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**Dwain** · 04-08-2009, 08:54 PM

Hey Guys,
I plan on using 1/2" stainless for my HLT coil. I am building a single tier system with converted kegs. What length does my coil need to be to get the best heat exchange. I know that it depends on flow rate but I'm looking for good rule of thumb. I've seen people use 50' of copper but I have no idea on stainless. I'm off to the shop to finish my welds and scrub up, so I'll check this post later. Thanks for the help.

Boerderij_Kabouter · 04-08-2009, 09:04 PM

If it is for a herms, I think 25' is a good length. That is the length I will be using.

By the way, McMaster has the cheapest stainless coil I have been able to find reliably. #8989K98

You can find them on eBay once in a blue moon, but you may have to wait a while and it still may not be as cheap.

**Dwain** · 04-09-2009, 03:56 AM

Thanks for the input. Digging through my junk, I found a 3/4" x 20' coil of stainless that I made years ago. What do you think? If I go with 1/2", I either have to go with
20' or make a connection since that's what I can get locally for a good price. Weigh in on that. Thanks for the help. Dwain

**cyberbackpacker** · 04-09-2009, 02:37 PM

I say use what you got... the effective area of the 3/4" should make any difference negligible vs a 25' 1/2 coil!

**Bobby_M** · 04-09-2009, 02:58 PM

Isn't that a lot of wort tied up in the plumbing? How do you flush it so you don't lose the sugar? I guess you can run your sparge water through it. I've never really thought about it but with all you guys that do HERMS, someone has to know.

**Ewalk02** · 04-09-2009, 03:04 PM

You'll be fine getting all the sugars out of the coil, I do HERMS and my last step in the mash is to send 170 *F water through my coil in order to fly sparge. Cleans the coil up nicely too so cleanup isn't really necessary.