Super chiller chat

[newToBrew]

didn't ciderhead recently throw up a post about a double coiled chiller ? would be interesting to measure chilling times and costs against this device - although the tidyness of this one is pretty cool

[JimmyM]

I made my own super chiller, it costs 20-25 euros worth of copper from the plumbing shop and a 10mm hose connection. A gud few of the lads saw it in action. Its excellent value to make ur own based on the prices ive seen in the shops for what I can make for 25 euros.

Benefit of making ur own is u can coil it / shape it for your brew setup, in my case I make 3 gallon brews in a 6 gallon boiler so I concentrated my coils near the bottom with a wide coil and a narrow coil made with 8mm copper (8mm copper lets u make a small coil around a 2ltr lemonade bottle) so u get a very long  length of copper concentrated where u need it depending on your boiler setup.
Hope this helps

Not sure youre talking about the same thing here Bren.
Sounds like you have made a traditional cooling coil, or a variation of one, that is immersed into the boiler after the boil, to cool the wort.

What this is; is a plate chiller. The hot wort is actually passed over cool plates - increasing the surface area of the beer and (usually) cooling quicker than an immersion chiller, depending on the number of plates of course.

As mentioned above - the downside of  this is they are prone to sediment in the hot wort getting trapped between the plates, which may be difficult to clean/sanitise.

[Ciderhead]

Cost was two coils of copper plus the fittings so really not a lot cheaper than this.
I was looking at plate chillers and in my pursuit of shiny, was seriously considering buying one, there weren't at that price when I was looking
However, i am a simple lad and two squirts of my hose and my chiller is clean.

[Hop Bomb]

How quick does it chill your wort from boil to yeast pitch temp?

[brenmurph]

ciderheads pic above is very similar to my one that I made for 25 euros.
The copper in my one  is far longer than a standard coil chiller in the homebrew shops.

Speed of chilling is excellent however exact speeds depends on how much copper in the coil and  temp of water goind through coil.

The reason I posted originally was coz a coil chiller is the simpest thing in the world to make. Although copper is not cheap, the cost of copper in a plumbers shop allows an enhanced lebgth compared to homebrew shop ones for 25 euros.

I made an outside coil like  as in the pic above and a  second 8mm coil so that it can be culred tighter. My main point is that these can be made in 15 minutes, in a shape/ configuration to suit your boiler and for about or less than half the retail price. And they work fine and as Ciderhead says quick rinse and its done.

hope this helps

[brenmurph]

How quick does it chill your wort from boil to yeast pitch temp?

From boiling, a 3 gallon brew cools in 5-10 minutes (depending on water temp going in) so 15 mins for a 5 gallon brew in summer and a bit less if the water is colder in winter. If you agitate the wort its far quicker but some say dont agitate, personally I agitate to get cool in a few minutes, let it settle trub and drop beer off via tap into fermenter, this helps aerate.

[Will_D]

I would be interested to hear from a brewer!

Their multiplate chillers are dismantleable for ultimate cleaning but I imagine they are a bit of a pain to re-assemble so they don't leak.

I'm sure I have seen drip trays under their plate coolers!

Would this mean they would clean them the same way as we would for the all-welded variety by back flushing the beer sections with water, steep with cleaner and then flush again and sanitise ready for use.

IMO, I think the bit about keeping these clean is a bit over stated.

[Hop Bomb]

Im at 20 mins right now with a diy copper coil & 12v pump whirlpooling. Those plate chillers are very tidy though.

edit: Would you stick the plate chiller in the boiler for the last 15 mins to sterilize like your copper coil?

[irish_goat]

edit: Would you stick the plate chiller in the boiler for the last 15 mins to sterilize like your copper coil?

No it sits outside the wort. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6AELsGxEb4[/media]

This guy runs his water inlet through a cooper coil chiller to make it even colder going in and increase efficiency.

[DEMPSEY]

One of the issues with a plate chiller is the cleaning problem. With such a small space that the wort pass's through,hops and break debris can clog it up. Because you do not disassemble it you have to be careful that no crud is left inside. Maybe a fine mesh filter should be used at the start before the wort enters the chiller.

[Jacob]

Looks simple to me

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi-Ib0vBnXQ[/media]

[newToBrew]

ciderheads pic above is very similar to my one that I made for 25 euros.

really Ciderhead reckons that given the 80 quid cost there wasn't much in the difference between that and his double coil

where did you purchase the two copper coils for 25 quid ??
woodies is around 30 quid for the average single chill coil
so I figured a double coil + the fittings needed would bring it in at around the 60 - 70 mark

[brenmurph]

Woodies is a DIY retailer just like B&Q.

If you know a plumber or a trader who has aann account in Chadwicks or the likes itll b even cheaper.

I picked up the copper in M&A Newbridge. Andy is the man there.

The rate for copper per meter can easily be discovered with a phone call or two. the further from dublin the better. Also if theres a few of u may be able to pick up a 50 mtre roll at trade prices.

[brenmurph]

forgot to say just like steel the prices are changing by the week ( not always goin up).
Last check it was around a euro per foot for 10mm copper. My beer and wine sell a 25 foot chiller for 69.99.
I would say the saving is worth it even if it is 30 euros in woodies. My advice is to shop around, make a few calls for copper pipe prices.

also 8mm copper is as good if u can find it in a plumbing supplier ( not a diy store) it may be old stock with an attached old pricetag. 10 mm is the common pipe in plumbing so sells fast and has a turnover meaning you pay the most up to date price.
hope this helps

[brenmurph]

LADS Ive just spoke with andy, The price is 60 euros for 25 metres. Thats 20 euros for a standard chiller including the fitting for the water hose.

Thats great value if u want to make ur own chiller. imaging how quick 75 feet of 10mm pipe will chill a brew! for 60 quid!