[spurviance]

I'm looking at an entry level all in one electric brewing system for Christmas and was wondering if anyone has some data on time savings using a 240V system vs a 120V system for 5 gallon batches.

[denny]

I'm looking at an entry level all in one electric brewing system for Christmas and was wondering if anyone has some data on time savings using a 240V system vs a 120V system for 5 gallon batches.

rough guess, it saves me maybe 30-50% of the time

[Richard]

The biggest time savings of 240 vs 120 V will come from the time to raise water to strike temperature. I can schedule my 120 V system to start heating the water early in the morning to be ready by the time I finish my coffee, so I don't even notice the extra time. The next biggest time savings would be when going from mash temperature to boil. My system takes about 30 minutes, but I am busy disposing of spent grain, cleaning the bag, etc. so I am not standing around waiting for a boil very often. If you do step mashes you may save 10 minutes or so with the higher voltage. Once you get to a boil you need to dial the power down anyway (I go to 60%), so it doesn't matter at that stage.

[ynotbrusum]

I have an Anvil Foundry, so I can switch between 120 and 240 volts.  I use the 240 in my garage most of the time, but go with 120 when deep winter pushes me indoor for brewing.  I would say that the total extra time is about an hour, but I can set the timer function to allow the water to reach mash temp by the time I awake in the morning, so overall time loss is probably only a half hour or so.  The double wall makeup of the Anvil Foundry helps it maintain a good boil in my experience at 80% power once boil is reached (at a nice rolling simmer).

[YaleH]

I have used both on my Anvil 10.5 and I know some like to have the options of both. But for me, the difference is like night and day and I plan on staying with 240v. 

[narcout]

Having had both, I would recommend going with 240 if you can. 

[denny]

Having had both, I would recommend going with 240 if you can.

Without a doubt

[spurviance]

Thanks for the feedback.  I have space on an electrical subpanel for a 240v breaker 50' from where I like to brew so I'm going to go that route.