55 gallon level sight glass - ideas?

Pangea · 11-04-2009, 09:08 PM

My 55 gallon (1.5bbl) system is taking shape and I'm looking for a way to measure the amount taken from the HLT to the mash tun. I was thinking about a sight glass in the HLT, but cant find anything that large. Anyone got any leads or methods to make something that big? I am leaning towards just stretching a clear tubing from the drain to the top and marking it with gallon marks.

Boerderij_Kabouter · 11-04-2009, 09:13 PM

A tubing barb elbow out the side and silicon tubing run up the side of the keg???

**HBHoss** · 11-04-2009, 09:51 PM

Yup, what he said. I have one for my 15 gallon Sanke fermenter. Although right now it's missing a part.

Pangea · 11-04-2009, 09:55 PM

Yeah, I have a piece of tubing on my keggle HLT too. I'm looking for something more permanent for a larger vessel. This drum level sight glass is close, but only 22" long (intended for drum laying horizontally). I'll need it to be longer than that for my 55 gallon system. If this was longer I'd buy it now.

Pangea · 11-05-2009, 07:08 PM

After giving it some thought, I just went ahead and bough the above pictured sight glass. I realized I can still use it without it covering the whole height (whole volume) of the HLT. See, for mashing, I know I'll need a specific volume of water, for my grain to water ratio. My batches will need roughly 35gallons strike water, so the sight glass will only need to cover that range. I fill the HLT to 35 gallons, heat to temp, then add to mash when ready. After taking the strike water, the HLT will be empty, so I'd have to fill up again and re-heat for the sparge, again to whatever volume I need. So this sight glass can cover basically the top 2/3 of the barrel volume and I'll be good. Anyone see any flaws in my logic? I hope not cause I already ordered the sucker!

Thanks... Pangea

1nitrous · 11-06-2009, 05:30 AM

any pics of your 55 gallon setup? or any 55 gallon setups, I want to brew that big but I need Ideas!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Boar Beer** · 11-06-2009, 12:33 PM

Pangea
I will be needing a sight glass for my rig so please post your end results
thanks

OMJ · 11-06-2009, 12:41 PM

Pangea hard to tell by looking at it but could you use a compression fitting an attach two of the site glasses you ordered together making 1 big one?

**JVD_X** · 11-06-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pangea

My 55 gallon (1.5bbl) system is taking shape and I'm looking for a way to measure the amount taken from the HLT to the mash tun. I was thinking about a sight glass in the HLT, but cant find anything that large. Anyone got any leads or methods to make something that big? I am leaning towards just stretching a clear tubing from the drain to the top and marking it with gallon marks.

Just join two shorter pieces using a union.

**Bobby_M** · 11-06-2009, 12:48 PM

I think the idea of silicone tubing stretched between two elbow/bulkheads is a fine idea. You can also get polycarbonate in up to 8' lengths. If you really want glass, 1/2" compression fitting does well with 12.7mm SIMAX tubing if you replace the metal ferrule with about 3 silicone orings.