BK_BREWERY
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I wanted to start a new thread about pumps since the “new replacement for march pump” thread is now going on 50 pages and is merely a battle (sometimes contentious).
I really feel for some larger batch brewers (such as myself) the March 809 is underpowered, same with the chugger pump. The little giant or iwaki pumps are nice but both aren’t food grade, and the iwakis are hard to find with the high temp rating. The LG pumps do have the run dry capability which is seen as a big plus in favor of those pumps. However they do that with a carbon bushing which WILL WEAR and introduce carbon and others compounds into your beer. I don’t know what the bushings are made out of but I am near positive they are not pure carbon and include binders and other compounds (graphite?) I wouldn’t want in my brews. So the battle for me was between the Little Giant 3-MD-HC and a built March BC-3CP-MD.
Previously the question was asked does March make a pump similar to the LG 3-MD-HC but with food grade materials? From that previous pump thread is where I saw the parts for this type of pump from walteratmarchpump where he offered the following.
Well I went for it and assembled 2 of these pumps and I am extremely happy with them. They will take a little work on your end as they are not an off the shelf product yet (hint march, and distributors *see note below), but here is what you need to do. I bought 2 used pumps off of ebay, you can buy either the BC-3CP-MD or AC-3CP-MD as they are basically the same thing.
Now comes the “hard part” you need to find a March distributor near you or online and order the parts listed above. I will say I did contact a March pump place in new jersey on ebay and they basically bit my head off and told me that they couldn’t help me and told me to buy an 809 or their new pump “March AC-5B-MD 115 Nano Brew Pump” which is $299 and the same exact thing I am trying to build except the next series higher. So from personal experience I would advise not to do business there. So I found a distributor right down the street from my place and called them and ordered the parts listed above for the wet end of the pump. The parts came later that week, and total cost was $55 per set so $110 total. Then just remove the old wet end on your used pumps and replace with all your new parts. One of my motors came with a cord, the other did not so I had to wire one of those on, which was not hard at all. I think if you buy them brand new they do not include cords just pigtails, either way wiring a power cord is not rocket science. So total cost of 2 pumps was ~$248 or $124 per pump. That’s almost the same as an 809 brand new, and with the brand new wet ends these pumps look brand new as well.
*Note: I think Tesco pumps are going to start selling these MARCH AC-3B-MD pumps with the food grade materials, brand new for around $165.
Now for the performance comparison:
The flow of this March pump is visually only slightly less than the LG 3-MD-HC (borrowed a friends), by direct comparison by whirl pooling in the keggle with my IC, cooling time 205F to 70F was the same between both (the 809 took roughly 5 min longer). The March pump is actually a little quieter than the LG pump. In a race I did between an 809, my BC-3CP-MD, and the LG 3-MD-HC, the LG did have a slightly higher flow rate as it filled my keggles to overflow at 85 seconds (which is slightly slower than their 12.5 GPM rating @zero feet head). The March BC-3CP-MD came in at 94 seconds to overflow (which is actually right on their listed 10GPM @ zero head) (the 809 was only about just over half way full when the other 2 overflowed so I didn’t do final time it was well over 2 min). The LG does have the run dry capability, but according to walter if you really need that capability a carbon bushing can be purchased for the March pump heads as well. Also look at the price even if I wasn’t paying attention and ran the March pump dry I could completely replace the front wet end for $55 making it STILL cheaper than the cheapest LG 3 ($208) I could find (so I think the run dry capability is a wash). Both motors are almost identical including ball bearings which are very quiet so I think that’s a wash as well, as far as built to last ruggedness. (obviously time will tell durability)
So ultimately why I think the March BC/AC-3CP-MD pump should be purchased over the LG pump even though its slightly less performance wise. (You can also look at the other thread pages 48-49)
Lastly I would like to say I have no ties to any pump manufacturers and this post is based on my experience and opinion. I am a mechanical engineer by day so I do have a technical background, and have been brewing for 4 years with over 60 batches now, so not a newbie.
Let the assured craziness begin………….
I really feel for some larger batch brewers (such as myself) the March 809 is underpowered, same with the chugger pump. The little giant or iwaki pumps are nice but both aren’t food grade, and the iwakis are hard to find with the high temp rating. The LG pumps do have the run dry capability which is seen as a big plus in favor of those pumps. However they do that with a carbon bushing which WILL WEAR and introduce carbon and others compounds into your beer. I don’t know what the bushings are made out of but I am near positive they are not pure carbon and include binders and other compounds (graphite?) I wouldn’t want in my brews. So the battle for me was between the Little Giant 3-MD-HC and a built March BC-3CP-MD.
Previously the question was asked does March make a pump similar to the LG 3-MD-HC but with food grade materials? From that previous pump thread is where I saw the parts for this type of pump from walteratmarchpump where he offered the following.
Well I went for it and assembled 2 of these pumps and I am extremely happy with them. They will take a little work on your end as they are not an off the shelf product yet (hint march, and distributors *see note below), but here is what you need to do. I bought 2 used pumps off of ebay, you can buy either the BC-3CP-MD or AC-3CP-MD as they are basically the same thing.
So other than the cord and impeller magnets they are identical and there are a bunch available as these are used in the marine and aquatics applications. So they are everywhere, it was relatively easy to find a used pump. I bought both of my pumps including shipping for ~$138 total.
Now comes the “hard part” you need to find a March distributor near you or online and order the parts listed above. I will say I did contact a March pump place in new jersey on ebay and they basically bit my head off and told me that they couldn’t help me and told me to buy an 809 or their new pump “March AC-5B-MD 115 Nano Brew Pump” which is $299 and the same exact thing I am trying to build except the next series higher. So from personal experience I would advise not to do business there. So I found a distributor right down the street from my place and called them and ordered the parts listed above for the wet end of the pump. The parts came later that week, and total cost was $55 per set so $110 total. Then just remove the old wet end on your used pumps and replace with all your new parts. One of my motors came with a cord, the other did not so I had to wire one of those on, which was not hard at all. I think if you buy them brand new they do not include cords just pigtails, either way wiring a power cord is not rocket science. So total cost of 2 pumps was ~$248 or $124 per pump. That’s almost the same as an 809 brand new, and with the brand new wet ends these pumps look brand new as well.
*Note: I think Tesco pumps are going to start selling these MARCH AC-3B-MD pumps with the food grade materials, brand new for around $165.
Now for the performance comparison:
The flow of this March pump is visually only slightly less than the LG 3-MD-HC (borrowed a friends), by direct comparison by whirl pooling in the keggle with my IC, cooling time 205F to 70F was the same between both (the 809 took roughly 5 min longer). The March pump is actually a little quieter than the LG pump. In a race I did between an 809, my BC-3CP-MD, and the LG 3-MD-HC, the LG did have a slightly higher flow rate as it filled my keggles to overflow at 85 seconds (which is slightly slower than their 12.5 GPM rating @zero feet head). The March BC-3CP-MD came in at 94 seconds to overflow (which is actually right on their listed 10GPM @ zero head) (the 809 was only about just over half way full when the other 2 overflowed so I didn’t do final time it was well over 2 min). The LG does have the run dry capability, but according to walter if you really need that capability a carbon bushing can be purchased for the March pump heads as well. Also look at the price even if I wasn’t paying attention and ran the March pump dry I could completely replace the front wet end for $55 making it STILL cheaper than the cheapest LG 3 ($208) I could find (so I think the run dry capability is a wash). Both motors are almost identical including ball bearings which are very quiet so I think that’s a wash as well, as far as built to last ruggedness. (obviously time will tell durability)
So ultimately why I think the March BC/AC-3CP-MD pump should be purchased over the LG pump even though its slightly less performance wise. (You can also look at the other thread pages 48-49)
- They both blow away the 809 (and used you can build a BC-3 as cheap)
- Cost (same as 809, and even brand new the BC-3 is cheaper than the LG)
- Rated for higher temps than the LG
- Food grade materials for wet end, which the LG is not listed as
- MADE IN THE U.S.A , the LG is not (this SHOULD BE a big one IMO)
- Customer Service/Support (Walter gave us his direct phone line at March and he picked up!)
Lastly I would like to say I have no ties to any pump manufacturers and this post is based on my experience and opinion. I am a mechanical engineer by day so I do have a technical background, and have been brewing for 4 years with over 60 batches now, so not a newbie.
Let the assured craziness begin………….
), they quoted me 
