Homemade Sediment Catcher for Conical

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hoderbob

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I recently bought a Minibrew 15 gallon conical. I have my first batch fermenting now. I have already dumped some trub but was thinking that it would be more efficient, (and less wasteful) if I could fashion some kind of catch device that attaches to the 1" ball valve and let the sediment trub settle directly there. Then it would just be a matter of closing the valve, removing the device, emptying it, sanitizing it and reattaching it for more crud.

My question is, has anyone made one of these before, or do you have an idea for fabricating one? I have spent hours in Home Depot and Lowes looking for something I could make work, and don't have any real good ideas. I could use some fresh ideas.
 
Thanks for the reply. I need to keep this "closed" I want to open the ball valve when I fill the fermenter, and let the trub/sediment settle directly into the container. That's where I am stuck. Devising some type of closed, reliable setup. I want to keep the size to about a quart to reduce waste.
 
I'm not certain you can do it. Whatever container you use will have to be vented to displace the air in the container.

What you need is a balloon. :D Something that can be displaced on the outside without affecting the inside.
 
I may be wrong, but the air should displace itself through the fermenter since it is a straight line up. I was going to use my CO2 to fill the container and displace CO2 into the fermenter rather than air (with all its nasties). The extra pressure will escape through the top of the fermenter. I have seen this system on the V-vessel. They had a round PVC ball at the bottom that could be removed through a quick connect. It was custom made for the V-vessel, and I was hoping to duplicate it.
 
How about a camel water bag insert? Youd obviously need to make an adapter.

reservoir1.jpg
 
hoderbob said:
I recently bought a Minibrew 15 gallon conical. I have my first batch fermenting now. I have already dumped some trub but was thinking that it would be more efficient, (and less wasteful) if I could fashion some kind of catch device that attaches to the 1" ball valve and let the sediment trub settle directly there. Then it would just be a matter of closing the valve, removing the device, emptying it, sanitizing it and reattaching it for more crud.

My question is, has anyone made one of these before, or do you have an idea for fabricating one? I have spent hours in Home Depot and Lowes looking for something I could make work, and don't have any real good ideas. I could use some fresh ideas.
Click to expand...
Are you talking about the Collection Capsule? I thought all conicals would come with one. You'd have to be quick on the valve lever to keep from losing very much beer without one.

Wild
 
I think I can envision what you're talking about. You've got a ball valve at the very bottom of you're fermenter right?

I"d just attach a caped piece of pvc below that via male npt adapter. You would leave the ball valve open with this piece attached and at the end of my primary, just close the ball valve and remove it. Your trub and yeast would mostly be in that tube.

You can make it as large or small in diameter by using reducers to get down to your threaded connection. You would loose what ever volume that tube would hold but it would accomplish what it is I think you want.
 
I agree with Scott. In fact, today I spent a good amount of time fashioning just such a device. As I am not very good at soldering, it took me some time. Basically, came off of 1" valve with a copper male adapter reducing down to 3/4. In one version, I simply extended a 3/4 copper piece down 6" and capped it. In another version, I reduced even further down to 1/2 and inserted a 1/2 ball valve (I thought it might come in handy during cleaning). Copper was only thing I could find all the fittings for and I was concerned about copper until I realized I was just dealing with dead yeast. In any event, I will see how this works tomorrow or next day and I'll report back!
______________________
Tim
 
O.K. Reporting back. I like the device with the 2nd valve on it. Worked better and was great to clean.
________________
Tim
 
I own the 15 gallon and two 8 gallon fermenters. First, I luv these fermenters. I also, still use the glass ferementers. There seems to be almost a gallon of waste in each, including the dead yeast.

Anyways I think you are on to something, a adapter at the bottom that allows the dead yeast to collect in a container, and another valve that allows one to draw the beer from the bottom when ready to keg or bottle would save a gallon of wasted beer.

I am going to the hardware store this weekend and making an adapter.
Just need to find a container that has a threaded opening.

Thank you for the idea.
 
I can't believe i just now found this thread. I have the same want. I have designed a piece I am having machined as soon as I can afford it. I am putting an "adapter" on the bottom of my fermenter ball valve that has a CO2-in valve and a relief valve to purge any O2 before opening the fermenter ball valve. I am planning on using coke bottles (well anything with the same type of threading, such as white labs viles, small water bottles, and then larger bottles for yeast). After it is made I will post.
 

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