Auto-siphon or kettle valve?

[E_Rock]

My current 8g brew kettle has a valve. It's the only one I have ever used, so I don't have anything to compare it to. I'm outgrowing it and looking to upgrade with something larger. A friend of mine swears by his auto-siphon and recommends saving money by keeping it simple and avoiding the valve.

From my perspective, I'm always a little wary that the Blichman burner is going to melt it off one day. The covering on the handle has already taken some abuse from some prior heat shield failure. I idea of just using a simple pot is appealing.

Has anyone ever forgone the valve and moved to an auto-siphon without regrets?

 

[kh54s10]

Are you talking about the boil kettle? If so the valve would be so much easier. If you want to use an autosiphon why would you be concerned with heat?? The wort should be cooled before you transfer it to the fermenter anyway!

Besides that how much are you saving? A top of the line 3 piece ball valve is only $30 and a $8 more for a 1/2 inch hose barb.

 

[E_Rock]

Are you talking about the boil kettle? If so the valve would be so much easier. If you want to use an autosiphon why would you be concerned with heat?? The wort should be cooled before you transfer it to the fermenter anyway!

Besides that how much are you saving? A top of the line 3 piece ball valve is only $30 and a $8 more for a 1/2 inch hose barb.

Yes, I am referring to the boil kettle. The worry about the heat is on the ball valve during the boil. An 8 gal kettle is not that much wider that the burner itself, so a lot of heat comes up the sides. The rubber on the valve handle has already melted a little from prior brew sessions.

I agree that the valve is super easy, but my autosipon is also easy. I suppose it would be slower.

You're probably right, in the scheme of things, the cost savings is more or less negligable.

 

[kh54s10]

Get or make a heat shield. I used a thin piece of aluminum and attached it to my burner frame. It sends the heat around the valve. Or in my case the lower end of the sight glass on my HLT. The valve has no shield. My pots are bigger than the top of the burner. I can operate the valves without my hand getting hot.

I can drain my boil kettle through the valve in less than 5 minutes. It would take 15 or longer with my half inch (bigger) autosiphon.

I also use a short piece of tubing that comes just to the mouth of my fermenter. I let the wort fall to the bottom of the fermenter adding some of the needed aeration with this action.

 

[Photopilot]

The autosiphon is an excellent way to get beer out of a carboy or a barrel too heavy to lift. Everything else should have a valve, it just makes life easier.

 

[E_Rock]

Thanks fellas! I will stick with the valve. I think I might have had buyer's remorse if I went without.

I'll definitely work on a more robust heat shield.