I assembled an electric kettle with a 5500W CAMCO heating element. The element heats water significantly faster than my gas burner ever did but peaks out at 205-210 degrees. I can take 5 gallons from 60 to 210 in only 9 minutes but cannot get it to boiling. The circuit breaker is 30amp. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Turns out it was the $40 Blichmann Brewmometer sticking. Exchanging it tomorrow.
Does the Kettle have a thermal cut out switch wired in the circuit with the element? If this is the case the thermal cut out switch switches the element off each time it gets to a specific temp. this is a safety feature and can be bypassed by if you have some electrical knowledge.
It's got to be the element going open at that temperature - 5500W is plenty of power (9 minutes!). I guess this a water heater element, designed to operate at 120F or so, it might even be a 'safety feature'. An inductive ammeter would answer that question very quickly.
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