National Homebrew Club Ireland

Hi All

I am interested in getting a chugger pump, I know a number of ye have them and I was wondering how they are going for ye.

Initially I will be using it for wort transfer,re-circulation and whirlpooling, but I also have a few half sanke kegs that I will need a pump to clean.

Could anyone with a chugger post some feedback on them
Where is the best place to buy them.

Thanks

Not cheap but once you get past that they are the mutts nutts ;). I think Angel homebrew shop have them.

Thanks for that,  just saw them on brewbuilder there as well

Find a friend in the US, cheapest option, there are other pumps out there but not built like the brick shit house Chuggers are.
They are the point just below pro pumps.
I had 3 thinking I'd burn 1 out, 3 years later I'm still waiting.
Couple of weeks back 3 hours continuous herms over 2 batches and 20 min whirlpool and not even sweating!
I do lubricate it at the back with 3in1 spray every second or third use.
Buy one with stainless head if you are doing cleaning and centre fed 3/4 inch which I gather are 5% more efficient.

March same quality but they will only sell them to breweries here because of CE rating
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4_TXv_ED24&sns=em

Good to know. I just want something that will last, sounds like a chugger is the job.

Promise to post if mine ever burns out
Just make sure you give it a good rinse after use if using aggressive cleaning agents to preserve the rotors/fins of the impeller

Chuggers really are the muts nuts.
I have 2 and I dont think how id get through a brew day without them. They are a bit of an investment but really as soon as you use one you'll never look back.

Cheers, pissed around now with a couple of DC ones and they clog or burn out.. I will look up some buddies in the US and see will they oblige.. Or if CH wants to offload one of his 3 :)

You, what they said. I'm about 10 batches in with mine. They basically run solidly for 6 hours on a brewday, from circulating, to cleaning. As good as new still and one of the few things I never have any issues with.

Don't reckon that chugger would recommend the cleaning as per the video. It clearly states don't run dry, so I wouldn't be sure how your man primed his pump in the video. For that type of cleaning you'd probably be better with a lidl submersible pump or similar immersed in the bucket

Ps if you know anyone going to Orlando Florida the guy in Hearts homebrew store said he'd have any gear that was ordered delivered to the hotel.
They have Chuggers but need a little notice for the 230v models as they mostly stock 110V
https://heartshomebrew.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&zenid=4f36c7e24929bbb85f33c329c5997b06&keyword=Chugger+

Quote from: darren996 on April 03, 2016, 03:08:24 PM
Cheers, pissed around now with a couple of DC ones and they clog or burn out.. I will look up some buddies in the US and see will they oblige.. Or if CH wants to offload one of his 3 :)

I did sell one about 6 months ago down to 2 now and trying hard to burn one out, its not playing ball though!

Quote from: CH on April 03, 2016, 04:49:18 PM

Quote from: darren996 on April 03, 2016, 03:08:24 PM
Cheers, pissed around now with a couple of DC ones and they clog or burn out.. I will look up some buddies in the US and see will they oblige.. Or if CH wants to offload one of his 3 :)

I did sell one about 6 months ago down to 2 now and trying hard to burn one out, its not playing ball though!

Quote from: darren996 on April 03, 2016, 11:57:03 AM
Hi All

I am interested in getting a chugger pump, I know a number of ye have them and I was wondering how they are going for ye.

Initially I will be using it for wort transfer,re-circulation and whirlpooling, but I also have a few half sanke kegs that I will need a pump to clean.

Could anyone with a chugger post some feedback on them
Where is the best place to buy them.

Thanks

http://www.irishsourbeers.com/2016/03/review-novax-20-b-brew-pump-by-rover.html

Why not get a European made one? There's a review above that shows one from an Italian company called the Novax 20 B.

Yeah I saw that review, and its reversible and has viton seals, 100 bucks delivered is a great price.

Why I am swinging towards the chugger is because a lot of home brewers have them and they are tried and tested.  Also the novax looks a bit bulky. I could place the chugger under
my current system. But the price of the novax is hard to beat.

Thanks..

Post up an interest in a group buy from the USA  ;)

Quote from: cruiscinlan on April 05, 2016, 01:06:18 PM


Why not get a European made one? There's a review above that shows one from an Italian company called the Novax 20 B.

http://www.roverpompe.com/en/prodotti/elettropompe-novax-/novax-b-for-hot-liquids-up-to-95-c/novax-b-liquidi-caldi-max-95-c
That pump specifically say it is not suitable for circulating liquid hotter than 95° C. So it might be fine for transferring sparge water or wort from the mashtun to the kettle.
But it would be outside spec if it was pumping through a plate chiller, whirlpool or in a rims system.

This makes it way less appealing imho. It's just not as versatile.

With the novax you can put the plate chiller in front of the pump.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meDa1fk_RG0

Quote from: Frequent Sequence on April 05, 2016, 02:03:21 PM

Quote from: cruiscinlan on April 05, 2016, 01:06:18 PM


Why not get a European made one? There's a review above that shows one from an Italian company called the Novax 20 B.

That pump specifically say it is not suitable for circulating liquid hotter than 95° C. So it might be fine for transferring sparge water or wort from the mashtun to the kettle.
But it would be outside spec if it was pumping through a plate chiller, whirlpool or in a rims system.

This makes it way less appealing imho. It's just not as versatile.

As it can run dry, and is reversible, and has a cut out, and cooling I'd be happy with running the chiller before it.

Saw that review its direct drive not good, like the Solars of you get anything stuck in your pump good luck you are gonna burn motor out.
95 is the limit which is clearly the seal.
Spend the money on a Chugger or March pump 10k US Homebrewers aren't wrong.
If I was on a budget I'd take a flier on the 17 and 24v magnetic drive offerings from Angel or Homebrew builder.

If on a budget, save another couple of weeks and get the chugger.

Quote from: CH on April 05, 2016, 04:32:57 PM
Saw that review its direct drive not good, like the Solars of you get anything stuck in your pump good luck you are gonna burn motor out.
95 is the limit which is clearly the seal.

Viton is rated to 200C apparently.  I'd put a couple of filters in front of the inlet anyway to avoid grain/debris.

Viton depending on the grade will go up to 315 degrees C.
The problem is unlike Chuggers there is a potential to leak from hot acidic wort  attacking the seal interface between the shaft from the motor and the fin in the chamber if say it was used for example on herms.
The output is impressive from that pump but ott for a anything less than 50l imho

We can can talk about the plus and minus features till the cows come home but to me it's all about other HB users experiences and I trawled US sites looking for problems or breakdowns with Chuggers.
There was one and that was quickly resolved.

Just a pity that the chuggers are not CE certified!