3 phase upgrade: advice needed

[storytyme]

I am looking to upgrade my entire system. I’m making good beer right now, but I just want to step it up a bit. I want to do this upgrade in hopefully 3 phases. I want to do this so I can fully understand each phase before putting it all together. Plus balancing the cost over a longer period of time is also a plus.

Here is my current set-up:
-10 gal igloo cooler mash tun with 3/8” ball valve
-7 gal aluminum turkey fryer pot for HLT with no ball valve
-15 gal SS kettle with ½” ball valve
I batch sparge currently and use propane.

Here are the 3 phases that I want to upgrade to:
1) Add an inline SS head chugger pump with camlock disconnects to be used with my current equipment.

2) Convert kegs into keggles for mash tun and HLT complete with sightglasses and thermometers and maybe add a HERMs system.

3) Build complete brewstand

Here is the question that I have with the first phase. How would a pump be useful with my current equipment? How would you use it? Is it practical to use it? I basically want to get used to a pump before upgrading to phase 2.
I am going to be getting most everything from brewhardware.com and I have all the costs and supplies on a spreadsheet, just need a little advice to get the ball rolling on phase 1.

Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated.

 

[Komocabo]

Honesty, I would combine #1 and #2. It is a big change, and expensive, but you could sell a lot of your equipment you won't be using to offset the cost. I went incompletely backwards. Built a stand, then got keggles, then went with a pump. This took several months, and I think it is good to do one thing at a time to really understand your equipment. After all of that, I got a second pump. Then a few months later I got a plate chiller and converted to NG for fuel. I love my set up, and I'm glad I did it one thing at a time. (Allows for those exciting moments of opening a box!)

I don't know if that helped, but that's what I did. Next for me is a RIMS or HERMS set up... not sure which I want to I'm holding off until I find what I want.

Also, Brewhardware is awesome. Bobby is really helpful. I asked a lot of little, annoying questions and he was helpful the whole time.

Cheers

 

[storytyme]

Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated.

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

 

[Komocabo]

You can use a pump for:

-Transferring strike water from HLT TO MT
-Transferring running from MT to BK
-Transferring a sparge water from HLT to MT
-Transferring wort from BK to Fermenter
-blood transfusions
-Magical unicorn rides

The last two are long shots, but I've seen it done.

Really though, any time you move liquid from one place to another on the hot side of your brewery. Never use with fermented beer, of course.

If you are using gravity at the moment you won't need a pump.

Are you going to build a single-tier stand, two-tier, or 3-tier stand? Mine is single, hence 2 pumps. If I do another stand, I would consider a two-tier.

Cheers

 

[storytyme]

I was thinking single tier with one pump fitted with camlocks quick disconnects. Why would you go two tier? What vessels are on what tiers?

 

[Komocabo]

No on bottom, MT and HLT ON top tier. Only reason would be so I could use gravity to move wort from the MT to BK when sparging. Probably wouldn't need 2 pumps. Basically it would save about $200 in in parts (pump, camlocks, hose, valve, 90°elbow, etc.)

Don't get me wrong. I love my stand. It was my first welding project. (I'm a grinder, not a welder apparently! ) I especially love it now that it's all set up (lacking a RIMS or HERMS set up, but still making great beer).

In fact, my IPA just won second place! Whoot.

Here's a little beer porn for ya

View attachment 1417888651285.jpg

 

[storytyme]

Nice rig. That is what I was thinking, except a single pump. On your BK the port that is midway up is that used for whirl pooling or just to bring the wort into the kettle? I was going to go digital thermometers. All the hardware from homebrewhardware.com? Thanks for the pic.

 

[Komocabo]

I use it for whirlpooling and transferring wort when sparging. I tie an old hop sack to the inside to catch any grain particles. After 8 or 9 gallons are in the kettle, I take it (bag) off and let the rest collect until my I hit my target boil volume.

I got a lot of parts from bargainfittings.com initially (thermometers, several bulkhead and valves). Then I found brewhardware. Both are great vendors. Quality products, comparable prices, excellent customer service from both companies. Bargainfittings has cheaper shipping, but brewhardware has a better selection, with pumps, chillers and such. Again, both are great places to shop. One thing I'll add: I have heard that not all camlocks are compatible. I have bought all of mine from Brewhardware just to avoid that issue.

 

[ChrisfromAbby]

I'd second the reverse order on your upgrade.

I built my stand in the spring, and just kept brewing my usual way for a while. I picked up a pump and converted a keg to a MLT in the summer and started using the new pump for transfers from the HLT to the MT and sparging. Only just this month have I finally upgraded to a second pump and camlocks (after selling some other stuff off to pay for it all!)

Chris

 

[storytyme]

I searched a ton for stands and the info can get a bit overwhelming. What is some sound advice going forward as far as dimensions, things to be aware of, etc.?

 

[Komocabo]

Mine is 5' long, 16" wide, 22" tall. Casters make it 24" tall. It is important to have enough space between all of the vessels. I have 6" between each. I can see about finding the designs and send them to you. If you're interested. Just PM me.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

I have to admit that when I saw the thread title I thought you were a super hard core electric brewer moving to a 3-phase electric system. Something like what brewmation builds for commercial breweries.

 

[storytyme]

nope. just a little guy addicted to this hobby....

 

[OleGoatBrewing]

I pretty much had your exact setup and I'm in the process of upgrading. Here is my thread to build a single tier / one pump stand. The only thing is I changed is my HLT is in the center position now. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f253/single-tier-one-pump-system-494323/

I find this setup works good for me and it will allow to build into an electric HERMS down the road.

If I had to do it all over again I would go to a three tier gravity system first. Get some brews done with that method, be sure all my connections and cam locks were installed then incorporate my pump, plate chiller and single tier stand. Also - My HLT is actually a 10 gal turkey fryer that center keg turned into a fermentation vessel.

 

[storytyme]

I pretty much had your exact setup and I'm in the process of upgrading. Here is my thread to build a single tier / one pump stand. The only thing is I changed is my HLT is in the center position now. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f253/single-tier-one-pump-system-494323/

I find this setup works good for me and it will allow to build into an electric HERMS down the road.

If I had to do it all over again I would go to a three tier gravity system first. Get some brews done with that method, be sure all my connections and cam locks were installed then incorporate my pump, plate chiller and single tier stand. Also - My HLT is actually a 10 gal turkey fryer that center keg turned into a fermentation vessel.

Nice setup. Is the ball valve on the cooler 1/2". Just concerned about flow rate if it was less.

 

[AleForce1]

I'd recommend #3 first if you want to add a pump that way you have a place to mount & store the pump. The other plus to a stand is that is takes away having to set up your equipment since it is already sitting on it.

 

[OleGoatBrewing]

Nice setup. Is the ball valve on the cooler 1/2". Just concerned about flow rate if it was less.

Thanks! Yes...entire system is on 1/2" camlocks