Does any one use there CFC double duty to maintain mash temps as well as cool?
I'm in the middle of rebuilding my little system. Here is the progression of what I've done so far and what I'm thinking:
So, here is what I'm thinking: Why not use the CFC as a HERMS as well as a chiller? I'm thinking of reusing the RIMS tube as the heat source for the CFC. The RIMS has a 5500 watt element in it so I'd rewire it for 240v. Id recirculate a small amount of heating water for the RIMS tube in my old dusty kettle from extract days.
I can't help but think I'm just over complicating things but I also think there could be some advantages here. I'm wondering if with the 240v RIMS tube as the heat source through the CFC if I could ramp temps quicker than with either a standard HERMS/HLT or with my 120v RIMS directly inline with the wort? I think back to brewhardware bobby's youtube video showing him using a 5500 watt RIMS tube for on demand sparge water.
I'll also have the benefit of knowing that I wont scorch my wort, not that I have ever scorched my wort with my 120v RIMS. (but there was always the possibility) Given that I haven't had scorching issues this only matters if my first assumption that ramping will be quicker turns out to be true.
Also, my RIMS tube is an old school DIY screwed together out of a bunch of SS pipe fittings, if I'm only ever running water through it now I don't have to worry about taking it apart and cleaning it any more.
Thoughts?
For reference:
CFC: https://www.zchillers.com/product/large-zchiller/
Bobby's on demand sparge water: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AGUOCeM-WU&t=160s[/ame]
I'm in the middle of rebuilding my little system. Here is the progression of what I've done so far and what I'm thinking:
- I had been using a 1,375 watt RIMS tube to control my mash
- I just picked up one of these fancy all copper ZChiller's with the convoluted inner tube (counter flow chiller) because I was tired of my DIY immersion chiller
- I have a handful of these cheap DC tan pumps sitting around.. so extra pumps
- I've already just installed 240v service in the garage because I'm working on an electric kettle
So, here is what I'm thinking: Why not use the CFC as a HERMS as well as a chiller? I'm thinking of reusing the RIMS tube as the heat source for the CFC. The RIMS has a 5500 watt element in it so I'd rewire it for 240v. Id recirculate a small amount of heating water for the RIMS tube in my old dusty kettle from extract days.
I can't help but think I'm just over complicating things but I also think there could be some advantages here. I'm wondering if with the 240v RIMS tube as the heat source through the CFC if I could ramp temps quicker than with either a standard HERMS/HLT or with my 120v RIMS directly inline with the wort? I think back to brewhardware bobby's youtube video showing him using a 5500 watt RIMS tube for on demand sparge water.
I'll also have the benefit of knowing that I wont scorch my wort, not that I have ever scorched my wort with my 120v RIMS. (but there was always the possibility) Given that I haven't had scorching issues this only matters if my first assumption that ramping will be quicker turns out to be true.
Also, my RIMS tube is an old school DIY screwed together out of a bunch of SS pipe fittings, if I'm only ever running water through it now I don't have to worry about taking it apart and cleaning it any more.
Thoughts?
For reference:
CFC: https://www.zchillers.com/product/large-zchiller/
Bobby's on demand sparge water: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AGUOCeM-WU&t=160s[/ame]