Hi all,
I'm at the "Will I make it or Buy it" phase of deciding on my main brew system components. I'm going to go all grain (mainly) and I've decided I'd like to go electric and also go with the single vessel type of kit, the obvious one being the Speidel Braumeister (20L system).
So, in order to figure out how cheap (or expensive) its going to be to make my own system I've started searching ebay/amazon etc. etc. for parts and I'm building up a list and associated costs..
Does anyone have any suggestions / recommendations for a pump to use in this type of system? I've looked at the solar pumps mentioned here, but I'm unsure that they are up to the task (I may be wrong, so please correct that assumption if I'm incorrect).
By the way, I'm going manual with this initial setup.... digital thermometers but manual timer, on / off switches for heating and pump etc.
Thanks.
Chuggers seem popular.
I think Rossa has one.
Solar projects pumps are great and will do all the brewing operations well. It's when you are cleaning and rinsing and you want to shift a lot of liquid that a big pump is super.
I hear alot of homebrewers use March May, it has a magnetic coupling which makes it hard to damage the motor.
Mine is a copy of the stainless steel Stuart Turner beverage industry pump. Super powerfull but has been a pain in the arse with leaking shaft seals. It will be replaced when I can afford it.
Whoever has Chugger pumps, where did you get them and what cost?
Im using the chinese food grade pumps ( bout 12 euros) no signs of wear or failing after about 12 brews. Same as the solar projects ive seen other people using ( the beige ones) at those prices it may be worth getting two as I did and if one fails theres a spare on hand.
Some say the chinese stuff is shit...I say dont knock it till u try it. Ive some very good gear direct from china and have no issues with any of it.
Just search ebay for food grade or solar pumps and have a look.
Chuggers are 149 usd and can only be sourced in the US, there is only 1 model which is 230V
Solars are a good cheap starting point, buy one from china and have a play, then upgrade.
Thanks for info. I was looking at the march pumps, but they are a little on the expensive side, though I've read only good things about them.
I found a few on ebay alright... now to pick one :-)
Thanks again.
Just ordered a solar pump from these guys.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Solar-12V-DC-Hot-Water-Circulation-DC-Pump-Brushless-Motor-Water-Pump-6-5-L-Min-/221262797510?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33844a5ac6
€15 inc delivery. Can't go wrong! I'll find something to use it for, at worst a spare. Maybe I should have got two?
I've a chugger. It's a monster. Just be careful what threads your pump will have. It can be awkward getting American threaded stuff here
Thanks all, I've found a Solar Hot Water Circulation pump on ebay that will suit perfectly.
Cheers.
Just get you in and your out right way round, instructions blah :-[
Solar pump is fine, but to circulate/pump liquid not wort with grains/hops.
Already chocked mine with hops ones, and had to disassemble and clean it.
I use one regularly to re-circ wort in herms. No probs except for a bit of air from time to time. I've also used it to pump out boiled wort. Maybe I've been lucky? I thought the slow flow with this pump allows the grain bed/ hop bed to settle nicely and gives a nice clean flow.
@Jacob - Thanks for that.
The plan is for a Braumeister type of clone, so the pump would only be active during mashing prior to the boil, and I'd hope that the screen filters would keep the gain in the mash pipe. However there is always going to be the risk you mentioned. I suppose I could reduce that potential problem by using fine mesh screen at the pump input and also use a hop sock during the boil, that way keeping as much "stuff" out of the plumbing as possible.
Cheers.
you will need more than a solar pump to clone a braumeister which is pumped from the bottom?
Hi,
Some of the smaller ones defo won't do, but there are units out there that I think are capable.
This is along the lines of the what I'm looking at... TL-B08H, 7L at this url http://www.ebay.com/itm/190635868928?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D190635868928%26_rdc%3D1 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/190635868928?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D190635868928%26_rdc%3D1)
Cheers.
just be aware buying from the states theres a 23% vat >:( and also a post office admin charge ??? to be paid ( bout 7 euros)
Beware of fine filters pre-pump. I have had more problems with filters than without. A fine screen can clog quickly. best results for me have been from letting the grain bed and the hop leaves do the work. Perf steel with 2 or 3mm holes seems to work well.
@brenmurph - The link was an example - I can get them from NI (Belfast I think) for 28 quid.
@christhebrewer - cheers for that, good tip.
Thanks.
They look very similar to solarproject pump, just a different pump body and colour.
Partrigde can you post a pic of the spec on the pump of your braumeister?
Who in NI can I get one of those pumps from?
Here'a link to the seller .. http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/eco.co-op/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/eco.co-op/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686)
I emailed them directly with some questions on the pump and they have been very helpful.
Thanks! That's a better pump (on paper) than the solar projects but way more expensive. I could be hard to justify. The SP pump is €15, this one is going to be €60. You might as well go the rest of the way and get a March May or a Chugger.
There's a HUGE water pump in Lidl at the moment for about €80. It's 1100w! bit big maybe. Or is there such a thing as too big? It could have temp issues or food grade issues but it is rated for drinking water (I think).......well have a look yerselves.
The cost will be €32.55, and they are going to physically drop it into Parcel Motel in Antrim to cut out the P&P on their end - So the total cost will be €36.05 (with the parcel motel charge added).
Not a bad deal, and excellent customer service. :)
That's a more realistic price. Why do they say £40+£10 postage if they can do it for €36? Going by the numbers it has twice the power and twice the flow rate at twice the price. Fair enough.
I like the dry running protection too.
If you order one let us know how it performs. Maybe we should do a comparison test with the SP pump.
I could be our new favorite pump!
Quote from: vonHolt on August 10, 2013, 10:41:31 PM
The cost will be €32.55, and they are going to physically drop it into Parcel Motel in Antrim to cut out the P&P on their end - So the total cost will be €36.05 (with the parcel motel charge added).
Not a bad deal, and excellent customer service. :)
How are you getting 32.55 from a pump that costs stg 39?
I can't see where it says that pump is suitable for food contact. I act as distributor for Chevron Phillips and
none of their Ryton grades are FDA approvedhttp://www.cpchem.com/bl/rytonpps/en-us/Pages/Question21.aspx
Might be a bit of a mix up here -- The example I gave (at least I think it was) was the pump by a US merchant (search ebay.co.uk for listing 190635868928), the seller in NI sells an identical TL-B08H, 7L for 28 pounds. The euro value I just posted was the exchange rate I got when I plugged 28 into my desktop currency exchange app :-)
I've ordered it this evening, but don't expect to be able to use it for much soon, though I could rig it up and just pump water around for grins and giggles...
Anyone any suggestions on some tests that I could do to put it through its paces?
Hi all,
Just got an email from the NI seller (Belfast based) of these pumps and since I'm guessing that there may be a few people looking at/thinking about one, I'll quote from it ..
Quoteif there's a collective interest in the pumps i'm sure we can come to some arrangement - our shipping costs are enormous and anything we can do
to increase volumes will reduce our shipping costs per unit and can be passed on.
Also pointed him to the web site and this forum.
Cheers.
(Just in case... I've no affiliation or relationship with this seller)
The pumps look great and I was interested until I realised they are not suitable for contact with foodstuffs or wort !
Wow... Where / how did you find that out?
From everything I've seen and been told by the seller they are in use for homebrewing..
The listing for TL-B08H, 7L actually states that its food grade.
As stated above I sell Ryton and other PPS products for a living.
Ah crap!! So that listing is BS then??
Thanks for the heads up - at least I can cancel the order.
Cheers.
It's not going to kill you and doesn't have anything like lead in it.
Varying versions of Ryton are used for food contact just nothing that is injection moulded which the pumps are.
If you are concerned just flush the system with hot water before use, that will take out 90% of any migration of ingredients that come to the surface
This has raised up a whole series of issues because I thought chugger pumps were polysulphone not PPS.
I will be emailing them later and let you know how I get on.
Much appreciated ! Thanks for the advice on this...
ok just checked the 230V chugger and its ok as its polysulphone
http://www.chuggerpumps.com/product.php?prodid=237
Have a look at this........
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111021281491?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Can't see if it's food safe.
Is that the same as the one in Belfast?
Not sure if it's even as good as this.......
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Solar-12V-DC-Hot-Water-Circulation-DC-Pump-Brushless-Motor-Water-Pump-6-5-L-Min-/221262797510?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33844a5ac6
and more expensive.
Cheers for the pointers.
One is...
"5 Pump material PA66+GF30% (optional)"
The other has no mention of the specifics of the materials used.
I did a search for the above and found this PDF that explains the various materials...
http://www.davis-plastics.co.uk/EngineeringProductInformation.pdf?oo=41627715 (http://www.davis-plastics.co.uk/EngineeringProductInformation.pdf?oo=41627715)
The section under "NYLON - Cast (Polyamide PA)" only references the mechanical properties but no food use suitability, whereas others in that list specifically mention suitability.
A big thanks to ciderhead for the advice regarding pump materials suitability.. Definitely learning a lot more than I ever thought about plastics and their use/suitability for food applications ;)