Anyone use a Gen-X pump?

[wildwest450]

I've been using a similar Gorman-Rupp pump for the last few years. No problems. recirculate my wort through my CFC back into the kettle with it. The wort goes through the CFC before it hits the pump, but the temp is still pretty high even after than first pass through the CFC. I'm moving to an IC system, so I'll be pumping right from the kettle. I have no doubt the pump will handle it.

As an update I got mine and am very pleased with it for the money! The only gripe is no threaded inlet/outlet, but I guess you can't strip them either. It pumps very strong, it was doing 2 gallons in a little under 30 seconds, far more than enough for brewing applications.

Hopefully it will last a while, at half the price of a march pump, i think it's well worth it. And the ebay seller was excellent to deal with, I had it within 3 days.

Recirculation mashes here I come!

 

[SugarJohnson]

Update on the Gen-x, well nothing to update really because I can't plumb a damn thing because this WI weather is not cooperating for painting the stand! I did find that the inlet and outlet are threaded for 1 inch so a reducer is needed and somewhat hard to find in that size. I found one at the local HS in brass for 15 each? Any other suppliers? It has now been 4 months since my last brew-this sucks.

 

[beerocd]

As an update I got mine and am very pleased with it for the money! The only gripe is no threaded inlet/outlet, but I guess you can't strip them either. It pumps very strong, it was doing 2 gallons in a little under 30 seconds, far more than enough for brewing applications.

Hopefully it will last a while, at half the price of a march pump, i think it's well worth it. And the ebay seller was excellent to deal with, I had it within 3 days.

Recirculation mashes here I come!

I grabbed 2 because I have no plan. So now I have these and a peristaltic.
Once I figure things out I can sell off the surplus.

-OCD

 

[BargainFittings]

Update on the Gen-x, well nothing to update really because I can't plumb a damn thing because this WI weather is not cooperating for painting the stand! I did find that the inlet and outlet are threaded for 1 inch so a reducer is needed and somewhat hard to find in that size. I found one at the local HS in brass for 15 each? Any other suppliers? It has now been 4 months since my last brew-this sucks.

Did they upgrade you to the next model? I thought that model was 3/4" threaded outlet.

 

[SugarJohnson]

No it's same model although I think the china quality control may be off? Either way I am in need of 1 inch reducers.

 

[JKoravos]

No it's same model although I think the china quality control may be off? Either way I am in need of 1 inch reducers.

Are you sure it's 1"? That's a ridiculously large size for a pump that maxes out at 10gpm.

 

[jspence1]

3/4" NPT is 1" outside diameter.

 

[SugarJohnson]

Hmm, I will have to double check this with a 3/4 fitting. I know just looking at a 3/4 fitting at the store that I said no way this fits. Now I am wondering.

 

[SugarJohnson]

Well now I am frustrated. The fitting is for sure a 1 inch. I found a 1 inch to 1/2 in brass at the HS and tried it at home. The pump threads are not NPT and the fitting will not thread on. The pump is set up with a plastic nut that has a universal hose barb attached. That fits fine but the thread pattern will not allow a normal NPT fitting. I measured the thread count and it appears to be 11 or 11.5 per inch. So I researched the pattern and the only thing I can think of is that it is a NPTF pattern. The nut comes with a washer so I'm guessing they never planned for a direct connect fitting. I am reluctant to use this plastic nut and washer for heat reasons. Any other ideas on thread pattern. They wouldn't use British pattern would they?

 

[Catt22]

Well now I am frustrated. The fitting is for sure a 1 inch. I found a 1 inch to 1/2 in brass at the HS and tried it at home. The pump threads are not NPT and the fitting will not thread on. The pump is set up with a plastic nut that has a universal hose barb attached. That fits fine but the thread pattern will not allow a normal NPT fitting. I measured the thread count and it appears to be 11 or 11.5 per inch. So I researched the pattern and the only thing I can think of is that it is a NPTF pattern. The nut comes with a washer so I'm guessing they never planned for a direct connect fitting. I am reluctant to use this plastic nut and washer for heat reasons. Any other ideas on thread pattern. They wouldn't use British pattern would they?

The threads are more than likely 3/4" Garden Hose Thread. You can find fittings with this thread at Home Depot etc. You can buy either an adapter which will get you from hose thread (GHT) to national pipe thread (NPT) or to a barb for use with flexible tubing. I doubt that the threads are British Standard Pipe thread, but they could be. There is also a metric pipe thread, but that would also be rather unusual. Coming from China it's hard to say, but I think their intended market was the USA, so it's probably the GHT.

 

[Catt22]

3/4" NPT is 1" outside diameter.

NPT pipe and fittings are referenced by ID, not OD. With tubing it's OD. You'd think they would pick one or the other for everything, but Noooo!

 

[SugarJohnson]

Cat22

They are for sure not GH. The thread is way to close together and the size wouldn't make sense. If Pipe fittings are measured by ID then these are 1 inch. Problem I can't even find online vendors with NPTF or Bristish in that size.

 

[JKoravos]

Well now I am frustrated. The fitting is for sure a 1 inch. I found a 1 inch to 1/2 in brass at the HS and tried it at home. The pump threads are not NPT and the fitting will not thread on. The pump is set up with a plastic nut that has a universal hose barb attached. That fits fine but the thread pattern will not allow a normal NPT fitting. I measured the thread count and it appears to be 11 or 11.5 per inch. So I researched the pattern and the only thing I can think of is that it is a NPTF pattern. The nut comes with a washer so I'm guessing they never planned for a direct connect fitting. I am reluctant to use this plastic nut and washer for heat reasons. Any other ideas on thread pattern. They wouldn't use British pattern would they?

NPTF is 100% compatible with NPT. Catt is correct, it's likely Garden Hose Thread.

I've bought GHT to NPT adapters at Home Depot before. If you can't find one, check McMaster's catalog, page 2044.

 

[JKoravos]

Cat22

They are for sure not GH. The thread is way to close together and the size wouldn't make sense. If Pipe fittings are measured by ID then these are 1 inch. Problem I can't even find online vendors with NPTF or Bristish in that size.

What's the thread pitch? Can you post a picture?

 

[SugarJohnson]

Yeah I can post a pic later today. I can't believe HD would have a 1 inch GHT adaptor would they? If this is GHT I will bow down to both of you. When I measured the thread it is 11-11.5 per inch. GHT is not the same specs correct?

 

[Catt22]

Which model do you have?

I just copied these specs from one of the suppliers:

Model Max. Flow Max. Head Speed Fittings (Inlet / Outlet)
Gen-X PCX-30 850 gph 14.5' (4.4m) 3200rpm 3/4" MPT / 3/4" MPT
Gen-X PCX-40 (Mak4) 1190 gph 22' (6.8m) 3000rpm 3/4" MPT / 3/4" MPT

Looks like they are all 3/4" MPT by which I would assume they mean 3/4" NPT. It's not listed, but there is also a model PCX-20, but it probably uses the same fittings.

 

[Catt22]

and here's the specs for the PCX-20

The Gen-X PCX-20magnetic drive water pump.
Inlet-3/4" MNPT
Outlet-3/4" MNPT
Maximum flow-634GPH
Pressure rated for a maximum lift of 9.8ft.
Economical to run-1.2amps,110Volts
Power consumption 50watts
Quiet,cool running,no oiling required.

 

[SugarJohnson]

I have the PCX-20 which is listed as 3/4 also. Unless I'm crazy I'm sure this is 1 inch and not 3/4.

 

[Catt22]

I have the PCX-20 which is listed as 3/4 also. Unless I'm crazy I'm sure this is 1 inch and not 3/4.

Should be easy to check. Take the pump with you to HD or your local hardware store and match it up. It will be obvious when you have the pump in hand. I seriously doubt the specs are wrong.

 

[wildwest450]

Cat22

They are for sure not GH. The thread is way to close together and the size wouldn't make sense. If Pipe fittings are measured by ID then these are 1 inch. Problem I can't even find online vendors with NPTF or Bristish in that size.

Don't be so sure. I have a water pump i got from Lowes to re-circ chilled water through my chiller, it had garden hose threads. Can you post the mfg and model #? The threads on mine are exactly 1".

 

[SugarJohnson]

OK HS later and I will report back.

 

[SugarJohnson]

Well, the threads are not GHT and they are most certainly 1". The biggest the HD and HS have is 3/4 and its way to small. 1" NPT does not fit and if NPTF is compatible then I am now looking at British Taper thread. So after all this struggle maybe I should have bought the march. At least I can still send them back. I did order a 1" british thread from McMaster today so we will see if that fits first.

 

[JKoravos]

3/4" NPT is 1.05" OD with 14 TPI, 1" NPT is 1.31 OD and 11.5 TPI. If it's not one of those and not GHT, you're going to have a hell of a time finding a fitting that will work for you.

Also, I'd be surprised if the spec sheet says 3/4" NPT and it's not 3/4" NPT. Have you tried a 3/4" NPT fitting on it yet?

 

[SugarJohnson]

Yep tried a 3/4 npt and it's to small. I think your comment of a hell of a time may be the case!

 

[JKoravos]

Yep tried a 3/4 npt and it's to small. I think your comment of a hell of a time may be the case!

I'd return it and tell them you want one with 3/4" NPT threads.

 

[lazybean]

NPTF has the same thread pitch and taper as NPT. they are just designed to mash when tightened with wrenches to for a high pressure/high temp seal that doesn't require any sealant or compound.

If it is MPT (metric pipe)it will have the same diameter but a diferant thread pitch, usually you can get half a rotation before it feels like its cross threading. you can get adapters for MPT->NPT. i have ordered them before.

Residential garden hose fittings are ¾" GHT(garden Hose Thread) with 1.0625" ODM x 11½ TPI.

Sounds like you got garden hose fittings.

 

[jeff967]

I have 3 Gen-X PCX-40's running on my reef tank now, and they are 3/4 mpt.

 

[Catt22]

Well, the threads are not GHT and they are most certainly 1". The biggest the HD and HS have is 3/4 and its way to small. 1" NPT does not fit and if NPTF is compatible then I am now looking at British Taper thread. So after all this struggle maybe I should have bought the march. At least I can still send them back. I did order a 1" british thread from McMaster today so we will see if that fits first.

Home Depot, Lowes and most any hardware store will have pipe fittings all the way up to 2" NPT, but probably nothing in brass above 3/4". You could at least check the thread size and compatibility against galvanized or black iron fittings, but obviously these are not suitable for brewing purposes. It's got to be NPT. I can't imagine them listing 3/4" NPT in the specs, then sending out something completely different. They also don't list any alternate thread specs, so I doubt it was a shipping mix up or something.

 

[SugarJohnson]

I spoke with the company who imports these pumps again today. He said that he would actually NOT find it hard to believe that I have the PCX-20 with an alternate head. He states that the company routinely outsources in China and have some issues with pumps and parts coming from different suppliers.

What I know for sure is this,
1. It is definitely not 3/4 NPT
2. It is definitely not GHT

Based on the fact that the thread pattern has no taper at all, I have a British thread 1 inch from McMaster which should be here today. At this point even if it works I will send the pumps back and get the 3/4 MPT. A 1 inch fitting is 17 bucks alone. The cost savings will go out the window! I had to order the fitting just to figure this out and get peace of mind that I'm not losing it.

 

[bad coffee]

all this talk of reef tanks and no pics!

I ordered an aquarium part, and it was supposed to be 3/4" MPT. I tried all kinds of different threads, nothing worked. Finally I sent an email to the company, and they said, "Yeah, we had a bad batch come back from China. We'll send you a good one."

I'm betting you got a bad piece. Have you tried the other pump? Send them back and say you want ones that fit.

B