heat
the problem i have with my high pressure burners is that its massive btus all concentrated in the center of the pot. this leads to more scorching as opposed to a banjo style burner where the heat, although similar btus is distributed along the surface of the bottom of the pot.
also, something else that came up in this thread, whether you use propane or natural gas, you should not be getting soot on your pots! soot means something is messed up in the way you're burning, which means also that you're making a whole lot of carbon monoxide. [if your burn is clean, you'll generate almost no carbon monoxide.] if you're brewing in a garage, or indoors and you're getting soot on your pots, you're probably getting high doses of co as well, so be aware! get a carbon monoxide detector!
