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You know all that chinese crap equipment....but Backer?

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 6:10 pm
by vacant
Made in England apparently.

Decided to get a spare element. This Backer element arrived today, I've asked for it to be collected and a replacement sent:
IMG_20171201_164825.jpg
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IMG_20171201_114655.jpg

Re: You know all that chinese crap equipment....but Backer?

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 8:56 am
by I_used_to_brew
Interesting! all my Backer elements are new old stock that I've been lucky to find.

Re: You know all that chinese crap equipment....but Backer?

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 9:57 am
by vacant
RogerP wrote:Interesting! all my Backer elements are new old stock that I've been lucky to find.
The Backer and Shel elements in the HLT you sold me still come up perfect when given a bit of citric acid TLC every few brews, as do the Tesco kettle elements in my plastic boiler.

Re: You know all that chinese crap equipment....but Backer?

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2017 3:31 pm
by vacant
I filled in their web contact form on Friday and included a link to those pics in a google shared photo album but got no response. However, I phoned just now and explained the problems - without me asking they're going to send out a new one that's been double-checked and they don't want the old one back. So that's good. No company is going to send out 100% fault-free items, it's how they deal with any problems that counts. Looking better so far.

Re: You know all that chinese crap equipment....but Backer?

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 10:17 pm
by vacant
Pleased to report the replacement element arrived by courier this afternoon i.e. 24 hours. No blobs or copper showing though still a slight roughness in parts.

All three Backer elements are 2.75kW but these two new Backer element are a different design from the one I already have. The older one has a mirror quality chrome finish and is longer. These two are more like my Shel 2.4kW element.

Re: You know all that chinese crap equipment....but Backer?

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 9:13 am
by I_used_to_brew
How much did you pay?

I would have bought this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13-Amp-230V- ... SwcdBWReGl for £13.99 inc delivery.

Re: You know all that chinese crap equipment....but Backer?

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 9:17 am
by I_used_to_brew
Incidentally, do you use a KM8 lock nut instead of the original shroud? https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/322184444818?c ... 578&crdt=0 Mark K does something more sophisticated (and pricey) https://www.brewbuilder.co.uk/shroud-fo ... ettle.html

Re: You know all that chinese crap equipment....but Backer?

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 9:31 am
by vacant
£16.99 +£5.95 delivery.

I looked at the various ones on eBay, all the same photo, but from the comments people said some of these are only 1.5kW.

And yes, the one you sold me has two KM8 lock nuts!

Boiler now upgraded to two 2.75kW rather than 2.75 + 2.4 Shel so I have a 2.4 and crappy-looking 2.75 on standby.

Re: You know all that chinese crap equipment....but Backer?

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 12:16 pm
by I_used_to_brew
Paul, I remember now - I just forget who has bought what off me over the years! There's a definite 2.75KW element for £12.99 inc delivery. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Vi ... 1438.l2649

I've recently noticed a pile of corny kegs in the loft I must get rid of!

Re: You know all that chinese crap equipment....but Backer?

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 1:37 pm
by I_used_to_brew
then there was this one - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Back ... 2749.l2649 he accepted an offer of £5 :)