Cheaper pump for water circulation in eHLT?

**kerklein2** · 01-22-2012, 11:21 PM

Any cheaper options than a March/Chugger for recirculating hot water in an eHLT? I can't seem to find anything with a high enough temp rating and a high flow. There are a number of high temp pumps on Amazon for sous vide cooking, but they either only go up to 80C or are like 1L/min.

Those stirring pumps seem clumsy to me, and I like the idea of measuring the HLT water temperature at the outlet of a recirculation like Kal has done on his electric brewery.

Triple9 · 01-22-2012, 11:38 PM

I use a cheap aquarium air pump to "stir" my HLT. $10 and it works perfectly for breaking up the thermal layer. You won't be able to measure the water temp at the outlet is the one downside.

**kerklein2** · 01-22-2012, 11:53 PM

Haven't seen any like that that are rated to 180F+. I'm guessing yours isn't and you just plan to use it till it fails? You worry about it not being food grade, could be leaching chemicals into the water?

Triple9 · 01-23-2012, 12:22 AM

I mean an air pump, a bubbler, something you would attach an airstone to, not a water pump. It sits outside of the HLT. The only thing sitting in my water is a piece of silicon tubing at the bottom of the HLT.

**kerklein2** · 01-23-2012, 03:32 AM

Hmm, does that actually work very well? Seems like moving the water around would work much better.

**chuggerpumps** · 01-23-2012, 01:32 PM

We are currently testing a new self priming electric diaphragm pump made from Polysulfone FDA grade plastic and FDA Hytrel Diaphragms. Cost...$69.00

Triple9 · 01-23-2012, 01:33 PM

Surprisingly very well. I figured I'd give it a shot and worst case I would be out $10. Works just as well as if I were to stir. In action, it makes the HLT look like a nice rolling boil is occurring in it, so there is plenty of movement to the water.

**kerklein2** · 01-23-2012, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuggerpumps

We are currently testing a new self priming electric diaphragm pump made from Polysulfone FDA grade plastic and FDA Hytrel Diaphragms. Cost...$69.00

This sounds perfect. Do you have an ETA on availability? Or do you need any early field testers

? I just ordered my SS inline chugger yesterday!

**Bobby_M** · 01-23-2012, 02:54 PM

A surplus motor with a stirring paddle is probably a lot cheaper than any food grade pump.

**kerklein2** · 01-23-2012, 03:06 PM

Above when I said:

"Those stirring pumps seem clumsy to me, and I like the idea of measuring the HLT water temperature at the outlet of a recirculation like Kal has done on his electric brewery."

I meant stirring motors w/paddles.