Barbs on Counterflow Chiller Unnecessary?

[jasonbickford]

Hey guys!

I'm looking at building my first counterflow chiller so I've looked at dozens of DIY examples online.

I've seen a mix of designs with and without hose barbs to secure the 5/8" hose. Usually the ones with more expensive setups have them.

I was planning on building one very similar to this thread: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/How_to_make_a_Counter_Flow_Chiller

For a extra $20, I can add 5/8 hose barb fittings on each of my hose lines but I'm unsure if this is overkill or not. The number of people that do it without a barb tells me it will work without, but will it last?

Thanks guys!!!

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

It depends.

Are you going to be soldering it together, or are you using all compression fittings?

If your soldering it together like your example link, you dont need a barb because your clamping it onto the copper you solder in that's coming out of the T.

If you are using compression fittings, you need something to screw into your compression fitting T, so people use a 5/8" barb.

Compression fittings can be more expensive. But for me it was not that much more expensive because I have no propane torch or plumbing solder. After that $20-30 it would have been an even cost basically.

If your going compression fitting your setup will look something like this
http://www.brewgeeks.com/counterflow-wort-chiller.html

 

[jasonbickford]

I'll be soldering everything together (already had all of the supplies, a number of fittings I can use, and some basic sweating experience).

I dry-fit the hose over the 1/2" copper pipe and while its a close fit but was curious about clamping a hose onto a smooth surface. I was wondering if over time it would start to leak.

Instead of using a compression I like the idea of a 1/2 x 1/4 reducer. Simple and cheap!

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

I'll be soldering everything together (already had all of the supplies, a number of fittings I can use, and some basic sweating experience).

I dry-fit the hose over the 1/2" copper pipe and while its a close fit but was curious about clamping a hose onto a smooth surface. I was wondering if over time it would start to leak.

Instead of using a compression I like the idea of a 1/2 x 1/4 reducer. Simple and cheap!

It may begin to leak but thats doubtful, but its just your water that's leaking not beer...even my compression one leaks very minorly a drop or two a minute, but who cares? Im pumping gallons of water through it

 

[Garyr2973]

If you're going to sweat the fittings, just add threaded fittings like this and limit the number of clamps you use. Mine hasn't leaked a drop of wort or water.

 

[jasonbickford]

If you're going to sweat the fittings, just add threaded fittings like this and limit the number of clamps you use. Mine hasn't leaked a drop of wort or water.

Woah! Thanks for the photos, that's similar to what I was thinking about doing.

I see you also went with the threaded thermometer and sweat a female thread on there. I liked this idea but now I'm leaning towards trying to find a thermowell which I can fill with thermal paste so I can drop a cheap digital thermometer in there.

 

[Garyr2973]

That thermometer is like $25 from brewhardware. It's spot on accurate and adjustable. I'm going to remove the threaded connector and add a 45 degree street elbow so I don't have to bend down to see it. It's worth the $25 for sure. As for the chiller, it's amazing how fast it goes from 212 degrees to below 70 degrees. I thought I had the thermometer on the cold water side by accident but its just really efficient.

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

If you're going to sweat the fittings, just add threaded fittings like this and limit the number of clamps you use. Mine hasn't leaked a drop of wort or water.

View attachment 138526



View attachment 138527

Dont you lose a ton of wort by mounting it like that? Or is your pump powerful enough to push air through and clear it?

 

[Garyr2973]

I actually lose very little. Maybe a quart in the chiller and a quart under my false bottom. I actually lose just as much due to my hoses as I do that's left in the chiller.