StMarcos
Well-Known Member
A couple of years ago I bought a small rotating spray ball from St. Pats. Never used it. Now, with a brewhemoth on order, I'm thinking of ways to implement the ball. St. Pats doesn't stock this particular ball anymore, and I'm wondering if maybe there was some problem with it. It is pretty small, has a 3/4''fpt connection, two slits, and one small hole pointing roughly towards the side of the fpt connection. I don't know the specs for it (pressure, gpm, etc.).
It's tough to see how it works, because if you can see it, you pretty much get sprayed with water. I have a danner model 7 mag drive pump from another hobby, and rigged it up with some 1/2'' flexible pvc through a bulkhead in the lid of a 25G megapot. The pump inlet is connected to the kettle drain. Put some water in there and plugged it in. It doesn't spin reliably - always sticks in the same spot. The water seems to hit most of the side, but not with any appreciable force. The thing is, this pump costs about $100, and I was hoping to spend not more than this for a pump for my planned cip system. I'm thinking the pump is underpowered, and that the ball might have some defect. I haven't lubed it, but didn't think I would need to as it is new. The initial plan is to have a 5G bucket under the conical with the cleaning/sanitizing solution in it, pump via flex pvc to a modified 4'' TC blanking plate on the lid with the spray ball mounted a little under it. Solution will just drain back into the bucket. So, some questions:
-Is there a submersible pump that is cheaper that will be likely to give enough pressure? Sump pump seems too bulky, and I'm not sure about it holding up with cleaning/sanitizing chemicals, and possibly leaching shaft oils into the final sanitizing rinse.
-Might it possibly be a poorly designed ball?
-Should I try lubing it to see if I can make the mag 7 work, and with what? Won't PBW clean off silicone lube? I can tell there are ball bearings in there, but don't see anyway to take the ball apart.
-Anyone have experience with using commercial spray balls in small (22G) vessels? What problems did you come up against?
Thanks!
It's tough to see how it works, because if you can see it, you pretty much get sprayed with water. I have a danner model 7 mag drive pump from another hobby, and rigged it up with some 1/2'' flexible pvc through a bulkhead in the lid of a 25G megapot. The pump inlet is connected to the kettle drain. Put some water in there and plugged it in. It doesn't spin reliably - always sticks in the same spot. The water seems to hit most of the side, but not with any appreciable force. The thing is, this pump costs about $100, and I was hoping to spend not more than this for a pump for my planned cip system. I'm thinking the pump is underpowered, and that the ball might have some defect. I haven't lubed it, but didn't think I would need to as it is new. The initial plan is to have a 5G bucket under the conical with the cleaning/sanitizing solution in it, pump via flex pvc to a modified 4'' TC blanking plate on the lid with the spray ball mounted a little under it. Solution will just drain back into the bucket. So, some questions:
-Is there a submersible pump that is cheaper that will be likely to give enough pressure? Sump pump seems too bulky, and I'm not sure about it holding up with cleaning/sanitizing chemicals, and possibly leaching shaft oils into the final sanitizing rinse.
-Might it possibly be a poorly designed ball?
-Should I try lubing it to see if I can make the mag 7 work, and with what? Won't PBW clean off silicone lube? I can tell there are ball bearings in there, but don't see anyway to take the ball apart.
-Anyone have experience with using commercial spray balls in small (22G) vessels? What problems did you come up against?
Thanks!
I just drilled a bunch of holes in it, and made a large hole at the bottom that accepts 3/4" threads. The design is really simple...any hard plastic or metal ball can be used.
