ScubaSteve
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- Joined
- May 21, 2007
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So-
I'm in the middle of building my single-tier HERMS (can also do direct fire recirc). This is how all 3 of my kegs look, with available couplings.
The coupler with the blue ball valve is 1/2", and the other 2 to the right are 1/4".
I plan on using 1/2" brass QD's from McMaster with silicone tubing.
My questions:
Am I going to be able to effectively use the 1/4" couplings? I think it might restrict the flow significantly and even clog with hops/coldbreak if I am trying to do a recirculating whirlpool setup in the BK. I want to use the 1/2" outlet to go to the pump, then put a "whirlpool" return tube on the inside of the BK that is curved. Do you think the march pump will have enough pressure through a 1/4" opening to even create an adequate whirlpool?
For those of you with rigs, what would be the optimal setup for fittings/sight glass/therms? I'd like to have at least a sight glass in the HLT and BK. I think I may use a hand therm to save $$$, so that would still leave an available port. There are so many possible configs, it's crazy. Do you trust your dial therms? I've heard that digital therms can be just as shady.
I think it would be cool to have the HERMS coil in the HLT and use the 1/4" couplers for an in/out with a small ball valve (silver/black valve in pic) for shutoff, then a 1/4"MPT to 1/2"FPT coupler, then a male QD. Then it's just snap on/off when it comes time to recirc.
Any ideas/ words of wisdom?
I'm in the middle of building my single-tier HERMS (can also do direct fire recirc). This is how all 3 of my kegs look, with available couplings.
The coupler with the blue ball valve is 1/2", and the other 2 to the right are 1/4".
I plan on using 1/2" brass QD's from McMaster with silicone tubing.
My questions:
Am I going to be able to effectively use the 1/4" couplings? I think it might restrict the flow significantly and even clog with hops/coldbreak if I am trying to do a recirculating whirlpool setup in the BK. I want to use the 1/2" outlet to go to the pump, then put a "whirlpool" return tube on the inside of the BK that is curved. Do you think the march pump will have enough pressure through a 1/4" opening to even create an adequate whirlpool?
For those of you with rigs, what would be the optimal setup for fittings/sight glass/therms? I'd like to have at least a sight glass in the HLT and BK. I think I may use a hand therm to save $$$, so that would still leave an available port. There are so many possible configs, it's crazy. Do you trust your dial therms? I've heard that digital therms can be just as shady.
I think it would be cool to have the HERMS coil in the HLT and use the 1/4" couplers for an in/out with a small ball valve (silver/black valve in pic) for shutoff, then a 1/4"MPT to 1/2"FPT coupler, then a male QD. Then it's just snap on/off when it comes time to recirc.
Any ideas/ words of wisdom?