Sciyan

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Hi

I'm about to add a plate chiller to my brewing system, but I don't know which one to choose. Maybe some of you already have one and have comments about it.

Here my 4 choices :

• Blichman Therminator http://www.blichmannengineering.com/therminator/therminator.html#
• Dudadiesel 40 plates http://www.dudadiesel.com/heat_exchangers.php
• Chiller-Out 40 plates from HomebrewStuff (looks exactly the same as Dudadiesel) http://www.homebrewstuff.com/servlet/the-372/Counter-flow-plate-wort/Detail
• ChillOut MKIII from MashMaster http://www.mashmaster.com/p/1141466/chillout-mkiii---30-plate.html

They look all good... can't decide...

Thanks

samc

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I'd skip Blichman and figure out the others on price as they are all similar if not the same.

SankePankey

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I have the 30 Duda with mounting studs. A lot of HBS buy duda chillers and resell them.

I wanted the 40 and they didn't get the ones with mounting studs in time, so I got the 30 in stead. I'm happier with it actually, since where I have it, the 40 would be more in the way.

There are helpful files on the dudadiesel site to help you with a gravity drain situation if that's what you're doing. If you want to chill fast and do a gravity drain, then you'll need a larger chiller and faster and colder water.

I do a 15 gal recirculating plate chill (which I could find no help on calculating what to expect for times). At 5 GPM for both wort and 55* water, I'm getting around 12 minutes from 212 to pitch for the whole volume. Wort return arm positioning makes the difference.

For what you pay for a Blichmann, you could get a monster chiller from duda. The blick is nice though.

skylor60

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Just got a 40 plate from kegcowboy prices seem right there as they have a 5% coupon as well

Sarrsipius

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I have the one you list from homebrewstuff and couldn't be happier. I chill 10 gallons from boiling to 65deg in about 10 minutes. If I run a pre chiller in an ice bath on the chilling water I can do it in 5 or 6 minutes in mid August.

It should be mentioned that I use a large hop bag during the boil and also have tri clamp fittings. On the fitting for the wort in port I use a 1/8in mesh screen gasket to catch any large hop leaves or other stuff before it gets into the chiller. I think this helps avoid any buildup of debris over time. I think it's important to avoid running large amounts of break material or hops through a plate chiller to avoid clogging. But your miliage may vary.

__________________
Conical : bohemian pils
Keg 1: Stout Envy Porter__Keg 2: Pale Ale
Keg 3: Russian Imperial Stout__Keg 4: Pale Ale
Keg 5: AIR 6: Edworts Apflewien

My HERMS rig

cwilliams108

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I had the 30 plate chiller from Duda on my rig and *for me* it didn't cool to pitching temps quick enough. So I upgraded to Duda's B3-23A 50 plate chiller which has not only 20 more plates but is about twice as long. By the numbers Duda gives, it's almost 3 times the surface area as compared to the 30. I was able to run 212F-68F without throttling the flow of wort on the first brew through it. This was important to me as even throttling the flow on the 30 I had to recirc. to hit pitching temps.

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Julohan

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I had the mashmasters chill out. Worked very well, cooled better than my current duda. I then ruined the chillout (user error). The only thing that I did not like about the chillout was the barb fittings. I would had rather had threaded fittings like my duda has now for quick-disconnects.

rmullins

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I just ordered this one the other night

http://www.rebelbrewer.com/shoppingcart/products/Chillhog-4000-Wort-Plate-Chiller.html

comes with the backflush adapter

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emjay

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I can't comment on which is best, as I've only owned one (and no doubt, most people are in the same boat), so all I can say is that my Blichmann works fantastically. Also comes with a useful mounting bracket, and was a cinch to put my quick disconnect fittings on.

I made my own back-flush hose though. It's cheaper and far more customizable that way, working in whatever configuration you want instead of just their fittings. For instance, I use a 5-foot hose with a female garden hose adapter on one end, and a quick disconnect on the other. The length and fitting configuration allows me to connect it straight to a wort port and bypass the entire water part of the chiller, while also still being able to attach it from the water-out to both the wort-in and wort-out. It's also the same hose I use to fill my HLT, so technically it was a non-cost. Although to fill the HLT, I guess many people fill it from the top without needing any fittings on the HLT side, but in that case, sticking a fitting on that hose is still much cheaper AND better than buying their 18" backflush hose.

Julohan

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Looks like a DudaDiesel