DustBow

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For those with experience, how much better is the performance of the "Chillus Convolutus" or "ChillZilla" compared to the "standard"/DIY version of the CFC using 3/8" fridge coil and a garden hose?

I don't mind paying more for better equipment, but is the performance that much better with the high-end products?
I would have a pump and whirlpool back into the BK so that might lessen the difference even more?

For some reason I just get hung up on the idea of pumping through the smaller 1/4" ID tubing of the "standard" CFC's when I could upgrade and pump through bigger/wider CFC's that match with all the other 1/2" tubing/equipment in my rig. Does the power of the pump make up for the smaller copper tubing and its restrictions?

Thanks for any info you can provide, I will be getting a pump and CFC at the same time and don't have any experience with either yet.

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"Brewing beer is neither complicated nor expensive. It's the responsibility of the brewer to make it as complicated and expensive as their spouse & budget will allow."

milldoggy

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I have a chillzilla and can cool in a single pass with my pump rate pretty high. I tried to build one, failed miserable, so for me the chillzilla is the only way to go. Plus it is all copper, looks cool.

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P-J

Recipes 

How about a 1/2" all copper CFC?
This is one I built:

DustBow

Recipes 

Did you use 1/2" fridge tubing or true 1/2" nominal tubing?
Then you used 3/4" tubing for the outside?

It has crossed my mind
Just kind of scared to try and bend/coil the thicker 3/4" pipe...

__________________
"Brewers make wort, yeast make beer."

"Brewing beer is neither complicated nor expensive. It's the responsibility of the brewer to make it as complicated and expensive as their spouse & budget will allow."

P-J

Recipes 

Re: 1/2" CFC. I use 1/2"OD inner copper tubing inserted inside 3/4"OD copper tubing. The coiling must be done on a larger form as the 3/4" tube will kink badly if you attempt to wrap it onto a Cornelius keg. I used a form that is 13" in diameter. Tough to form but very do-able.

Take it slow and take it easy. The more you work the copper the more it hardens. BTW the copper coil is slightly less than 25'.

DustBow

Recipes 

Makes sense, could use one of my pots or keggle instead for the wrapping.

__________________
"Brewers make wort, yeast make beer."

"Brewing beer is neither complicated nor expensive. It's the responsibility of the brewer to make it as complicated and expensive as their spouse & budget will allow."

clintonwiener

Recipes 

The Chillzilla is only 15 ft in length at most! For the price difference you can make a longer coil and the effects of turbulent flow vs laminar will be irrelevant.

DustBow

Recipes 

FWIW, I ended up with the Chillzilla and I love it. I pump thru it and whirlpool back into the kettle and it works great - not sure I could get the same flow thru the thinner tubing. The faster flow really works well for me for both chilling and "trub piling"

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"Brewers make wort, yeast make beer."

"Brewing beer is neither complicated nor expensive. It's the responsibility of the brewer to make it as complicated and expensive as their spouse & budget will allow."

Monster Mash

Recipes 

The only difference between the convolutus and all the others is the size, they all work about the same. Because of the convoluted copper the convolutus has only 12' of tubing.

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ScubaSteve

Recipes 

They make a stainless one now....

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