Golddiggie

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I see that pump as very much under-powered for the task. At 6.5L/minute and 2M max head it's going to struggle (at best) and fail (at worst). Compare it with a March 815 pump spec's. Inline head has 7 gallons per minute (22.7L/min, or 420 gallons per hour) and a max. head of 18.6 feet (4.1m). The center inlet head version (the one I'm using) goes at 8 gallons per minute (30L/min, or 480 gallons per hour) with the same max head rating. Even there, there are people that have systems that push the limits of these pumps. Recirculating the wort through a chiller or even back into the kettle, will stress it even more (doubt it will do all that good of a job). IF it doesn't fail at this, it will seriously struggle and burn out far sooner than a March (or chugger) pump will.

While I'm all for not spending where you don't need to, trying to go with a pump that's really not up for the job is not wise. What will you do when it fails and has 140F (or above) wort in all the lines? You say you'll change it, but that involves either also having protective gear (for liquids that hot) or getting burns.

Also, if you're not brewing with electric heat sources, having the pump directly on a kettle (or mash tun) will make it fail fast. Even on my keggles the temperatures right there are in excess of 250F while the flame is on. Even with a heat shield in place, it can get toasty right there.

Since you've already ordered it, give it a try. I'd just be prepared for it to fail on you without warning and in a spectacular fashion. Also, with the thread sizes listed in the drawing (for the inlet/outlet) you could have trouble finding fittings to connect to them. At best, you'll also need two different sized silicone hose sets there. IMO, more trouble than it's worth.

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ColonelPanic

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24 days later and the pump finally showed up from Hong Kong. It should normally take about 10 days, but the Christmas season added 1 to 2 weeks delay on the transit time (this was expected as it was mentioned in the ebay listing).

My first impressions are that it is more compact than I imagined, a bit heavier than expected, and the materials feel sturdy and of decent quality. I hooked up a 12 volt SLA battery I had from an old UPS and pumped some water through it. It was pretty quiet and moved quite a bit of water.

Hopefully this weekend I'll get a brew day in with it and see if it moves an adequate amount of wort.

Here's some pics for now:

BrokenArmBrewing

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Not to hijack your thread, but this looks a lit like a pump that you would use on a boat. Any ideas how those would work? Food save? They are cheap enough, and can fill a 30 gallon live well fast enough.. just a thought

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Indian_villager

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Are those fittings on the end NPT, bspp, or BSPT?

ColonelPanic

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According to the manufacturer, they are 1/2" BSP connections. They don't look tapered, so they are probably BSPP.

They seem to fit nicely into my 1/2" NPT fittings, but I'll have to do more testing to make sure they don't leak with high temperatures.

revansCAAD8

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Your post has sparked my attention. I would be interested in hearing more about these. I have been wanting to stop lifting & pouring wort from my Mash Tun running's to the BK & BK to fermenter. So I don't need something super speed for that.

Robert

revansCAAD8

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You bought from this ebay seller/site? http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-High-Quality-DC-12V-Electric-Centrifugal-Water-Pump-P-38I-03-/270951067871?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f15f1 30df&afsrc=1
Their pictures looks slightly different (white?) than your unit?
Still happy with it?

Thanks,
Robert

ColonelPanic

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Yes, that's the one. The plastic is a little more beige than in the seller's picture. I'm happy so far, but I came down with the flu this past weekend and didn't have a chance to give it a full evaluation. Hopefully, I'll have time some evening this week.

wilserbrewer

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More facts please from people who have actually used one and less conjecture from those that have not on this little pump please....thanks!

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f0xtr0t

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I want some intel about this pump too. Would throttling the output/input negatively affect the pump? And are those fittings hard to find? Would you have to gravity feed the lines for it to work?

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