3-Way Ball Valves?

[JayberQue]

I have been planning a single tier RIMS build and while drawing up my flow diagrams i realized that with what i want to do i might be better off using a few 3-way ball valves instead of twice as many standard ball valves and tees. Anyone else use these are there any pros/cons i should consider to either setup?

here are two that i have been considering

http://www.amazon.com/T-Type-3-Way-Stainless-Female-SUS304/dp/B0075DNEY4

http://www.homebrewing.org/Blichmann-3-way-Ball-Valve_p_2092.html

 

[baafowin]

I've never used them, but I can't see a problem IF the off position is in between the two on positions. Otherwise you would have to get the valve far enough away from your kettle to be able to spin it 360 degrees (if not, you may have to turn the un-intended output on to get to the intended output). If the off position is in between though, you can always return to center and it wouldn't be a problem.

 

[brandolomite]

I use two three way valves on my wort pump. The bottom one directs either the wort from MLT or BK to inlet of pump and the top one directs to the heat exchanger or back to the MLT or BK. They work fine but just double check which way your valves are going before you turn on the pump. Once I started the pump for mash recirculation and had the top valve in the wrong position. I hadn't yet connected the heat exchanger hose and whoops... sticky mess on my shoes.

 

[outside92129]

I have one from duda diesel, works well. In fact it's the same seller as the amazon one you have listed, but if you buy it direct from them they save a few bucks on amazon fees and you get the difference:
http://www.dudadiesel.com/choose_item.php?id=3wbv050

 

[day_trippr]

Wow - a plethora of valves and fittings!

So can you actually shut off those three-way valves so nothing flows through them?

Cheers!

 

[Dupell13]

No, two ports are always open.

 

[ikonis]

CHEEP
http://www.directmaterial.com/3_Way_Stainless_Steel_Ball_Valves_Type_L_T_w_MP_p/dcvbs3l-fslash-t.htm

Edit:
Guess I should follow that up
I use them all over my rig. Beats turning 2+ valves when I want to direct flow around.

I use Type-L ones. Less chance of human error. Type-T would be great for CIP though.

Edit #2:
Wow, I just pasted my bookmark for them. Price went up since I bought them... they were $25 at some point in time.

 

[worstbrewing]

CHEEP
http://www.directmaterial.com/3_Way_Stainless_Steel_Ball_Valves_Type_L_T_w_MP_p/dcvbs3l-fslash-t.htm

Edit:
Guess I should follow that up
I use them all over my rig. Beats turning 2+ valves when I want to direct flow around.

I use Type-L ones. Less chance of human error. Type-T would be great for CIP though.

Edit #2:
Wow, I just pasted my bookmark for them. Price went up since I bought them... they were $25 at some point in time.

Got any pics of your setup? I've been debating this route too and have been throwing around L or T types but haven't seen any L type in action

 

[ikonis]

Don't have uploaded currently. When I get home, I'll post some

 

[JayberQue]

I use two three way valves on my wort pump. The bottom one directs either the wort from MLT or BK to inlet of pump and the top one directs to the heat exchanger or back to the MLT or BK. They work fine but just double check which way your valves are going before you turn on the pump. Once I started the pump for mash recirculation and had the top valve in the wrong position. I hadn't yet connected the heat exchanger hose and whoops... sticky mess on my shoes.

how well does that pump head support all that weight? i was thinking about piping the 3-way valves between my kettles like a long manifold attached to the brew stand and then down to the pumps.

something like this

but now i am thinking about building the same type of manifold acrosss the bottom with a cross over between the two i could pump anything anywhere

i guess i didnt include the out from pump one too the fermenter on that pic, i am planning on whirlpool/chilling/settle, then pump through the trub filter in to the fermenter

 

[brandolomite]

how well does that pump head support all that weight?

It holds the weight just fine.

 

[worstbrewing]

Don't have uploaded currently. When I get home, I'll post some

Don't mean to be a pest, but just curious if you had a chance to upload those pics I found your build thread but noticed they weren't working in there, so I figured I'd ask. Cheers!