I was thinking about getting this pump to get my cold break under control using it for whirlpooling inside the IC (e.g. like here). I have a few questions though:
- What's the best tubing to use for boiling wort and where to get it cheap?
- The camlocks are 1/2" right? I like the idea of having quick connect/disconnect abilities.
- Is the second valve at the pump output really necessary? Is it to control the flow instead of using less volts?
Thanks so much!
BargainFittings.com has all of the stuff. You can also get stuff from BrewersHardware.com too. I've been getting my stuff from Wayne (BF) for over a year now, fittings and valves, that is. Just personal preference.
Yeah, 1/2" silicone tubing, 1/2" cam-groove/camlock fittings. I spent about $100 on fittings and the valve. I upgraded multiple hoses to have the QD fittings. Two short (kettle to pump, pump to CFC) and one long (CFC to fermenter). I use the long one to transfer too.
Sure you can throttle the voltage down. I wanted the valve for that, though. Haven't had many issues with cavitation or bubbles, personally.
I got the type B camlocks and stretched the silicone tubing over them. Highest flow, no clamps needed.
http://www.bargainfittings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=51_54&product_id=140
Those make up your hose ends, how ever many hoses you want, 2 type B's for each hose. Then you get a type A for either side of the pump (unless you get a valve, then it's type A on input, valve screws onto pump output, type F on output of valve).
So say 3 hoses, no valve on the pump, you're looking at 6 type B camlocks for hoses, 2 type B fittings for pump, and then type B's on the ends of whatever you want to transfer into/out of (ie. my CFC has a type B on either end.)