Here I am prototyping an improved HERMS.

The idea is that I will use a controller to fire a relay that will turn on a 1500 watt to heat about 2 gal of water that will then heat the heat pick up coil of the HERMS system.

This will allow me to be able to:

(1) control a smaller volume of water with a  smaller heater element

(2) be able to control my HLT independent of the HERMS loop.

I used a 1 1/4" hole saw to cut a hole in the bottom of a stainless pot, and then I sealed the heater element (1500W) into the hole with epoxy.  The element is about 1/4" to 1/2" below liquid level.

from the bottom,

Here is the controller,

and here is the relay (30 amp, SPST) hooked up to the controller to fire the heater element,

I threw in a fish pump (Penguin Jet) into the pot later to stir the hot water, but I couldn't get a good picture.  Here is the entire setup.  I was able to control the test pot to 155F +/- 1F.  Monday is the test with an actual mash with a heat pick-up coil.

Note the crate.  The handles fit perfectly in a milk crate which also allows the heater hook-ups to float above the bottom of the crate.  Nifty, eh?