Pump Advice

[vonHolt]

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.

[johnrm]

Chuggers seem popular.
I think Rossa has one.

[christhebrewer]

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?

[brenmurph]

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.

[Ciderhead]

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.

[vonHolt]

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.

[christhebrewer]

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?

[Rossa]

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

[vonHolt]

Thanks all, I've found a Solar Hot Water Circulation pump on ebay that will suit perfectly.

Cheers.

[Ciderhead]

Just get you in and your out right way round, instructions blah

[Jacob]

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.

[christhebrewer]

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.

[vonHolt]

@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.

[Ciderhead]

you will need more than a solar pump to clone a braumeister which is pumped from the bottom?

[vonHolt]

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

Cheers.