Definitive CIP pump thread

Been reading a lot about CIP balls and pumps and there doesn't seem to be any consensus around a pump that will do the job for a reasonable price. So...post which pump you are using, where you got it, and what you paid for it. Let's find the best value pump for the job.

Here is what I have used for over a year. It has worked very well for me and cleans my Brewhemoth completely.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/900W-1-HP-S...921?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5f0218a1
It is a 1 HP dirty water pump.

Do you know the gal/hr on that pump?

62 gpm so 3720 per hour.

Hmm, I've been looking at all those eBay sump pumps. The max pressure on them is really low though. Do you get a high pressure jet out of it?

I've been taking a look at this one:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200578545_200578545

It's not submersible unfortunately, but it is self priming with 12 ft. of suction. Other downside is 12V at 10A, which is not a cheap power supply.

Has anyone had problems with the grease coming out of the bearings of sump pumps. They have dynamic seals which can leak grease, I just don't know if its common or a problem.

kerklein2 said:

Hmm, I've been looking at all those eBay sump pumps. The max pressure on them is really low though. Do you get a high pressure jet out of it?

I've been taking a look at this one:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200578545_200578545

It's not submersible unfortunately, but it is self priming with 12 ft. of suction. Other downside is 12V at 10A, which is not a cheap power supply.

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This pump is only 3 home, which is not enough to operate the spay balls.

fork said:

Has anyone had problems with the grease coming out of the bearings of sump pumps. They have dynamic seals which can leak grease, I just don't know if its common or a problem.

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I have not had an issue and have used mine a lot for about two years. Some are advertised as oil free.

cfrazier77 said:

I have not had an issue and have used mine a lot for about two years. Some are advertised as oil free.

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Does a CIP ball need more pressure than a March pump can provide?

cfrazier77 said:

This pump is only 3 home, which is not enough to operate the spay balls.

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What do you mean by "3 home"?

bazowie said:

Does a CIP ball need more pressure than a March pump can provide?

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Absolutely. The brewer's hardware balls recommend 40-60PSI.

kerklein2 said:

Absolutely. The brewer's hardware balls recommend 40-60PSI.

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What does that calc to in GPH?

bazowie said:

What does that calc to in GPH?

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That depends on a lot of factors.

kerklein2 said:

That depends on a lot of factors.

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Then how does a person know what to use for a pump to shoot cleaner thru the CIP?

bazowie said:

Then how does a person know what to use for a pump to shoot cleaner thru the CIP?

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Flow rate vs. pressure drop is a curve that is unique for every pump. However, output pressure, and pressure drop are two different things. This image is a decent illustration:

Damn didnt know that this was going to involve math and charts and what have you, I'm out.

kerklein2 said:

What do you mean by "3 home"?

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Sorry, auto spell on my phone, 3 gpm.

bazowie said:

Damn didnt know that this was going to involve math and charts and what have you, I'm out.

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Haha. It doesn't have to, I was just trying to give a little background on how pumps work. Really, you just need to check the specs of a pump and match them up with the specs of your spray ball. Most other spray balls besides BH list a flow rate AND a pressure. Higher the pressure you give it, the less flow is needed and vice versa.

cfrazier77 said:

Sorry, auto spell on my phone, 3 gpm.

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Ah. It's 3 gpm at 60psi though. Isn't the high pressure more important to spin these balls up and get a strong jet?

kerklein2 said:

Ah. It's 3 gpm at 60psi though. Isn't the high pressure more important to spin these balls up and get a strong jet?

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No, there has to be enough volume to make it spin and clean properly. On the Brewhemoth CIP thread this type of pump has been discussed and someone tried it. It did not produce enough volume to work.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/br...ce-cip-systems-299346/index2.html#post4941698

cfrazier77 said:

No, there has to be enough volume to make it spin and clean properly. On the Brewhemoth CIP thread this type of pump has been discussed and someone tried it. It did not produce enough volume to work.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/br...ce-cip-systems-299346/index2.html#post4941698

Click to expand...

Interesting. Just took a look at that pump and it is much lower volume than the one I linked. 0.67gpm at 40psi. The one I linked is 3gpm at 60psi.

Regardless, I'd rather use a submersible 110V pump than that one anyway, I'm just wary because none of them are rated up to the high pressure required by the spray balls. Pretty much why I started this thread.

I have a Chinese pump in use for more than ten years, purchased on line.
My setup uses non rotating spray balls.
Not a good pump if used with cheep low pressure hoses in case of a blockage.
The pressure I tested got close to 65 psi.

The only non stainless part inside the pump housing was a brass screw I replaced with stain less.

Old post #11
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/cip-pump-worthy-235847/

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

I use a mcmaster spray ball with my march pump, works perfect!