Like run your elements dry.
I bet that stunk like the bejeezus! Did it with a heatstick. Freaky.
And now you know . . . :-\
Ah jeez, that sucks. Thankfully every time I’ve come “close” to this, I got to the plug before anything happened. Way too easy to have happen though. I’ve been thinking about installing a pressure sensor linked to a switch for turning the elements off if there’s no water in them.
Wow that sucks. Sorry to hear about that. 
Sucks. I would recommend the low density elements. I have let them run dry once or twice and they survived in tact. Also much easier to clean. I stopped using the elements like you have after losing two batches due to a smoky off flavor. Thought at first it was pedio, but turned out to be improperly cleaned elements and caked on, burnt crust.
Oops.
apologies to TM for hijacking, but being that I am switching to electric soon, is there anything special to note about cleaning the elements?
Be sure to get the ultra-low watt density & you shouldn’t have to worry about it.
If you experience mineral build-up, you may want to soak them with something to remove the deposits.
I soak mine in hot PBW over night and most of the stuff hoses right off. But I take a thin, rectangular “scrubby” pad and run it around the elements like dental floss. I occasionally acid wash them to remove mineral deposits.
cool thanks guys.
sorry about your luck there TM.
No harm done.
I had spare elements so I am up and running.
Worst think was that I had to climb into the HLT to pick small copper nuggets.
I am thinking of installing a float switch that would prevent this.
Saniclean do the trick of cleaning the elements.
It is acid thou so do not soak it overnight.
It would eat your element.
[quote]Stuff you should never do.
[/quote]
Try to catch a falling glass carboy full of sanitizer. As they said in one of my favorite movies; “Run away!”
As mentioned by TM above, I think I’d go with a float switch over pressure sensor/switch.
Sorry about the elements TM, but this just goes to show why heating elements are bad, and we should only use one of these:
;D
Stuff you should never do…
Take a sleeping pill and a laxative at the same time!
Freaky. This just happened to me this morning. Except we don’t have a spare. :
I used to use one of these but everytime I had a beer brewed with one my urine glowed. 
Any reason why you guys don’t switch to the low density elements? They work much better and the melt down is so much less of a problem! not to mention cleaning is a heck of a lot easier as well.
Read right after the post above it, this takes on a whole new meaning. ;D