AG Monster

[Lil' Sparky]

Looking good. You've definately put some time into that bad boy.

FYI, when you want to include an image in your post, you can use the following format with the spaces removed. It takes the work out of seeing the pics you've put on photobucket.

[ img ]URL[ /img ]

 

[natehilde]

Looking good. You've definately put some time into that bad boy.

FYI, when you want to include an image in your post, you can use the following format with the spaces removed. It takes the work out of seeing the pics you've put on photobucket.

[ img ]URL[ /img ]

Thanks for the compliment and the computer tutorial. I wondered how the hell people did that.

 

[stevehaun]

Your work is very neat. However, I see several problems. March pumps are not self-priming. The pumps should be mounted as low as possible, i.e., about 2-3 feet lower. The other problem with your pump location is that they are way too close to your burners. One other potential problems is that your flow may be quite limited with 3/8" ID tubing, especially on the input side of the pump.

 

[natehilde]

Your work is very neat. However, I see several problems. March pumps are not self-priming. The pumps should be mounted as low as possible, i.e., about 2-3 feet lower. The other problem with your pump location is that they are way too close to your burners. One other potential problems is that your flow may be quite limited with 3/8" ID tubing, especially on the input side of the pump.

Thank you for your input. I realize that any centrifugal pump is not going to be self-priming. I decided on this location for the pumps as modeled after the more beer brew sculpture. I personally have not done the math to determine the Net Positive Suction Head available versus the Net Positive Suction Head required. This is for no other reason than that I have not been able to find the technical data for the pumps. I believe that the only time that I may encounter a problem with inlet flowrate is when pumping at the bottom of a vessel. I agree that the pumps are probably mounted too close to the burners, and I am working on pump and burner heat shields. If you have any recommended solutions, I am all ears/eyes.
Thanks again.

 

[jas0420]

Cool looking setup! I just got my "Brewflex" system far enough along this past weekend to actually give it a whirl and it was my first time to use a pump in this manner. I was more than a little surprised at how tricky it was to prime. I mounted mine roughly 1 foot below my lowest kettle, and it was definitely a chore to prime from that level (easy going from the upper level tho).

I ordered another stainless tee fitting yesterday that I'm going to come back in and mount just above the "out" port on the pump. I'll hang a valve off of it to open up and let air bleed out to prime and see if that makes it any easier... I've read a few references that indicate that helps, but haven't tried it yet so take that suggestion with a grain of salt!

Good luck!

 

[marosell]

in that last picture, from left to right, what are the names of each keggle-device? i know MLT stands for mash lauder tun, but other then that... completely lost.

looks great though!

 

[Lil' Sparky]

I'm going to guess that from left to right you've got your hot liquor tank (HLT) which feeds hot sparge water to the MLT in the middle, out of which flows the sugary wort to the boil kettle on the right.

 

[propizza]

then why is there a re-circulation mechinism worked up with the tank on the right? that led me to believe that was the mash tun, but it didnt make sense being on the right

 

[natehilde]

The line on the far right just allows me to run off from the MLT to the BK while sparging at the same time. That's all it is.

I just wanted to give a big thanks to stevehaun for the word of advice on pump location. I did some theory-to-practice on the pumps last night. Sure enough, I lost suction at the keg outlet level. There is not enough suction head for the march 809 to operate at the current location. I am going to have to order more tubing and relocate the pumps to much lower on the stand. It is a bummer that I will have to re-work all of that, but I guess it is better to find out now. Additionally, this also solves the heat shield problem!! Two steps forward, one step back.

I'm used to it, I'm in the NAVY!!
HOOYAH!!!

 

[Lil' Sparky]

So is all you shiny SS tubing down the tube then?

 

[Bobby_M]

Too bad you already have all those 3/8" fittings because you'll probably want to upgrade to 1/2" OD tubing. I was pretty surprised how low the flow rate of this pump is and I'm using 1/2" hose.

 

[natehilde]

So is all you shiny SS tubing down the tube then?

No, not all of it. I will relocate the pumps to the bottom of the frame. I will just have to add about 30" of tubing to the inlet and outlet of each pump. Like I said, minor set back. In addition to getting more SS tubing, I will also have to buy new pump mounting hardware. I think this time I will weld the pump mounts in place. Initially, when I named it the AG monster I didn't necessarily think that it would be like piecing together Frankenstein. Oh well, it is still going to be one sexy machine.

 

[marosell]

how much were the burners and pumps?

i hear it's popular to pull burners from broken hot water heaters and pumps from broken dish washers. did you consider doing something like that, or did you just want to go with all new stuff?

 

[natehilde]

how much were the burners and pumps?

i hear it's popular to pull burners from broken hot water heaters and pumps from broken dish washers. did you consider doing something like that, or did you just want to go with all new stuff?

The burners were about $18 each and the pumps were about $85 each.
I don't know about the burners from hot water heaters, but where the pumps are concerned, I wanted the magnetic drive feature of the March 809. This ensures that no liquid can escape the pump housing. Additionally the March 809 is rated for Temperatures up to 250F and is food grade.

 

[evanmars]

Where'd you get the pumps for that price?

 

[natehilde]

Where'd you get the pumps for that price?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Home-Brewing-Ne...ryZ38172QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem