BigPatBrewer

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I have been reading through a lot of the threads on different pumps but I am still having trouble deciding which pump to get. There seems to be reviews on each type but usually they represent a unique view (ex. residue inside pump but pump hasn't been cleaned in years, manufacturing problem but pump is from early run). They all seem to be pretty close in price. Is there anyone who has used all 3 or have some info that would shift me one way or another? Thanks in advance for any advice or info. Cheers!

p.s. I will mainly be using the pump for recirculating through a jamil-style chiller for now and just transferring from vessel to vessel.

EDIT:I guess it would also help to say which pumps I am looking at haha.

March 809
Chugger Pump
Little Giant 3-MD-MT-HC

FSR402

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I have 2 809's and never have a problem with them

I hear good things about the LG's

I hear mixed reviews of the Chuggers.

I think any of them would work.

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PacificNWBrewer

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I have the same question as BigPatBrewer. I'm looking to make an app electric Kal clone and need 2 pumps to complete. I can't afford the $395 price tags for 1 SS march ($800 for 2) but I want something reliable and efficient. Chugger seems to be less expensive but the old adage, cheap you pay, cheap you keeps ringing in my ears. Thoughts?

tealio

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Setup, usage patterns, and additional added hardware is almost as critical as your pump. You will have a hell of a brew day if you aren't setup right. My feedback would be you will be happy with any pump as long as you practice usage, mounting it on your stand and tweak it before brew day. I rotated the head on my pump, added a valve directly to the output, wired up a dual receptacle mobile power pole among other things just to make the brew day a little easier.

I went with a basic march 809 and the only think I could dream of is MORE POWER! You can always restrict the flow on the out, but you can't add more after the fact. I can't complain though, I just used my single march pump to take 24 gallons of boiling wort straight through my plate chiller and into 4 carboys in about 20 min. Used a hella ice here in Texas, but the output was 45F.

lewybrewing

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Go with the March pump. Better company and better products than the rest.

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BNArmy Corporal

LKABrewer

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I wrestled with the same decision about 6 months ago. I went with the March pump, and have not regretted the decision.

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Huaco

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Chugger Center inlet. Only $10 more each.

cashbrewing

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I recently built a system for a friend and used the center inlet ss chugger, flows good but the heat from the burners would make the thermal protection kill the pump, I have LG's on my system configured exactly the same and never had a issue. I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for, and with chugger I now know that is the case. Chugger= decent pump for the price but you gotta keep them as far away from heat as possible.

Schumed

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I'm not impressed with my chugger. Kind of slow...about same speed I was getting using gravity

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DubBrew

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I have a chugger ss head and a march hf. Love the march, the chugger had been replaced several times due to defect so I've had bad experiences with them.

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